Business
Uber Eats brings e-cycles to delivery in Sri Lanka
Uber Eats, Sri Lanka’s most loved food and grocery delivery platform, today brought on board 100 electric cycles on its platform. The e-cycles launched as ‘Voltage Edition’ are manufactured by Lumala, the country’s largest cycle manufacturer, and have been especially designed for deliveries. They have a range of up to 100 kilometers and top speed of up to 30 kilometers per hour. Uber Eats was the first platform to introduce cycle deliveries in Sri Lanka last year.
The e-cycles can cover longer distances than regular bicycles and are easier to maintain than traditional motorbikes. The cycle battery charges in 4 hours: this makes delivery downtime minimum and reduces expenses versus fuel costs. By making it easier to cover a bigger delivery distance radius with lesser effort, delivery partners will be able to potentially make more deliveries and earn more. The initiative is a step forward towards Uber Eats’ global vision of moving all trips to sustainable mobility by 2040.
The announcement was made at an event where Uber Eats sponsored e-cycles worth LKR 42 million for 100 most engaged delivery partners. 90 of these delivery partners were previously using petrol-powered motorbikes while the other 10 were using regular bicycles. The company will also facilitate a 30% discount on the purchase of Lumala e-cycles and 15% discount on spare parts for delivery partners on its platform.
Power & Energy Minister for Sri Lanka, Kanchana Wijesekera, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, congratulated Uber Eats on its sustainability focus and gave away the e-cycles to select delivery partners. He was joined by the Guest of Honour, Julie J. Cheng, US ambassador to Sri Lanka; along with Mike Orgill, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, Asia Pacific Region at Uber; and, Pivithuru Kodikara, Interim General Manager, Uber Eats Sri Lanka, among others.
Commenting at the event, Kanchana Wijesekera, Power & Energy Minister for Sri Lanka, said, “Technology-led platforms led a paradigm shift by changing the way people move or order food online. Now, they should focus on another big change by promoting green mobility. We need to reduce dependency on fuel and lower our carbon emissions. Investing and building a green economy is one of our top priorities today. We welcome Uber Eats’ decision to onboard electric cycles and are confident that the company will continue to push sustainable mobility in Sri Lanka.”
Uber Eats had introduced cycle deliveries last year to reduce fuel dependency for delivery partners during the economic crisis. Today, cycle deliveries account for 10 per cent of total deliveries for Uber Eats in Sri Lanka. With e-cycles, Uber Eats takes the next step towards sustainable mobility and paves the way for e-bikes and e-scooters on its platform in the future.
Commenting on the announcement, Mike Orgill, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, Asia Pacific Region at Uber, said, “We’re committed to Sri Lanka and are continually bringing the best that Uber Eats has to offer to the country. After becoming the first platform to introduce cycle deliveries, we’re onboarding customized e-cycles today in line with our global vision to move to sustainable mobility by 2040. We will soon add e-scooters and e-motorbikes for deliveries as part of our efforts to promote sustainable mobility in the country.”
The Voltage edition e-cycles have been custom designed to compete with electric scooters and motorbikes. They are capable of covering 100+ kilometers on pedal assist on a single charge and can travel 60+ kilometers by throttle full electric cruising. To ensure safer deliveries at all times, they come fitted with day-time running lights and LED Projector and LED Tail Light for nighttime visibility. The e-cycles come fitted with a separate storage at the back for delivery bags that are easy to mount and dismount and reduce motor sound on the roads by being virtually silent.
Recently, Uber Sri Lanka had announced a pilot with Sling Mobility to introduce two-wheeler EVs on its platform. The company will continue to adopt a partnership-led model and join hands with OEMs, fleet partners, EV infrastructure partners, among others to advance sustainable mobility in Sri Lanka.
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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