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From left: PCHE Head of Operations and Marketing Charthri Wijenayake, Co-Founder and Director – Academics Yasaara Kaluaratchi, Managing Director and Founder Somesh Perera, McLarens Group Group Managing Director Shehara De Silva, McLarens Lubricants Joint Managing Director Chaminda Gunarathne, and McLarens-3M Chief Executive Officer/Director Dilan SeneviratneIn a powerful celebration of leadership, courage, and empowerment, the Girls on Track inter-school competition, organised by the Student Council of Prospects College of Higher Education (PCHE), was held recently at the Nawam Mawatha public carpark from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Five schools competed in a thrilling display of talent and teamwork with Visakha Vidyalaya emerging as the Winning Team, demonstrating exceptional coordination and racing skill.

Musaeus College secured the 1st Runner-Up position and Gateway International College – Dehiwala claimed the 2nd Runner-Up spot.

Special recognition was also awarded to the fastest drivers on the track, celebrating individual excellence and fearless performance.

The event was designed to inspire young girls to break barriers, discover their strengths, and lead with confidence through a series of engaging challenges.

At the heart of this initiative is McLarens Group, proudly stepping forward as the main sponsor of the event. With its flagship brands Mobil and 3M, McLarens Group brings not only industry excellence but also a deep commitment to fostering inclusive opportunities for the next generation.

McLarens Group Group Managing Director Shehara De Silva, shared her personal journey in motorsports-a story of resilience, passion, and balance. As a businesswoman and mother, De Silva emphasised the importance of creating platforms where young women can explore unconventional paths and thrive.

‘Motorsports taught me discipline, courage, and the value of pushing boundaries. Supporting Girls on Track is our way of encouraging young girls to embrace challenges and lead fearlessly,’ she said.

Mobil, a global leader in advanced engine oils, and 3M, renowned for its innovation across automotive, construction, industrial and consumer solutions, are both aligned with the event’s mission to promote excellence, performance, and empowerment. Their presence at Girls on Track reflects McLarens Group’s broader vision of driving progress-not just in business, but in society.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls, underscoring the need to turn equality principles into concrete action.

Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025 in Beijing, she said that despite global progress since the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action-including female literacy gains, a near-halving of maternal mortality, and a rise in global life expectancy from 69 years in 1995 to 76 years in 2023-major gaps persist.

She noted that women’s labour-force participation remains at 48.7% compared with 73% for men, women represent only about 35% of science and technology graduates, and 47.8 million more women than men face food insecurity.

The Prime Minister outlined Sri Lanka’s policy priorities, including expanding women’s participation in leadership and decision-making, and implementing the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2023-2027). She said Sri Lanka aims to ensure that women from all social and economic backgrounds are represented across sectors.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya was welcomed to the event by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan before delivering her remarks at the opening ceremony.

Monday is the Public Day at all Government offices. Yesterday I visited the Education Ministry to meet with no less than four top officials. Two of them (Acting Director Bi-lingual Education, Director National Schools) weren’t at their offices because they were called for meetings by their superiors. At the Deputy Minister Hon. Madhura Senevirathna’s office, there was no one even to tell where the Minister was.

A month ago, I went to meet the Zonal Director Education in Colombo 2 and he was conducting a well-attended discussion with all his top subordinates and the poor teachers numbering at least 50, were waiting like displaced with permanent resigned looks shrouded by hopelessness.

Dear Mr President, I am not asking too much from you. Either change the Public Day or ban meetings for all top officials on Mondays.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday said the Cabinet has approved the implementation of the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025, which raises the monthly minimum wage for private sector employees from Rs. 17,500 to Rs. 27,000 with effect from 1 April 2025.

Under the new law, the minimum wage will rise further to Rs. 30,000 from 1 January 2026, aligning with the 2025 Budget proposal to increase private sector pay in parallel with public sector salary adjustments.

The legislation, passed by Parliament on 22 July, also stipulates that the revised wage applies to all statutory payments including the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), overtime, maternity benefits, probationary pay, and holiday entitlements.

The law places responsibility on all employers, including intermediaries and contractors, to comply with the new wage structure. The Commissioner General of Labour has been tasked with enforcing the provisions, with public awareness already underway through official notices and newspaper advertisements.

The Labour Minister informed the Cabinet that necessary steps are being taken to ensure full implementation and compliance across all industries and services.

eChannelling has launched ‘eMindCare,’ a first-of-its-kind holistic mental wellbeing platform designed to make expert mental health and psychosocial wellbeing services more accessible, inclusive, and stigma-free.

With psychosocial challenges and mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression on the rise in Sri Lanka, eMindCare addresses a critical gap by combining professional care with holistic practices and mental health education. The platform is designed to support the diverse needs of individuals, families, and groups including students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and employees in high-pressure industries. It also aims to lend a hand to individuals interested in maintaining their current mental wellbeing.

With the launch of eMindCare, eChannelling is reaffirming a commitment to the community, addressing some of the most pressing psychosocial challenges prevalent today. The platform moves past treatment, focusing on empowerment, awareness, and creating a culture where mental well-being is prioritised. The launch of eMindCare demonstrates eChannelling’s role as a responsible digital health leader, committed to improving access to healthcare and providing psychosocial support across the nation.

Available through the eChannelling website at www.echannelling.com, the platform connects individuals to a wide range of services including psychiatry, counselling, yoga, and meditation while also offering educational resources to empower people with the knowledge and tools needed to foster improved mental health.

For users, eMindCare delivers direct access to qualified psychiatrists, counsellors, and wellness practitioners, ensuring expert guidance at every step of any user’s mental health journey. The platform takes a holistic approach to mental wellness by integrating mind, body, and emotional wellbeing through counselling, yoga, and meditation, creating a well-rounded support system.

In addition, it provides valuable educational resources aimed at reducing stigma and promoting mental health literacy, empowering individuals to better understand and manage their overall wellbeing. Designed for convenience and privacy, eMindCare is accessible anytime and anywhere, via both the website and mobile app, placing inclusive mental health and wellbeing within the reach of all.

Associated Motorways Ltd., a unit of Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Company, has announced the appointment of Jawahar Ganesh as its new Group Managing Director.

In his new role as Group Managing Director, Ganesh will be overseeing the diverse operations of AMW Group. This includes automotive sales and after-sales services, lubricants, batteries and tyres, tyre retreading, and financial services (leasing, hire purchase) and a multitude of other strategic divisions. As part of his responsibilities, he will also serve on the Boards of AMW Ltd., and AMW Capital Leasing and Finance PLC, working closely with the Al-Futtaim Group to further enhance and strengthen AMW’s operational excellence in Sri Lanka.

Ganesh’s career spans over three decades, and he brings with him a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, business transformation, finance and operational management across international markets. He has successfully led large-scale teams, driven process and cultural transformations, and consistently delivered strong growth in both revenue and profitability.

Ganesh has held key leadership roles in after-sales, business planning, finance and development with globally reputed automotive brands, such as Nissan and Mitsubishi in Europe and the Middle East. His vast expertise in service strategy, innovation and after-sales delivery has been instrumental in establishing him as a trusted leader in driving performance and customer satisfaction in competitive markets.

Ganesh has expressed great enthusiasm about his appointment as Group Managing Director of one of Sri Lanka’s most respected automotive companies, under the Al-Futtaim umbrella. He is committed to building upon AMW’s long-standing legacy of trust, innovation and customer focus, while navigating the company toward new opportunities for growth and value creation.

He has a strong belief in teamwork and operational excellence and aims to strengthen AMW’s position as a leader in country’s ever evolving mobility landscape. His enthusiasm also mirrors confidence in the country’s economic policies, the stability of its government to drive business investment, and the ongoing development of skilled professionals, the company said in a statement.

Under Ganesh’s leadership, AMW aims to accelerate its transformation journey, and is looking to further strengthen its customer centric focus, while continuously expanding its product and service portfolio, and embracing emerging opportunities in Sri Lanka’s automotive industry.

Colombo stock market closed in green yesterday with capitalisation crossing Rs. 8 trillion for the first time.

ASPI closed 0.23% up, gaining 51.49 points to 22,372.57 while the active S and P SL20 ended 0.29% higher, up 18.15 points to 6,225.52.

Market turnover was over Rs. 5.7 billion on more than 390.9 million shares traded.

Foreigners were net buyers with a net inflow of Rs.45.6 million

First Capital Research said the Colombo Bourse closed in positive territory today, gaining 51 points to end at 22,373.

Retail participation increased compared to the previous session, while HNW activity remained moderate. Despite the overall gain, the number of negative contributors exceeded the positive ones.

Key positive contributors to the index included WIND, DIAL, HNB, PLC, and NDB.

Turnover recorded Rs. 5.7 billion reflecting an 18% decline from the monthly average of Rs. 7 billion.

The Diversified Financials sector led sector-wise turnover with a 26% contribution, while the Capital Goods and Utilities sectors collectively accounted for 27%.

Meanwhile, market capitalisation surpassed Rs 8 trillion for the first time, marking a significant milestone. Foreign investors turned net sellers, posting a net outflow of Rs 59 million.

AIA Sri Lanka hosted the Partnership Distribution Diamond Club 2025 event in the city of Osaka, Japan, from 11 to 14 June 2025. This annual celebration brought together the highest achievers in Partnership Distribution from 18 markets, recognising their exceptional performance during the 2024 financial year. The event served as a platform to honour individuals who have demonstrated unwavering dedication to helping customers live healthier, longer and better lives.

Under the theme ‘Illuminate the Future,’ the four-day conference featured a rich and engaging agenda where attendees participated in strategic business sessions designed to promote collaboration, alongside wellness activities that emphasised holistic well-being. A highlight of the event was the exclusive visit to the Osaka World Expo 2025 and the Forbidden City, offering participants a glimpse into future-forward technologies and global cultural showcases. Among the representatives from AIA Sri Lanka were NDB Bank Partnership Assistant General Manager Asela Lokuge, Commercial Bank Partnership Assistant General Manager Amal Sampath and Commercial Bank Partnership Senior Bancassurance Sales Manager Tony Gabriel, whose contributions and commitment to excellence earned them a place in this elite event.

The Partnership Distribution Diamond Club not only celebrated individual accomplishments but also reinforced AIA’s strategic focus on empowering its partners and driving meaningful innovation.

The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) yesterday said that due to a disruption in the Lanka Government Cloud (LGC), several online services managed by various Government organisations have been temporarily affected.

These include the Birth, Marriage, and Death (BMD) Certificate System of the Registrar General’s Department, the e-Revenue License System (eRL 2.0) of the Provincial Departments of Motor Traffic (except the Western Province), and the Police Clearance System of the Department of Police.

Also affected were the Country of Origin Certificate Issuance Online System of Department of Commerce, Pension system of the Department of Pensions, e Local Government System and some of the websites including those of the Department of Meteorology, Registrar of Companies, and Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Board.

ICTA said its engineers and the service provider were actively working to restore the cloud services as quickly as possible.

The Registrar General’s Department has announced that certificate copies could be obtained manually from the Divisional Secretariat that issued the original certificate. All stakeholder organisations including Department of Police have been duly notified of the progress of rectification.

‘While restoration of LGC services are being given highest priority, existing capacity and operational constraints are expected to be released through the ongoing execution of the next phase of LGC expansion which commenced in October 2025,’ ICTA said.

ICTA expressed its regrets over the inconvenience caused to the public and to institutions hosted on the LGC, and said that all efforts were being expended to restore online services to their full capacity as soon as feasible.