Business
University of Colombo walks away with top honours at 99x’s Hacktitude 2022
99x’s innovative use of technology saw over 600 undergraduates from across the island virtually participate in the inter-university hackathon Hacktitude last week. After nine hours of non-stop coding, Dalana Dharmathilake, Ashan Rathnaweera and Visal Jayathilaka of University of Colombo’s School of Computing (UCSC) walked away with top honours.
Just 12 teams from the 230 registered were able to score the full points and it was these outstanding 12 teams that were recognised at the awards ceremony hosted at Kingsbury, Colombo earlier this week. The winning team from UCSC received developer-grade, high-end Apple MacBooks for the entire team. The first and second runners-up were from the University of Moratuwa’s Computer Science and Engineering Faculty (UOM-CSE), and this faculty was also awarded the Hackitude Championship Trophy as the highest scoring university.
“Most undergraduates possess knowledge but lack the skills and capabilities required when entering the job market,” observed 99x Chief People Officer Damitha Jayasinghe. “However, by participating in Hacktitude, these 600+ students challenged themselves and improved their technical skills. The tests were created to give participants exposure to problems faced in real client projects, allowing them to develop their industry readiness before entering the job market.”
He added that it was an inspiring and exciting time for the 99x team as well, especially with the numerous positive comments received by the participants, who shared that they had learned a lot from the event.
Commenting on their Hacktitude experience, Dalana Dharmathilake of the winning team ‘NamakNa’, stated: “The format of the hackathon was a new experience for us all. It was challenging but very enjoyable. I think Hacktitude is a great competition for undergraduates to test and improve their skills in developing production-grade code. We are looking forward to participating in the next year as well. Thank you 99x for organizing such an amazing hackathon.”
Hacktitude saw undergraduates from 18 state and private universities participate and a noteworthy contribution from a group of enterprising boys from Ananda College. UCSC and UOM-CSE dominated the top 10 with their technical prowess, with the 11th and 12th teams hailing from the National School of Business Management (NSBM) and University of Moratuwa’s Information Technology faculty respectively.
A compulsory requirement of each participating team was the inclusion of an academic coach, a member of the university faculty who will mentor the teams throughout the competition. Pasindu Marasinghe, as academic coach of the winning UCSC team, also walked away with a MacBook and many prizes as he coached three other teams in the top 10.
The entire event was made possible by DevGrade, a first-of-its-kind platform developed by 99x to train product engineers, which too was put to the test in supporting the work of over 600 young developers over a period of nine hours. Given this success, 99x plans to continue Hacktitude as an annual event and is now exploring the possibility of extending it to schoolchildren, to educate them about ICT from a young age.
99x is a technology company co-creating well-engineered, innovative digital products for the Scandinavian market. Its expertise has been proven through a portfolio of over 150 impactful global digital products, developed together with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). 99x employs over 350 technology and product specialists, who are high achievers, creative thinkers and team players. The company is one of Asia’s Best Workplaces for 2021 and has been named a Best Workplace in Sri Lanka for nine consecutive years.
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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