Business
Stakeholders’ meeting to implement Green Entrepreneurship program held
Ruwan Wijewardene, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change, with a vision of developing a large number of country’s youth to be the Green Entrepreneurs for Mangrove development and restoration, called a meeting of all the stakeholders early last week to further concretise the idea and develop a road map for action. He introduced the subject by emphasising that he would like to see development and environmental conservation go hand-in-hand, without being in conflict with each other.
Ravi Pratap Singh, Managing Director of iLEAD International Academy in Sri Lanka, made a detailed presentation on the concept, design of the program and a proposed way-forward. During the presentation, he highlighted the importance of involving youth at the community level, developing them as entrepreneurs and building a cadre of youth at community-level in the vicinity of mangroves to develop and restore the mangroves of the country. He expressed confidence in mobilising more than 6,500 such youth along the entire coastline of Sri Lanka on the basis of similar work done by the iLEAD program, under which they have worked with more than 12,500 youth in Sri Lanka and around 2.5 Lakh youth across South Asia.
The stakeholders who participated in the meeting, called by the Senior Advisor to the President, appreciated the idea and endorsed its potential to facilitate sustainable restoration and growth of mangroves in the country. Dr. Rupesh Kumar Bhomia, a Colombo based Senior Scientist of the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) said that they would be able to bring in the learnings from across the globe to ensure success of the proposed mangrove restoration and development program in Sri Lanka.
He appreciated the idea of bringing the local community at the centre of action, backed up by appropriate scientific knowledge. The Chair of the National Task Force on Mangroves, Prof. Sevwandi Jayakody applauded the concept, however cautioned to follow a scientific approach and take support of related government agencies to design customised solutions. Mrs. Padma Abeykoon, Additional Secretary-Environmental Policy & Planning gave advise to include local wisdom available at the community level to incorporate effective conservation practices relevant to a particular location.
The plan includes development of entrepreneurship around mangrove and other ecosystem services-based products. This would promote coexistence of various economic development activities and mangrove (environmental) protection, restoration and growth. The proposed initiative would have entrepreneurship in the areas of zero-emission-based water- and land-transport system in and around mangroves, use of bio-mimicry based product innovations such as ECOncrete, production and use of M-Sand (manufactured sand) to avoid sand mining from the rivers of the country, and designing shrimp farming that coexists with mangroves.
Dan De Silva, representing Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) informed that the Chamber has initiated an entrepreneurship development centre, which would be available to provide support to these initiatives. The members of COYLE, he said, see their role in this initiative as part of their contribution to the nation-building process.
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
