Business
Sri Lankan youth showcase outstanding ideas to reduce food waste
Spirits soared at The Dentsu Rise Up Global Challenge Sri Lanka Edition, when young talent between the age group of 17-27 showcased their best ideas to inspire consumers in Sri Lanka to drastically reduce food waste and were awarded and recognized ceremoniously at the Havelock City Club House Hall.
After researching and creating their ideas, they presented them to an experienced panel of judges consisting of Prof. C.N. Wickramasinghe from the Department of Commerce and Finance at the University of Kelaniya, Asela De Silva, Creative Services Director at ADA Sri Lanka, Hanim Abdul Cader, Creative Director at TBWA Sri Lanka, Shamir Hussain, Creative Director at Dentsu Grant, Chani Perera, Strategic Advisor at AOD and Designer for MMCA and Amanda Aluvihara, Creative Director/Consultant at Dentsu Grant & Miami Ad School.
After some rigorous rounds of judging, the top 20 made it to the final round. Gayangi Seneviratne was judged the winner of The Dentsu Rise Up Global Challenge – Sri Lanka Edition 2022, bagging the Grand Prize, the latest MacBook Pro, for her idea ‘Food Pulse’. Aadila Fiyaz was judged the 1st Runner-Up, winning the latest version of the Apple iPad + Airpods Pro for her idea of ‘The Invisible Food Project’. The 2nd Runner-Up Asith Nirmal Amarasekara won the latest version of the Apple iPad for his idea of combining food waste with good health using big data and AI. Consolation prizes including Harman Kardon sound systems, JBL Bluetooth Speakers and headsets were awarded to the top 20 finalists.
Commenting on the competition, the Chairperson of The Dentsu Grant Group, Neela Marikkar, said: “Congratulations to all the winners! You made us all immensely proud with your ground-breaking innovations. We hope that this will inspire all of you, and many more young inventors and creative minds, locally and globally, to come up with creative and powerful solutions to tackle the challenges of the current world. We look forward to guiding and supporting the winners to bring their ideas to life, fulfilling the real purpose of the competition.”
The Chief Strategy Officer of Dentsu Grant and the Project Chair of The Dentsu Rise Up Global Challenge – Sri Lanka Edition 2022, Sajith Weerasinghe, added “We are thankful to the Dentsu Network and the Global Sustainability team for bringing this opportunity to the Sri Lankan youth. Over 600 youth were engaged in educating and solving food sustainability and the importance of working towards the United Nations sustainable development goal 12.3”
Eminent Sri Lankan food sustainability researcher, Professor C N Wickramasinghe, added that “Unless we urgently work towards prevention of food waste, we will have to learn to live with it, like in the case of global warming. Competitions such as The Dentsu Rise Up Challenge empower the youth to take ownership of resolving urgent, pressing issues they have inherited.”
The Dentsu Global Rise Up Challenge aims to mobilize 10,000 young people across the world to develop a creative communications campaign to tackle food waste. In Sri Lanka, 600+ young people participated in The Dentsu Rise Up Global Challenge 2022 and their brief was to come up with creative solutions to eradicate food waste and ensure food security.
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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