Business
Sunshine Holdings drives business value and transformation with Microsoft cloud services
Sunshine Holdings, a diversified holding company with interests in healthcare, agribusiness, fast-moving consumer goods and renewable energy, is driving business value and innovation with its new analytics platform based on Microsoft Azure technologies, which it uses to consolidate data and provide analytics across its group of companies.
“Microsoft continues to be a critical partner in our digital transformation journey,” said Infiyaz Ali, Group Chief Digital Officer, Sunshine Holdings. “As we expand our partnership, we are demonstrating that Microsoft technology is a fundamental tool for building more transparent businesses and helping our employees and various business units to access more and better information. We will continue to look at new ways of boosting the productivity and efficiency of our employees.”
Over 1,300 employees are now making data-based decisions based on subtle insights and forecasts from data previously spread over multiple siloed enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Sunshine Holdings utilizes the Microsoft Azure platform for data storage and management; and Power BI for its customizable dashboards, ability to analyze data from multiple sources, and functionality. The deployment of new technologies was conducted in-house.
“We can now explore how to work with a fully managed, integrated data analytics service that blends data warehousing, data integration, and big data processing with accelerated time to insight,” said Dhanushka Abeyratne, Manager – Data Science, Sunshine Holdings. “With Microsoft Azure, we expect to reap rich dividends from becoming a digitally enabled enterprise. The platform’s scalability, compatibility and integration with other ERP systems is truly remarkable.”
Sunshine Holdings has also adopted Microsoft 365 as its unified communication platform to promote employee collaboration and efficiency. Tools like Microsoft Teams break down silos by allowing employees to communicate with each other across various business units. In addition, Power Apps helps employees build intelligent applications that integrate their business data.
“Sunshine Holdings is transforming and visualizing data with a modern and scalable data solution that eliminates data silos and unifies business data,” said Sook Hoon Cheah, General Manager, Southeast Asia New Markets, Microsoft Asia Pacific. “Microsoft Azure provides a unified workspace for all things data to support the needs of the modern workforce. Organizations across Southeast Asia can dramatically increase transparency, build better monitoring systems, and empower employees to move more quickly. Going forward, we’re eager to expand our collaboration with Sunshine Holdings to give their employees the best productivity and security experience with Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft cloud services.”
Sunshine Holdings is actively expanding its use of data analytics and is transitioning into new verticals including descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics. The company sees investment in key big data analytics technologies as central to the success of its digital transformation goals.
Learn more about Sunshine Holdings at www.sunshineholdings.lk.
Business
AHK Sri Lanka champions first-ever Sri Lankan delegation at Drupa 2024
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.
Business
HNB General Insurance recognized as Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024
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.”