Business
Microsoft partners fuel economic recovery in Sri Lanka
Microsoft held a free digital-only event for business executives and government officials in Sri Lanka to share how the Microsoft Partner Network has helped businesses adjust and solve the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our partner ecosystem is working hard to ensure that our customers can respond and recover from the impact the pandemic has had across business processes, industries and organizations in Sri Lanka,” said Hasitha Abeywardena, Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives. “We have seen first-hand how they are equipping customers with the technology and tools to safeguard jobs, businesses and the community; and we are deeply appreciative of their heroic work. Their commitment to enabling the recovery of Sri Lanka, along with our resources and expertise to help them achieve their goals validates our mission to empower every person and every organization in Sri Lanka to achieve more.”
With workplaces pivoting to work-from-home arrangements to keep their employees safe, a significant number of businesses continue to function as normal due to the economic costs associated with shutting down business. Innovations built by Arimac, MillenniumIT ESP, and ZILLIONe seek to help businesses adhere to government regulations and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within their premises.
“I am so proud to see how our partners in Sri Lanka are striving to protect the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate. This growth mindset will transform our country’s industries and enable digital transformation across the market, and has the potential to help beyond the pandemic,” continued Hasitha.
CovidTrace
To scale up the ability to use contact tracing to track and fight COVID-19 outbreaks, Arimac introduced a privacy-safe mobile contact tracing app leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Azure Cloud Services. The app allows for organizations to take preventive measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by assigning authorized employees to trace primary, secondary, and tertiary contacts of newly identified cases via the app with minimal input required from the user in a user-friendly customer journey.
CovidTrace regularly scans for nearby devices using BLE signals to track the spread of infection without compromising location privacy. When it establishes a Bluetooth connection with a nearby device, the app will start exchanging data, record, and securely store the temporary ID of the nearby phone together with the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which measures the signal strength to determine the proximity between the two devices and time stamp.
Similarly, ZILLIONe showcased a mobile contact tracing app leveraging Quick Response (QR) codes and Azure Cloud Services. Each time a QR code is scanned, the app enters the location in a log and adds a timestamp. A moderator/representative will scan the employee ID at the entrance of each visit within the office premises. And in the event an outbreak within the company, they can easily identify the associates of the infected person and take the necessary steps to minimize the spread.
HealthVision
At the event, powered by Azure cloud services MillenniumIT ESP showcased HealthVision—a web-enabled, mobile responsive remote patient monitoring platform for medical personnel and caregivers. This latest solution enables healthcare providers to connect with their patients from a remote location, record their details regarding health and safety risks through guided questionnaires, capturing of their expressions and symptoms through video and voice facility, medical history, etc. and enables continuous communication on a daily basis to ascertain the status of their patients’ health. The solution is been used as a remote patient monitoring and a teletherapy application by some of the leading health care institutes in the country.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
