Business
PickMe grows gig economy with women drivers in the lead
With over a 1,000 women drivers and riders on the PickMe network, the App based mobility solutions provider says, there is a steady growth in the sector. According to the company, women engaging on their platform doubled in 2023 as opposed to the previous year and is continuing to rise, a company news release said.
Apart from the ride hailing sector, the company is also providing opportunities for women entrepreneurs on their PickMe Food and Market platform and already there are more than 100 women merchants operating on it. PickMe says flexi hours the gig solution offers is a key factor for women joining their network.
“We are welcoming this growth as diversity is important not merely for equal opportunity between genders, but also because women driver and rider partners bring value addition to our services,” says Tasnim Salie, Head of Corporate Finance at PickMe. She says the company is looking at attracting more women drivers onto its ride hailing platform.
Isira Perera, COO of PickMe says the current economic conditions in the country, which has impacted most citizens, might be contributory for women joining the network. “We are noticing a trend in the single parents, students and professional segments and with the opportunity of earning almost Rs. 100,000/- a month on an average, we think there will be more women drivers joining the PickMe platform.”
Speaking of the International Women’s Day 2024, Jiffry Zulfer, Founder CEO of PickMe says the company is looking beyond the general rhetoric to find more meaningful ways to address the needs of women, especially given the dire economic crisis. With more people leaving their cars at home and finding value in ride hailing services, PickMe is of the view that they could take their daily numbers to a million movements a day.
“This means we will soon be looking at opening up new services on our app to support the specific needs of those using our platform for transport solutions and women drivers will soon have their own exclusive support programs within ride hailing.”
With this line of thinking, PickMe celebrated the International Womens’ Day 2024 with the Sri Lanka Community Police Division. The event, held on March 8 at the Malalasekara Auditorium, Nalanda College, Maradana, included a special awareness session on ‘Women’s rights and the law.’ The tri-forces, Sri Lanka Police, nursing officers, along with PickMe women driver partners and staff participated in the event.
“Apart from the 1,000 women drivers, we have close to a 100 women from the ages of 18-50 working across Software Engineering to Operations, of the company and this includes working mothers. At PickMe, we have enabled our systems to ensure that women achieve their full potential and contribute to the growth of the tech industry and the gig economy we operate in,” says Lydia Mascarenhas, Chief Human Resources Officer of PickMe, adding that the company’s collaboration with the police is fitting because of the increasing number of women drivers on their network. While PickMe has put controls on their app for driver safety, they are not in control of the work environment their drivers operate in. This is an area that comes under public safety, where the police is a lead custodian.
The CEO of PickMe says, “we will continue to strengthen our women driver and merchant network with more value addition to them through our future programs. Our unique driver insurance programme already provides an option to the drivers to cover their spouse as well”
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.”
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