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Veteran HR leader Dr. Neil Bogahalande appointed President of CIPM Sri Lanka

CIPM Sri Lanka, the Nation’s Leader in Human Resource Management, has appointed veteran HR professional, corporate leader and academic Dr. Neil Bogahalande as its President for the new term. The appointment was confirmed at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 18 July 2026 at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo.

Dr. Bogahalande was invited by the outgoing Executive Council to assume the Presidency in recognition of his outstanding service to the Institute and significant contributions to the HR profession. Having served on the CIPM Executive Council in several leadership roles since 2006, he brings nearly two decades of institutional knowledge, strategic leadership and professional expertise.

A distinguished old boy of St. Anthony’s College Kandy, Dr. Bogahalande began his career in the plantation sector before transitioning to Human Resource Management in 2000. Dr. Bogahalande has led HR functions at Browns Group PLC, Sampath Bank PLC, and Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC. He has also served as a Main Board Director of listed and unlisted companies for over fifteen years and has chaired two State-Owned Enterprises after approval by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts.

Dr. Bogahalande holds a PhD in Management, is a Certified Management Accountant (Australia), and has completed an advanced program in People Analytics and Data Science at the prestigious University of Cambridge, UK. An accomplished academic and researcher, he has published internationally, serves on the Expert Panel of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, and has received several prestigious recognitions, including the World HRD Congress’ Pride of HR Profession Award and CIPM Sri Lanka’s Lifetime Gold Medal.

“I am honoured to assume the Presidency of CIPM Sri Lanka. As the nation’s leading professional body for Human Resource Management, we have a responsibility not only to develop world-class HR professionals but also to influence the future of work through thought leadership, innovation and ethical people practices. Together with our members, partners and stakeholders, I look forward to strengthening CIPM’s legacy while positioning Sri Lankan HR on the global stage,” said CIPM Sri Lanka President Dr. Neil Bogahalande.

Under Dr. Bogahalande’s leadership, CIPM Sri Lanka aims to strengthen professional excellence, foster innovation in people management, expand international collaborations, and develop future-ready HR professionals to meet the evolving needs of business and society.

Europe’s new reality brings Baku, Berlin closer than ever [ANALYSIS]

Europe’s largest economy is undergoing one of the most profound structural adjustments in its post-war history. After decades of building its prosperity on inexpensive Russian energy, strong exports to China and integrated global supply chains, Germany has been forced to rethink the foundations of its economic model.

The figures illustrate the scale of this challenge. Germany’s economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in 2023 and by a further 0.2 per cent in 2024, marking the country’s longest period of economic stagnation in decades. Industrial production remains below pre-pandemic levels, while manufacturing giants from BASF to Volkswagen have repeatedly warned about rising energy costs and weakening international competitiveness. At the same time, Berlin has committed hundreds of billions of euros to modernising infrastructure, accelerating the green transition and strengthening industrial resilience. So, President Ilham Aliyev’s current visit comes at a particularly significant moment for Germany itself.

Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan has become considerably more valuable than simply another supplier of natural gas.

For Berlin, Azerbaijan addresses three strategic priorities simultaneously: energy security, supply chain resilience and access to emerging Eurasian markets. Very few countries can offer all three.

Energy remains the most obvious dimension. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has invested heavily in diversifying gas imports, replacing Russian pipeline supplies with LNG purchases and new long-term partnerships. Azerbaijan’s growing role within the Southern Gas Corridor fits perfectly into this strategy.

The long-term gas supply agreement between SOCAR and Germany’s Uniper, running until 2045, together with strategic cooperation involving SEFE, demonstrates that Berlin increasingly views Azerbaijan as part of Germany’s long-term energy architecture rather than simply an emergency alternative. As Azerbaijani gas reaches more European markets, Germany gains greater confidence that its industrial sector will be less vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.

However, the relationship extends well beyond hydrocarbons.

Germany’s economy remains overwhelmingly export-oriented. Exports account for around 43 per cent of German GDP, making uninterrupted logistics one of Berlin’s foremost economic priorities. The disruption of traditional trade routes following the war in Ukraine, combined with instability in the Red Sea and Middle East, has dramatically increased the importance of alternative Eurasian transport corridors.

This is precisely where Azerbaijan’s strategic value becomes apparent.

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has obviously become the central hub of the Middle Corridor, connecting European manufacturers with Central Asian markets while bypassing geopolitical bottlenecks. Therefore, for German industry, this corridor is no longer simply a transport alternative; it represents economic insurance.

The Middle Corridor offers German companies more reliable access to Kazakhstan’s rare earth minerals, Uzbekistan’s industrial resources and wider Central Asian markets that are expected to become increasingly important as Europe diversifies supply chains away from excessive dependence on China. Azerbaijan’s investments in the Port of Baku, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and multimodal logistics infrastructure position the country as the indispensable bridge connecting these markets with Europe.

This explains why President Aliyev’s meetings with German business leaders have become an established feature of every visit to Berlin. These discussions increasingly focus on investment opportunities in sectors extending far beyond oil and gas, including logistics, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, pharmaceuticals, industrial automation and renewable energy.

Germany remains one of the world’s leading exporters of industrial machinery, engineering technologies and green innovation. For Azerbaijan, cooperation with German companies offers access to cutting-edge technologies that support economic diversification. For Germany, Azerbaijan provides an expanding investment destination and a gateway into one of the world’s fastest developing regions.

Green energy offers perhaps the clearest example of this mutual complementarity.

Germany aims to generate 80 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, requiring enormous investment in new technologies, electricity networks and hydrogen infrastructure. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is rapidly developing solar and wind projects with the ambition of becoming a regional exporter of green electricity.

Rather than competing, the two economies are increasingly complementary. Germany contributes advanced technology, engineering expertise and financing, while Azerbaijan offers abundant renewable resources, favourable geography and expanding export infrastructure. This creates opportunities not only for bilateral investment but also for joint participation in Europe’s broader energy transition.

Viewed through this wider economic lens, the Azerbaijani President’s visit is not simply another diplomatic engagement. It rather reflects Germany’s recognition that long-term economic competitiveness increasingly depends upon diversified partnerships extending beyond Western Europe.

The relationship between Berlin and Baku has therefore evolved from one centred largely on energy into a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing industrial cooperation, logistics, digital transformation, green technologies, infrastructure investment and regional connectivity.

In essence, President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Germany features the emergence of a new strategic partnership shaped not by short-term political considerations, but by long-term economic and geopolitical realities. As Europe adapts to a world facing significant turbulence, Azerbaijan has established itself as one of Germany’s most valuable partners in the wider Eurasian region. The relationship now extends far beyond natural gas, encompassing logistics, green energy, advanced technologies, industrial cooperation and regional connectivity. The significance of this visit therefore lies not only in the agreements that may be reached today, but in its role in defining the future architecture of Europe-Eurasia relations for decades to come.

How data, not declarations, is now driving tax compliance in Kenya

Earlier this year, thousands of Kenyans received an unusual text message from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Although they had filed nil tax returns, KRA’s records showed they had earned income and informed them that a pre-populated return was ready for filing.

No auditor had visited. No inquiry had been made. The system had simply compared what taxpayers declared with information already held from other sources.

That message captured a profound shift in Kenya’s tax administration.

The law still rests on self-assessment, with taxpayers declaring their income and the Commissioner retaining the power to verify it. In practice, however, compliance is increasingly determined not by what taxpayers report but by whether their declarations match the growing web of third-party data available to KRA.

At the centre of this transformation is the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), which gives KRA near real-time visibility of business transactions.

Sales, purchases and VAT invoices are captured electronically, while expenses lacking valid electronic invoices are increasingly disallowed for tax purposes.

Returns filed through iTax are now cross-checked against this data, making tax filing less of a declaration and more of a confirmation exercise.

The information pool extends far beyond invoices. Customs records reveal imports, withholding VAT agents independently report taxable transactions, employers submit monthly PAYE returns, while company registry records link directors to businesses.

Amendments introduced through the Finance Act 2026 further empower KRA to generate assessments using existing data and issue pre-populated returns, reducing reliance on voluntary disclosures.

Kenya is not alone. Around the world, tax authorities are embracing data-driven administration to improve compliance and target evasion more efficiently. Honest taxpayers should welcome systems that reduce arbitrary audits and level the playing field.

Yet data is not infallible. Duplicate invoices, incorrect PINs, timing differences and supplier errors can all produce inaccurate assessments. Although taxpayers retain the right to object, the burden of proving the data wrong still falls largely on them.

As enforcement becomes increasingly automated, robust mechanisms for correcting erroneous records become just as important as stronger assessment powers.

The timing is also revealing. KRA is simultaneously offering a tax amnesty through December 2026 while expanding data-driven enforcement. The message is unmistakable: voluntary compliance is being encouraged before technology assumes the lead role.

Compliance is no longer an annual exercise completed at filing season.

It has become a continuous process of ensuring that invoices, customs declarations, payroll records and supplier information tell the same story.

The tax return is no longer the beginning of the conversation. It is the final reconciliation of information that KRA has, in large part, already assembled.

Spa Ceylon Transforms Dubai with Immersive Wellness Inspired by Sri Lanka

Globally recognised Sri Lankan luxury wellness brand Spa Ceylon has taken the healing power of its island home to Dubai through its annual Spa Ceylon Global Wellness Tour.

Across three exclusive wellness experiences, the brand transformed some of Dubai’s most iconic venues into immersive sanctuaries inspired by Sri Lanka’s forests, wellness traditions and the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda.

Held under the theme “Return to Yourself,” the three experiences were designed to remind guests that wellbeing begins with taking a conscious pause to reconnect with themselves. Over 100 VIP guests, wellness leaders, influencers and content creators gathered to experience Spa Ceylon’s distinctive approach to holistic wellbeing.

The Dubai tour featured Immersive Forest Yoga at Immersee, where projection technology transformed the venue into a living rainforest inspired by the landscapes of the island. Guests also experienced ForestVeda: Breathe and Balance at Raffles the Palm and De-Stress Sculpt Pilates overlooking the Burj Khalifa at The Lana.

Each experience was personally led by Spa Ceylon Co-Founder Shalin Balasuriya, who guided guests through mindfulness, breathwork, meditation and sound healing, sharing the philosophy behind Spa Ceylon and creating meaningful moments of pause, connection and balance.

Speaking about the initiative, Spa Ceylon Co-Founder Shalin Balasuriya said:

“As wellness becomes increasingly important around the world, our island home has so much to offer through its rich traditions, nature and centuries of wellness wisdom. At Spa Ceylon, we create experiences that allow people to pause, reconnect and experience that healing energy for themselves. The Global Wellness Tour brings that experience to life in an authentic and immersive way.”

Shiwantha Dias, Co-Founder of Spa Ceylon, added:

“Our goal has always been to make the benefits of Ayurveda accessible through products people can use every day. By combining traditional knowledge with modern science, we create formulations that fit effortlessly into contemporary lifestyles while encouraging simple moments to pause, reconnect and restore balance. That’s how we believe wellbeing should be experienced – not as an occasional indulgence, but as part of everyday life.”

The Spa Ceylon Global Wellness Tour will continue across Asia, Europe and the Americas, bringing immersive wellness experiences inspired by Sri Lanka’s rich wellness heritage to audiences around the world.

Daladala fares rise in Zanzibar as electric buses begin operations on August 1

The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGZ) has announced an average 16 percent increase in public transport fares for both urban and rural routes, with the revised rates taking effect on August 1, 2026, the same day electric buses are scheduled to begin operations.

Announcing the changes on Monday, July 21, 2026, the Minister for Works and Transport, Dr Khalid Salum Mohammed, said the minimum daladala fare will increase from Sh500 to Sh700.

He said passengers using the new electric buses will also pay Sh700, while students and elderly passengers will continue to pay half the approved fare. ‘The government has reviewed fares for public road transport services, including daladala and rural service vehicles, after assessing the actual operating costs of providing these services,’ he said.

Dr Mohamed said operating costs have increased significantly in recent months, largely because of rising global fuel prices.

He said the higher costs had affected the ability of transport operators to provide services efficiently, prompting transport associations in Unguja and Pemba to petition the government for a fare review.

‘In line with the established procedures, the proposals were subjected to a comprehensive assessment that considered the interests of both commuters and transport operators,’ he said.

Under the new fare structure, journeys of between one and 12 kilometres will cost Sh700, up from Sh500.

Fares for journeys of between 19 and 21 kilometres have increased from Sh800 to Sh1,000.

For rural service vehicles, fares for journeys of between one and 14 kilometres have risen from Sh600 to Sh700, while fares for routes covering between 60 and 70 kilometres have increased from Sh2,500 to Sh3,000.

On the electric bus service, Dr Mohamed said passengers travelling between Malindi and Buyu, and between Malindi and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, will each pay Sh700.

Students and elderly passengers will continue to pay half the approved fare.

He directed transport associations in Unguja and Pemba to work with the Land Transport and Road Safety Authority to prepare, verify and prominently display fare schedules for every route in all public service vehicles to minimise confusion and disputes.

While transport operators welcomed the fare adjustment, some commuters said it would place an additional burden on households already grappling with the rising cost of living.

Daladala owner and driver, Mr Khatib Juma Haji said operators had been running at a loss for a long time because fuel prices had increased repeatedly while fares remained unchanged.

However, Jang’ombe resident Shuweina Abubakar said the increase would hit low-income earners hardest because their incomes have not kept pace with the rising cost of living.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (B)

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 21/07/2026 UNTIL 1200 22/07/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1007hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine with increased low cloud coverage overnight and during the morning, with risk of local mist and/or fog patches mainly over the southern and the eastern coasts.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, later locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, later locally Slight

Night Northwest to North 3, gradually near the coast North to Northeast Smooth to Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally Variable 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, gradually locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, later locally Variable Smooth to Slight

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, at times Variable 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night South to Southwest 3, soon near the coast Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Trkiye to deliver 30,000 food aid packages to Northern Syria by end of July

Trkiye will deliver an additional 30,000 food aid packages to northern Syria by the end of July as part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts.

AzerNEWS reports that each aid package contains a copy of a letter from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing solidarity with and support for the Syrian people.

In his message, Erdogan reaffirmed Trkiye’s long-standing commitment to its southern neighbor.

“Trkiye and its people have always stood by our Syrian brothers and sisters, and we always will. We have been neighbors for a thousand years, and we will remain so until the end of time. The key to Syria’s stable development lies in preserving our shared history and our common vision for the future. Trkiye will continue to support the Syrian people’s efforts toward development with all of its resources,” the letter states.

The humanitarian supplies are scheduled to be distributed among vulnerable families in the Operation Euphrates Shield zone in northern Syria.

The first trucks carrying the aid have already departed for Hatay Province, which borders Syria. The shipments include essential food items such as flour, tomato paste, sunflower oil, beans, pasta, rice, and other basic necessities.

The latest delivery underscores Trkiye’s continued humanitarian engagement in northern Syria, where millions of civilians remain dependent on international assistance.

Azerbaijani-German documents signed in Berlin [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

A signing ceremony of German-Azerbaijani documents was held in Berlin on July 21, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz signed the “Joint Declaration on the Strategic Agenda for Bilateral Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Germany”.

During the event, the Joint Declaration on the Establishment and Operation of the Azerbaijan-Germany Business Council was also signed.

Mugukus in talks to sell Sh9bn Waterfront Karen mall

The family of the late billionaire poultry farmer Nelson Muguku is selling The Waterfront Karen Mall in Nairobi in a multi-billion shilling deal, marking a pivot from real estate.

A source familiar with the deal reckons that the family is at the tail end of talks to sell the high-end mall in a transaction that could go as high as Sh9 billion.

This marks a shift from a 2014 strategy that saw the family offload shares at the Nairobi bourse to build a property portfolio, giving birth to the mall.

With traffic in malls slowing and increased pressure on rental yields following the construction of additional retail space in the past decade, high-net-worth investors are cutting their property exposure.

The sale of The Waterfront has been in the cards for months.

‘We have been in the market and we believe we have a serious buyer on the table,’ said Ken Obimbo, the property’s manager.

‘There are some covenants that the buyer needs to meet to confirm the transaction is ongoing,’ he added.

He declined to provide fine details of the deal, citing non-disclosure agreements inked with the potential buyer.

The Waterfront was valued at Sh3 billion during its launch in 2018.

The 200,000 square feet property sits on 13 acres and has Naivas Supermarket as its anchor tenant following the acrimonious exit of South African retailer Shoprite.

The 13 acres are part of a 50-acre parcel, which was meant to host a high-end residential apartment, offices and a hotel on the vacant land surrounding the mall.

Sources close to the family, however, reckon a man-made lake and related swampy area take nearly a third of the land.

‘Utility of the land is dependent on the existing mall and the fact that there is a man-made lake and swampy area,’ said a source who spoke anonymously.

The profile document released five years ago billed the property as attractive to investors, noting the undeveloped land offers major development opportunities.

‘The Waterfront is the only 50-acre bulk of land at the centre of Karen and its prestigious environs,’ the profile read.

‘The property features over 30 acres of undeveloped land; a goldmine that can be converted into an ultra-modern mixed-use development featuring high-end residential, commercial and recreational facilities – creating immense value for an investor,’ it added.

Karen is considered an exclusive residential area that attracts Kenya’s wealth.

At the time, the Muguku family joined a growing number of private equity (PE) investment firms and private developers seeking to tap Kenya’s burgeoning middle class with growing disposable incomes.

Read: Mugukus eye Sh20bn from Waterfront mall sale

At least seven malls were under construction or opened their doors to the public, including Greenspan Mall, Garden City Mall, Thika Road Mall and Mountain Mall located on the Thika Superhighway.

But analysts reckon that returns from malls have ebbed in recent years on shifting consumer tastes and additional space.

Knight Frank, a leading realtor in the country, last year reported an occupancy rate of 78 percent across the prime retail space it manages.

‘The outlook for Kenya’s retail real estate market in 2026 will be defined by a continued shift toward neighbourhood centres and mixed-use developments, with less emphasis on large regional malls,’ said Knight Frank in its 2025 annual real estate report.

‘Supermarket chains such as Carrefour, traditionally associated with higher-end locations, have begun expanding into middle income areas such as Ruai, underscoring the sector’s pivot toward community-based retailing,’ it added.

The family patriarch, Nelson Muguku, who died in 2010 aged 78, built a multi-billion shilling business empire from humble beginnings as a poultry farmer based in Kikuyu on the outskirts of Nairobi.

At the time of his death, his estate was valued at approximately Sh10 billion, mainly generated from Muguku Poultry Farm, a modern hatchery, and his stake at Equity Bank, where he was among the top shareholders whose wealth multiplied rapidly following the lender’s listing at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

Mr Muguku held 6.08 per cent of Equity Bank shares at the time of his death – a stake that earned him the enviable distinction of being the bank’s largest individual shareholder.

His family has since his death sold off the shares.

Had the stake remained intact as it was during the bank’s listing, it would now be worth Sh22.1 billion.

The renowned philanthropist also dabbled in real estate, owning prime property on Nairobi’s Mfangano Street as well as becoming the dominant property owner in Kikuyu Town.

The family’s other real estate holdings include Stanbank House on Nairobi’s Moi Avenue and Cross Roads Shopping Centre, which is 850 metres away from The Waterfront.

1.6 tonnes of cannabis bound for Netherlands seized

Thai customs officials have seized 1.6 tonnes of dried cannabis buds concealed among blankets and duvet covers in two export containers destined for the Netherlands at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri province.

The seizure took place on Monday during an operation involving customs officials, with representatives from the shipping line and the port authority also present.

The exporter had declared the cargo as 626 packages of blankets and duvet covers with a combined weight of 32,390 kilogrammes, customs authorities said on Tuesday.

A thorough examination found the dried cannabis buds, estimated to be worth 16 million baht, had been concealed among the declared goods.

The Customs Department said the exporter could face charges of submitting a false customs declaration under the Customs Act. The case may also involve violations of the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Act, and the 2025 Ministry of Public Health announcement designating cannabis as a controlled herb.

The dried cannabis and all related goods have been seized as evidence. Investigators are expanding the probe to identify other members of the network and pursue legal action against all parties connected to the smuggling attempt.