Category: Daily Financial Times

Royal Colombo Golf Club will host the Visa August Monthly Medal on 7 and 8 August, with an impressive field of over 310 golfers set to compete in one of the club’s most popular monthly competitions.

Play will commence at 7 a.m. on 7 August, while Day Two will tee off at 6 a.m.

Golfers of varying handicaps will battle for top honours in their respective divisions, with keen competition expected throughout the two-day event. The prize-giving will take place on 8 August at 7 p.m. (SJ)

Physio Medicare Group has been recognised as the ‘Sports Rehab and Physiotherapy Service Provider of the Year – Sri Lanka 2026’ at the prestigious GlobalHealth Sri Lanka Awards 2026, marking another significant milestone for the homegrown healthcare organisation.

Established in 2012, Physio Medicare has become one of Sri Lanka’s leading providers of physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation, and movement-based healthcare, helping thousands of patients recover from injuries, manage pain, and return to active living through evidence-based treatment.

The award recognises the organisation’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centred rehabilitation across musculoskeletal care, sports injuries, neurological rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery, and preventive healthcare.

Physio Medicare Group Founder and Chief Physiotherapist Nilakshi Kasilingam said: ‘This recognition belongs to our dedicated team and every patient who has trusted us throughout our journey. Our vision has always been to elevate the standard of physiotherapy in Sri Lanka while helping people move better, recover faster, and live healthier lives.’

With clinics in Physio Medicare, Dehiwala, Physio Premier, Colombo 3, and Physio Royal, Colombo 6, Physio Medicare continues to expand its services while promoting movement as the foundation of lifelong health.

The organisation is also leading national awareness initiatives such as Move It Sri Lanka 2.0, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to embrace active lifestyles.

As Physio Medicare celebrates this international recognition, the organisation remains committed to its mission of ‘Adding Life to Years’ by delivering world-class rehabilitation and advancing physiotherapy in Sri Lanka.

JADE, one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised Chinese restaurant brands under the LAUGFS Group, has recently expanded its footprint with the opening of its fourth restaurant at No. 326, Dehiwala Road, Boralesgamuwa, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to bringing its signature dining experience to more communities across the country.

Since opening its first restaurant at Jubilee Post in 2005, followed by its Maharagama outlet in 2006, JADE has established itself as a trusted destination for Chinese cuisine, earning a loyal customer base through its unwavering commitment to quality, taste and service. Building on this legacy, the successful opening of its Negombo restaurant in 2025 introduced new experiences, including a dedicated karaoke room, which has attracted a growing customer following. The Bellanwila restaurant marks another important milestone in JADE’s expansion journey as the brand continues to strengthen its presence in Sri Lanka’s restaurant industry.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Group Chairman, Group Executive Vice Chairman and the senior leadership team of the LAUGFS Group, who joined the JADE team in celebrating this significant achievement.

Addressing the gathering, the Group Chairman and Group Executive Vice Chairman highlighted the tremendous growth potential of the JADE brand, noting that its reputation has been built on uncompromising food quality and a consistently memorable dining experience. They also commended the team for creating a restaurant that reflects the brand’s commitment to excellence while providing customers with a welcoming and comfortable dining environment.

Speaking at the opening, Sector Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer – Retail Niroshan De Silva, emphasised that customer satisfaction must remain the cornerstone of JADE’s continued growth. He noted, ‘Every customer who walks through the restaurant’s doors should leave with a memorable dining experience and a reason to return. JADE is now entering an exciting phase of growth and expansion. As the brand continues to grow, maintaining exceptional service standards, consistently delivering high-quality food and creating memorable customer experiences will be key to building lasting customer loyalty and sustaining the brand’s success.’

The new Bellanwila restaurant has been thoughtfully designed to cater to a variety of dining occasions, offering seating for approximately 90 guests with an inviting outdoor dining area, a warm and comfortable indoor seating space and a private dining room for family gatherings, celebrations and corporate functions. The restaurant also offers a Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) facility, providing customers with added flexibility and convenience.

To enhance accessibility, customers can enjoy JADE’s signature menu through PickMe Food and Uber Eats, while those who prefer direct ordering can place orders via the restaurant hotline- 0112 057 357 for home delivery or conveniently collect their meals from the restaurant.

The opening of the Bellanwila outlet reflects JADE’s renewed growth momentum and the brand’s continued investment in delivering exceptional food, outstanding hospitality and memorable dining experiences. With further expansion plans already in the pipeline, customers can look forward to more JADE restaurants opening in the future as the brand continues to bring its renowned flavours to even more locations across Sri Lanka.

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) said that six of its researchers have won prestigious scholarships for postgraduate studies at top-rated universities.

Suresh Ranasinghe joined the IPS on graduating with a BA in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo and an LLB from the Open University of Sri Lanka and secured a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in 2022/23 to follow an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Nottingham, UK. On his return, Suresh pursued his research interests in health, education, and labour policy and was awarded a fully funded studentship to commence a PhD in Economics at Nottingham Trent University, UK, from October 2025.

Usha Perera joined the IPS with a BA in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo and won a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2023/24 to pursue an MSc in Economics at the University of Leeds. On her return to the IPS, she continued to pursue her research interests in health, labour, and education policy and successfully secured funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, UK, to commence a PhD in Economics at Lancaster University, UK in October 2026.

Chandula Idirisinghe joined the IPS with a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Technology and Management with an Upper Second Class from the University of Peradeniya and successfully completed a Master of Agricultural Economics from the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya. With his research pursuits in the areas of agriculture and agribusiness development policy, Chandula has gained admission to the University of Guelph, Canada, on a fully funded scholarship to commence his PhD in Management in September 2026.

Himani Vithanage joined the IPS as a Saman Kelegama Research Grant awardee, with a BA in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo as well as a BSc in Economics and Finance with First Class Honours from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to pursue research in the areas of health, education, and labour policy. Himani has been awarded a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2026 and secured admission to the University of Oxford to commence an MSc in Economics for Development in September 2026.

Chaya Dissanayake joined the IPS with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture with an Upper Second Class from the University of Jaffna. Chaya’s research at the IPS, particularly in relation to disaster risk preparedness, will see her commencing an MSc in Risk and Disaster Science at University College London (UCL), UK, in September 2026 as a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026 winner.

Dinithi Athulathmudali joined the IPS as a Saman Kelegama Research Grant awardee, with a BA in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo. Dinithi’s research at the IPS has focused on health, education, and labour policy. She has been awarded the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2026 and secured admission to the University of Oxford to commence an MSc in Economics for Development in September 2026.

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday challenged the Government’s justification for increasing the retirement age of all judges by two years, arguing that the proposed constitutional amendment was not intended to bring wrongdoers to book or reduce court delays, but instead undermined judicial independence.

Speaking at a media briefing, FSP Secretary (Education) Pubudu Jayagoda said the Government’s argument that extending the retirement age of judges would help end corruption-related cases was misleading, as such cases are not heard in the Supreme Court in the first instance.

He noted that the majority of judges hearing these cases in the Magistrates’ Courts and High Courts are between the ages of 30 and 50, making it unlikely that retirements would interrupt ongoing proceedings.

Jayagoda also rejected the suggestion that only the current judges could ensure accountability, saying it was an insult to the judiciary to suggest that newly appointed judges would be unwilling or unable to uphold the law.

‘This move by the Government is not to catch thieves but is breaching the rights of the people,’ he claimed.

He argued that delays in the judicial process could be addressed by filling long-standing vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, appointing additional judges to lower courts, increasing judicial staff, and removing procedural bottlenecks.

Jayagoda accused the Government of citing delays while failing to fill key judicial vacancies.

He said increasing the retirement age of judges and retaining the existing cadre for a longer period would not resolve the delays and backlog of cases.

According to Jayagoda, the Government was citing delays in the judicial process while failing to address existing vacancies in the higher courts, including four vacancies in the Supreme Court and four in the Court of Appeal, which have remained vacant for a long period.

He also pointed out that there were around 50 vacancies in pre-trial courts and another 50 in Small Claims courts, while only 33 Magistrates had recently been recruited on the grounds that no funds had been allocated.

He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had the authority to fill these vacancies and improve the efficiency of the judicial system.

Claiming that the Attorney General’s Department was facing a shortage of around 200 officers, Jayagoda further questioned the Government’s rationale for focusing on extending retirement ages while failing to address these critical shortages.

The FSP also criticised both the Government and the Opposition, claiming that successive administrations had compromised judicial independence through politically motivated appointments to the office of Chief Justice.

The FSP called on the public to oppose the proposed amendment and urged them to form an independent people’s movement outside Parliament rather than relying on either the Government or the Opposition. (SS)

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and with the support of the European Union (EU) under the ‘Accelerating Climate Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (ACSIIS)’ program, has launched the third cohort of ‘ExpoScaleUp’, a flagship program designed to help Sri Lankan SMEs compete and grow in international markets.

The four-day intensive program brought together 25 high-potential SMEs from across the country to strengthen their export readiness through the development of practical, market-oriented Export Marketing Plans. Participants received expert guidance from an internationally recognised export marketing specialist from the Netherlands, with support from a trained EDB coaching team.

ExpoScaleUp is a key component of the Sri Lanka Export Excellence Initiative (SLEEI), a flagship export development program jointly implemented by EDB, IFC and the EU. The initiative aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Sri Lankan SMEs by enhancing their export readiness, market access, and long-term sustainability.

Since its launch in January 2025, ExpoScaleUp has completed two cohorts, supporting 50 SMEs. The programme has already helped five companies secure their first export orders and supported 38 others obtain internationally recognized certifications, join international trade fairs, and participate in overseas market exposure activities.

These results highlight the value of combining capacity building, tailored coaching, and targeted market access through strong collaboration between the public sector and international development partners.

Speaking at the inauguration, EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe said programs such as ExpoScaleUp are vital to helping Sri Lankan SMEs move from export potential to export success. He noted that practical training, market exposure, and focused business planning are essential to building a stronger pipeline of competitive exporters capable of growing sustainably in international markets.

Participants in the third cohort will receive hands-on support to develop Export Marketing Plans tailored to their products, target markets, and business goals. Eligible companies that successfully complete the programme may also access further international market exposure and business development support through ExpoConnect – the programme component that connects SMEs with global partners.

Through this continued collaboration, EDB, IFC and the EU aim to develop a stronger pipeline of export-ready SMEs that can compete internationally and contribute to Sri Lanka’s national goal of reaching $36 billion in export earnings by 2030.

Any government in power with the executive presidency in hand and a two-thirds parliamentary majority to boot will want to have its way, however much there is opposition to what they propose to do. The ruling JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) is in that position today and will steamroll its constitutional amendments to increase the retirement age of sitting judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal despite strong opposition from some quarters, including those within its own ranks. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has led the charge against the proposed amendments, along with opposition political parties, some sections of the clergy, civil society groups, etc. These have had no impact on a government hell-bent on having its way.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP are not doing anything very different from what their predecessors did when they too had this kind of power. Be it under J.R. Jayewardene, Chandrika Kumaratunga or Mahinda Rajapaksa, there have been instances where they had little qualms about interfering with the functioning of the judiciary. Chief Justices were appointed at the whim and fancy of the executive, and Chief Justices were removed also at their whim and fancy.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as President, is only following in the illustrious footsteps of his predecessors. He’s got a taste for the unlimited power bestowed on him by the Executive Presidency, along with a parliament of yes-men and yes-women, which makes it easy to guess that these constitutional amendments are likely to be just the start of many other such laws to fortify the JVP/NPP’s hold on power. And as happened with the likes of J.R. Jayewardene and Mahinda Rajapaksa, there’s no one to tell the current President that he’s on the path which always ends badly for rulers who assume they are invincible, and that the temporary custody they have over state power is a permanent fixture.

In the case of the proposed constitutional amendment, there are arguments that increasing the retirement age of superior court judges is a progressive step. It is true that increasing retirement ages is not a bad thing, not only for judges but across the board, given that it’s sensible to retain experienced public officials beyond the current retirement ages. This is the trend all over the world, with retirement ages being pushed up to even seventy years in some countries.

So, what is wrong with what is happening in Sri Lanka where the judges’ retirement age extension is concerned? What is wrong is the manner in which the Government failed/refused to discuss this matter with stakeholders before rushing to get Cabinet approval for it, as well as the manner in which the matter has been politicised to such an extent that public opinion has gained traction that this move is for the ruling party to gain favour with some sitting judges and ‘fix’ their political opponents using the judiciary. All this speculation could just be the creation of opponents of the Government, but now even those who once could not see beyond the NPP are beginning to question the Government’s intentions. The fact that some members of the NPP’s executive committee have publicly voiced opposition to the proposed amendment shows that the ruling side is sliding away from its election promises and moving in the direction of the authoritarianism that the executive presidency tends to push politicians towards.

The NPP came to power with promises of system change. Instead of system change, the country is headed in the same direction, with systems remaining the same. There is little that can stand in the way of a government with absolute power, but when the dust settles on this one, much will have changed for this Government, and not in a positive way.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered to remand former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam till 18 August.

Kariyawasam was arrested on corruption charges during his tenure as Senior Presidential Adviser (Administrative Reforms), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said.

Issuing a statement, the CIABOC noted that while serving as Senior Presidential Adviser, Kariyawasam recruited four employees under the claim they were part of his official staff. Three had been deployed to work at his private filling station, while another was engaged in duties unrelated to the office.

Despite not being assigned to official responsibilities, arrangements were made to pay salaries and allowances totaling Rs. 2,768,836.14 from public funds, causing financial loss to the State.

He was taken into custody around 1.45 p.m. yesterday by officers of the CIABOC and was remanded till 18 August after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The Government has reopened investigations into two overseas procurement transactions worth a combined $ 17.79 million, including payments for Australian milch cows and Chinese fertiliser, as part of a broader review of historic public expenditure, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during the debate on the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) report on the Treasury cyber fraud, Wijepala said authorities were investigating a payment of $ 11.09 million made during 2014/15 for the procurement of 20,000 milch cows from Australia.

He said no cows had been received, the funds had been lost, and no investigation had previously been conducted into the transaction.

The Minister also said the Government was investigating a separate payment of $ 6.7 million made for Chinese fertiliser after fertiliser was not received.

Wijepala said both cases formed part of a wider review of historical overseas payments and financial anomalies undertaken by the Government.

He said investigators were examining older transactions to determine whether public funds had been misused and to identify any irregularities that had not previously been investigated.

This August, Indiya at City of Dreams Sri Lanka will bring together two of India’s most celebrated culinary destinations, Indian Accent Mumbai and Ekaa, for an exclusive two-night dining experience on August 7-8, 2026. The guest chef experience will see Executive Chef Rijul Gulati of Indian Accent Mumbai and Chef Niyati Rao, Head Chef and Partner of Ekaa, present specially curated vegetarian and non-vegetarian Chef’s Tasting Menus that celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage through bold innovation, exceptional ingredients and refined technique.

Designed as a seamless dialogue between two distinct culinary philosophies, the menus bring together Indian Accent’s globally acclaimed reinterpretation of Indian classics with Ekaa’s ingredient-led, deeply thoughtful approach inspired by seasons, cultures and memories. Guests can look forward to an extraordinary progression of dishes including Papdi Chaat with Crackling Spinach, Blue Cheese Naan, Black Cod with Masala Carrot and Apricot Chutney, Tomato Tomato, Marathawada, and the iconic Daulat Ki Chaat, before concluding with the elegant Risalamande featuring pandan rice gelato.

‘Indian cuisine is shaped by stories, traditions and ingredients from across the country,’ says Indian Accent Mumbai Executive Chef Rijul Gulati. ‘We’re excited to bring Indian Accent’s perspective to Colombo and share our approach to modern Indian cuisine with guests at Indiya.’

Ekaa Partner and Head Chef Niyati Rao adds, ‘Ekaa has always been about celebrating ingredients, cultures and memories in a way that feels both personal and unexpected. We’re excited to bring our culinary philosophy to Colombo and create an experience that encourages guests to discover Indian cuisine through a new lens.’

Indian Accent is renowned as the pioneering modern Indian restaurant worldwide, with its inventive approach seamlessly blending traditional flavours with contemporary techniques. Located in New Delhi, New York and Mumbai, Indian Accent has won more accolades than it can count over the years. It has also been recognised by Time Magazine as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places.

Joining the experience is Ekaa, one of Mumbai’s most exciting contemporary restaurants, led by acclaimed chef Niyati Rao. Inspired by ingredients rather than convention, Ekaa has earned widespread recognition for its imaginative, ingredient-first philosophy, while Chef Niyati herself has been honoured on both the Forbes India and Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 lists, alongside consecutive recognitions at The Best Chef Awards.

For just two evenings, Indiya at City of Dreams Sri Lanka will offer guests a rare opportunity to experience two of India’s most celebrated restaurants through an unforgettable tasting journey where tradition meets innovation, reaffirming its position as one of Colombo’s premier destinations for exceptional Indian dining.

As the Indian specialty restaurant at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Indiya continues to champion the richness and evolution of Indian cuisine by introducing internationally acclaimed chefs and celebrated dining concepts to Colombo, creating exceptional experiences that place the city firmly on the regional culinary map.