Business
Varun Wijewardane appointed business head, Uber Eats
Uber Eats, the leading food delivery app announced the appointment of Varun Wijewardane as the General Manager of Uber Eats, Sri Lanka. In his role as the head of business, he will oversee the operations of the Uber Eats platform in the island nation.
With this appointment, Varun will return to his home country Sri Lanka, where he was born and raised before moving to Australia. Varun joined Uber’s retail business in 2021 and has most recently worked as the Head of Commercial for Independent Retail bringing groceries and alcohol on to the platform across Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to Uber, he worked as a management consultant with a focus on commercial strategy and execution across the Australian retail industry. He also worked at Newcrest Mining, where he spent time managing teams on the ground in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.
Commenting on the appointment Saskia de Jongh, Vice President, Delivery APAC said, “Varun is the perfect choice to lead Uber Eats as it embarks on the next phase of its growth in Sri Lanka. During his time at Uber, he has shown himself to be a hands-on leader and excellent collaborator, with a track record of delighting customers and expanding the business. At Uber, we are committed to providing opportunities for employees to grow their careers – Varun’s appointment is a demonstration of that. I am very excited to see Varun return to his country of birth and lead Uber Eats as it continues to give Sri Lankans access to almost anything at the press of a button.”
Varun Wijewardane, General Manager, Uber Eats Sri Lanka added, “I am excited to return home to take on this new role and lead the Uber Eats business through our next phase of growth in Sri Lanka. As the country reimagines its future following a period of crisis, we have ambitious goals to deliver on for our customers, merchants and delivery partners who have made Uber Eats the leading delivery app in the island. I am looking forward to working with the team in Sri Lanka to bring the best of Uber Eats to the communities in which we operate.”
Since its launch in 2018, Uber Eats has emerged as the most loved food and grocery delivery platform in Sri Lanka. Having scaled to 6 cities, the company has unlocked earning opportunities for hundreds of thousands of couriers and merchants, and made food and grocery delivery convenient and hassle-free for customers. Last year, Uber Eats completed 24 million deliveries and remains invested in bringing the best of Uber Eats to Sri Lanka. In March 2023, Uber Eats onboarded 100 locally-manufactured, custom-designed electric cycles for delivery, after becoming the first platform to introduce cycle deliveries last year. This was part of the company’s global mission to be a zero-emissions platform by 2040. During the recent economic crisis, Uber Eats donated $ 200,000 to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to deliver life-saving medicines and food rations to most-impacted families.
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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