Business
Sri Lankan ambassador conducts international seminar on “Strategic Negotiations” at Hanoi Business School
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam, Prof. A Saj U. Mendis, was invited by the elite Hanoi Business School (HSB) of Viet Nam National University to deliver a special lecture on “International Strategic Negotiations” to senior faculty and graduate students of HSB in Hanoi. The select seminar on ‘International Strategic Negotiations’ was attended by nearly 100 chosen graduate students and faculty members. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Mai Viet Dzung, Head of Science and Development Cooperation Department and a senior faculty of HSB.
In his opening remarks Dr. Dzung stated that today negotiation skills, whether they be bilateral, trilateral, multilateral, national or international, have become an inherent and intrinsic attribute for advancement, promotion, augmentation and marketability as well as value addition to any given entity or organization.
Negotiations are an imperative skill not only for diplomats but also for corporate captains, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and political leaders in disciplines and trades ranging from finance & banking, manufacturing, services, education, shipping & aviation, government to IT & ITES, among others.
Ambassador Mendis, in his address on ‘International Strategic Negotiations’, highlighted and accentuated a myriad negotiations, including but not limited to Leverage Buy-Outs (LBOs), negotiations with unions, contract & sales negotiations, negotiations for remuneration, promotions and emoluments as well as negotiation process, strategies and techniques, among others. Prof. Mendis also cited and quoted numerous examples of internationally known and respected authorities on negotiations and the techniques and tactics employed and implemented by them in conducting highly productive and mutually beneficial negotiations, thus deriving and engendering highly favorable results and outcomes to their institutes, entities, corporates or nations respectively.
One of the key factors Prof Mendis enunciated to the faculty and students of HSB was to extend and invest the maximal possible amount of due diligence, effort and labor on research and analysis, before the commencement of any given negotiation. He further added that most, even seasoned negotiators, tend to overlook this fact, which is seminally critical in negotiations. Prof Mendis also underscored and underlined a number of shortcomings, fallacies, flaws and miscalculations that people commit during negotiations, including in some of the most critical and pivotal negotiations.
He added a list of techniques of how to recognize, distinguish and identify such flaws in order to avert them. The premise and thesis of the negotiation seminar of Prof Mendis was that, “Anything in the world could be negotiated as long as it is a product of negotiations”. In other words, anything which is being negotiated before reaching the final product, figure or outcome, can be negotiated. This could be attained by employing and executing the most pertinent and efficacious skill-sets, techniques and strategies.
After the seminar, the floor was opened for Q&A session and a number of participants broached and posed questions as well as comments to the speaker. Ambassador Prof. Mendis has specialized on corporate and strategic negotiations and earned his Ph.D. in International Economics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and is a visiting faculty/guest lecturer/ professor/examiner in a number of academic institutions and universities of repute in both Postgraduate and Ph.D. programs.
(Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam)
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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