Category: Daily Financial Times

The 99th birth anniversary of ‘Bhagwan’ Sathya Sai Baba will be observed on Sunday 23 November.

The day will be of great significance to millions of Baba devotees throughout the world. It will however be a red letter day for Ceylon Workers Congress General-secretary and Nuwara Eliya district parliamentarian Jeevan Thondaman who bids farewell to bachelorhood on that day.

Jeevan Kumaravel Thondaman known as Jeevan Thondaman and Jeevan will tie the traditional wedding necklace ‘Thali’ (mangalsutra) around the neck of Seethai Srii Naachiar Rameswaran amidst the reverberating crescendo of the ‘Kettimelam’ wedding drum roll on 23.

The marriage ceremony will take place during the auspicious hour from 10.15 to 11.15 a.m.

at the Arumugam Pillai Seethaiammaal College campus of Thiruppathur in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu state in India.

A large number of dignitaries from Sri Lanka including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe are expected to attend the wedding at Thiruppathur. Among fellow MPs who will be present are Mano Ganesan and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. After the wedding and related ceremonies are over, a reception will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton Hotel on 28 November.

Another reception would be held in Kotagala also

Jeevan Thondaman was first elected to Parliament from the Nuwara Eliya district in August 2020. He served as a state minister and later as cabinet minister. Jeevan was re-elected to Parliament in 2024. The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) General Secretary who was born on 9 November 1994 has for long been regarded as a most eligible bachelor. This Sunday will mark the end of Jeevan’s eligible bachelor status.

Seethai Srii Naachiar or Seethai the maiden who bowled Jeevan over is a 4th year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland(RCSL) medical university in Dublin. Both their families are well known to each other and the marriage was an ‘arranged’ union initiated by Jeevan’s mother Rajalakshmi Thondaman. Incidentally Jeevan’s father Arumugan and Seethai’s father Rameswaran are alumni of the Montfort Boys School at Yercaud in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu.

Great grandfathers

The association between both families goes back a long way and is due to the friendship between the groom’s great grandfather Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman and the bride’s great grandfather NTS Arumugam Pillai. Both Thondaman and Arumugam Pillai hail from Sivagangai district in the Tamil Nadu state of India.

Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman’s ancestral village Munapudur is about 6 km away from Arumugam Pillai’s village Thiruppathur. Both great grandfathers are no more but the links between both families remain strong and have manifested in the marriage between both great grandchildren. This is manifested clearly in the invitations which give pride of place to both great grandfathers.

Interestingly enough both Jeevan and his bride-to-be Seethai were born in the same hospital St Johns Medical Centre in Karaikudi in different years. Both had the same Obstetrician helping in their delivery. Also both babies and their mothers were warded in the same room at the hospital.

Another similarity between both families is that the great grandfathers of the bride and groom left their respective villages and established themselves successfully in two different countries. In the case of Thondaman it was his father Karuppiah Kumaravel who came over to Sri Lanka known as Ceylon during British colonial rule. He rose up in life through hard work and business acumen and acquired several estates including Wavendon in Ramboda. His son Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman who came to Sri Lanka in 1926 at the age of 13 from Munapudur went on to become a powerful trade unionist and political leader in Sri Lanka.

NTS Arumugam Pillai

In the case of NTS Arumugam Pillai, he left Thiruppathur at the age of 14 and went over to Malaysia known as Malaya during British rule in 1929. Arunugam Pillai engaged in commerce and established himself in the real estate sphere. He became a prominent land owner and plantation proprietor over the years. Arunugam Pillai donated land and helped construct several temples and schools in Malaysia. He served as the Penang state president of the Malaysian Indian Congress for some years and also published a Tamil daily newspaper ‘Thamil Malar’. Arumugam Pillai who was honoured with the ‘Dato’ title by the Malaysian Govt has a road -Jalan Arumugam Pillai-named after him in Penang.

Arumugam Pillai also set up a University college in his native village Thiruppattur in 1965. It was named after his wife as Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College. It is affiliated with the Alagappa University in Karaikudi,Tamil Nadu. The Seethai Amman College is currently administered by Arumugam Pillai’s grandson and Jeevan Thondaman’s future father in law Rameswaran. The Seethai Srii-Jeevan wedding will take place within the Seethai Amman College precincts.

‘Political families’

The rise and growth of ‘political families’ is a common occurrence in Sri Lanka. Ever since the island known formerly as Ceylon gained limited forms of representative democracy through the Legislative and State Councils during British rule, the practice of members of the same family seeking posts through elections became widely-prevalent. The advent of Parliamentary elections coupled with freedom from colonial bondage saw the political dynasty phenomenon gain further mileage. Political families began proliferating at multiple levels from local authorities to the supreme legislature.

Family politics is now a familiar feature of Sri Lanka’s political landscape cutting across race, religion, caste and creed. A perusal of a list of Sri Lankan political families in alphabetical order starting from the Abdul Majeeds of the East and going down to the Yapa Abeywardenas of the South would reveal that ethnicity is no bar to political family bandyism in Sri Lanka.

There are various types of political dynasties at different levels from the national, provincial, divisional and electoral levels. There are also different degrees of pedigree and vintage in these dynasties.

The most prominent political family among Tamils of Indian origin called ‘Malaiyahath Thamizhar’or Hill Country Tamils is the Thondaman family. Jeevan belongs to the fourth generation of this family. The Thondman family has played and continues to play an important role in the political affairs of Sri Lanka in general and the ‘Malaiyahath Thamizhar'(Hill Country Tamils) in particular.

Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman

The political dynasty’s founder , ‘plantation patriarch’ Saumiyamoorthy (spelt as Savumimoorthy and Saumyamurthy also) Thondaman was for several decades the undisputed leader of the CWC which has been for long, the largest Trade Union cum political party representing the estate workers/ up country Tamils of Sri Lanka. He has been both an elected and appointed member of Parliament and Cabinet minister for many years. His son Ramanathan Thondaman was elected to the Central Provincial Council and served as a provincial minister.

Arumugan Thondaman

Saumiyamoorthy’s grandson and Ramanathan’s son Arumugan Thondaman was also a prominent political leader. He was elected to Parliament from the Nuwara Eliya district continuously from 1994 to 2020. In addition to being the CWC leader, Arumugan has been a cabinet minister for many years.

Arumugan’s only son Jeevan Thondaman who was elected an MP after his father’s demise in 2020 has served as a state minister and cabinet minister. He is also the CWC General-Secretary. Arumugan’s nephew (sister Aadhilakshmi’s son) Senthil Thondaman is also in politics and was a minister in the Uva provincial council. Senthil also served as

Eastern province Governor for a while. He is presently the CWC President. Thus two cousins, both of them great grandsons of S. Thondaman, are leading the CWC currently.

Arumugan Thondaman married Rajalakshmi Natarajan of Thanjaavoor They have three children. The eldest two daughters Kothai Nachiar and Vijayalakshmi studied medicine.. Both are married with children. The youngest Jeevan was born on 9 November 1994.

After kindergarten and grade one at Gateway Primary School in Colombo, Jeevan joined the Lady Andal Venkata Subba Rao school in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in grade two. After studying up to grade 12 in the Chennai school, Jeevan went to the Chinmaya International Residential School in Coimbatore for a year.

University of Northumbria

Thereafter he enrolled for an LLB degree at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. He graduated with a law degree in 2017 and interned in a lawyer’s office in London with the intention of sitting for his bar at law exams later.

Jeevan’s ambition was to become a lawyer. At one point he returned to Sri Lanka with the idea of enrolling at the Law College in Sri Lanka. Appa Arumugan however took him into CWC folds and involved him in trade union activity. Jeevan was placed in charge of the CWC youth division.

Being young himself, Jeevan understood and empathised with the aspirations of the younger generation of up country Tamils. This made him a successful CWC youth leader. Arumugan also wanted the son to enter active politics and contest elections but Jeevan had steadfastly refused to do so.

Traumatic experience

Life changed drastically for Jeevan when his father Arumugan passed away suddenly due to a heart attack in May 2020. It was a traumatic experience for the son as the last word uttered by the father as he collapsed was ‘Jeevan’.

In accordance with custom, Jeevan shaved his head to perform the last rites. The massive outpouring of grief for Arumugan demonstrated the support he enjoyed among the up country Tamils despite the negative portrayal by sections of the media.

Subsequently, party, trade union ,family members and friends wanted Jeevan to contest elections in Nuwara Eliya district as a substitute for his father. Jeevan adhered to their wishes. In June 2020 , Jeevan was elected unanimously as CWC General Secretary. The CWC contested the August 2020 elections on the SLPP list.

Nuwara Eliya MP

The 5’9 tall Jeevan with features resembling South Indian actor Siddharth became hugely popular with voters. Jeevan Thondaman’s baptism of fire in electoral politics was the 2020 Parliamentary poll. The CWC election campaign was led by him. He topped the preferences in Nuwara Eliya district with 109,155 votes. Jeevan who was the youngest member of Parliament then was appointed State Minister of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Govt.

When the ‘Aragalaya’ protests escalated in 2022, the CWC pulled out of the Gota Government, Jeevan resigned his post. However the CWC with two MPs (Jeevan and Marudhupandy Rameshwaran) was among the first to extend support when Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister and later the President. Though he was offered a State Minister post, Jeevan declined it. He bided his time waiting for a Cabinet Minister post instead. It was in a way, a political gamble.

The gamble paid off when Jeevan Thondaman was inducted as Cabinet Minister into the Government headed by then President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Jeevan was sworn in as the Cabinet Minister in charge of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development by Wickremesinghe on 19 January 2023.

Youngest Cabinet Minister

In becoming a Cabinet Minister Jeevan set a record of his own. Jeevan Thondaman born on 9 November 1994 was the youngest cabinet minister to have assumed office in Sri Lanka. Earlier that record was held by Ranil Wickremesinghe. himself. In an ironic turn of events, Ranil helped Jeevan break his own record. Ranil born on 24 March 1949 was 29 years and 5 months old when he was appointed as cabinet minister of Youth affairs and Employment by the then President J.R. Jayewardene in September 1978. Jeevan was 28 years and 2 months old when he was sworn in as cabinet minister by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Thaippongal

In January 2024, minister Jeevan Thondaman organised a cultural event in Hatton to celebrate Thai Pongal. Popular South Indian actresses Aishwarya Rajesh, Aishwarya Dutta, Samyuktha Menon, and Meenakshi attended the event. The crowds of people participating welcomed the beautiful stars warmly. Several opposition politicians criticized Jeevan strongly for this, calling it ‘wasteful expenditure.’

Jeevan Thondaman responded to the criticism by saying that the event had been organised by several State institutions as the National Thai Pongal Festival and that the South Indian actresses had been invited for the event to promote tourism. He further stated that the participation of South Indian actresses helped improve relations between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu and served to help empower women in the up-country region.

The Thai Pongal controversy took an amusing turn when the actresses returned to India. They praised Jeevan lavishly. The most popular actress of the quartet Aishwarya Rajesh gushed to the Indian media about Jeevan. Earlier while addressing the Pongal event in Hatton, Aishwarya had singled out Jeevan for praise as one of the world’s youngest and smartest cabinet ministers. Jeevan was at the receiving end of much humour as a result.

Young Global Leader

In April 2024, the World Economic Forum (WEF) announced its list of Young Global Leaders Community: The Class of 2024, a distinguished group of individuals recognised for their exceptional contributions to shaping the future and driving positive change worldwide. Among the 2024 winners was Sri Lanka’s Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Jeevan Kumaravel Thondaman. He was listed under the Public Figures category. The Class of 2024 represented a diverse array of rising stars hailing from various sectors including politics, business, civil society, the arts and academia.

Elephant symbol

The 2024 Presidential elections saw Jeevan and the CWC back Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranil lost and the JVP led NPP chief Anura Kumara Dissanayake won. In the 2024 Parliamentary elections, the CWC contested under the Elephant symbol of the UNP. Jeevan was re-elected from Nuwara Eliya with a much reduced tally of 46,438 preference votes. Jeevan now sits in the Opposition and is ‘nominally’ the head of the UNP in Parliament.

In the local authority elections of May 2025, the CWC had 62 of their candidates elected to the various divisional, urban and municipal councils they contested. In an unexpected move, the CWC aligned with the NPP to form administrations in several councils in the hill country areas. This decision was largely due to Jeevan Thondaman. The Nuwara Eliya MP also voted in support of the 2026 Budget on account of the Rs. 1,750 daily wage announced by the Government.

It is against this political backdrop that the young Tamil leader from the hill country is getting married on Sunday. This column extends its congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple Jeevan Kumaravel Thondaman and Seethai Srii Naachiar Rameswaran.

The Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) officially presented Sri Lanka’s Productivity Master Plan and Accreditation Certificate at an event held in Colombo yesterday (20).

Molly, a traveller from Christchurch, New Zealand, has issued a detailed follow-up after her video documenting harassment during a solo trip to Sri Lanka went viral globally, sparking widespread debate, media attention, and an unexpected wave of victim-blaming.

In a new video message shared online, Molly said she ‘didn’t expect it to blow up the way it did,’ noting that the original clip was viewed millions of times and circulated across multiple platforms. The sudden visibility, she said, brought not only support, but also disturbing reactions including comments suggesting she was responsible for the incident simply because she travelled alone.

‘Women should be able to solo travel. We are not the problem,’ she said. ‘There are men who don’t know how to behave correctly. My personal favourite was that I should travel with a man to protect myself from men.’

She said some of the harshest criticism came from other women, who questioned her ‘survival skills’ and suggested solo travel was inherently unsafe. The global media picked up the story, triggering a broader conversation on safety for female travellers-an important but, she said, frustratingly reactive debate. Viral moments, she reminded followers, typically highlight ‘the bad things,’ which can distort public perception and make isolated incidents appear more widespread than they are.

Molly emphasised that the harassment she experienced should not be taken as representative of Sri Lanka or of solo female travel. ‘I’ve travelled through so many countries people label as ‘unsafe,’ and all I’ve experienced is kindness from locals,’ she said. ‘This incident can happen anywhere in the world, including your hometown, because unfortunately, men like this exist everywhere.’

She also went out of her way to defend Sri Lanka, describing the country as ‘amazing’ and one she would ‘always recommend to other people, especially solo female travellers.’ Her own experience, she stressed, was overwhelmingly positive. ‘I experienced nothing but kindness, generosity, and welcoming behaviour from locals. Whenever I had a problem, they were always there to help me.’

Following the viral video, Sri Lankan media widely circulated the footage, prompting authorities to act. Molly said she contacted the Sri Lankan Police, who responded ‘immediately,’ launching an investigation and manhunt. ‘I can’t thank the Sri Lankan Police enough,’ she said. ‘Their response was incredible, and within four days, he had been located and arrested.’

The suspect is now before Court, and Police have assured her they will continue to update her on the case.

While acknowledging her ordeal could have ended far worse and that many women globally have faced more dangerous situations, Molly said she is glad the conversation is expanding.

‘This is the reality women around the world face every single day,’ she noted, adding that raising awareness is crucial to addressing the behaviour that places women at risk, no matter the country.

Despite the trauma and chaotic aftermath, her message ends on a note of clarity: the man responsible does not represent Sri Lanka, and one incident should not overshadow the warmth she experienced throughout her travels.

Hayleys Fabric, TBS International, and Three Sinha Industries were among the top winners at the Western Province Entrepreneur Awards 2025, held on Wednesday (19) at the Bandaranaike Conference Hall.

A delegation from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Cell of the Department of Revenue, Government of India, visited Sri Lanka from 12-14 November 2025 to conduct the second phase of capacity-building and training programs for officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and other relevant regulatory agencies.

The Indian delegation included experts from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the FATF Cell, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

The program focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of financial sector supervision, regulatory coordination, and emerging challenges in the financial system. The training sessions brought together officials from CBSL, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Insurance Regulatory Commission, and representatives from financial institutions on the Sri Lankan side.

The sessions covered regulatory oversight, supervisory practices, sector-specific approaches, case-based discussions, and experience-sharing with the private sector, allowing participants to work closely with Indian experts on practical aspects of enhancing compliance and institutional capacity.

As part of the visit, the Indian delegation also met with the Governor of CBSL and senior leadership to review ongoing cooperation and identify areas for continued engagement. Discussions included regulatory framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and insights on India’s experience in digital payments.

This visit builds on earlier virtual interactions and the first phase of engagements held in October this year. Building on this momentum, there will be continued engagements through additional virtual sessions and follow-up visits from both sides, with the objective of furthering bilateral collaboration, enhancing regulatory preparedness, and ensuring alignment with global standards.

Sampath Bank PLC marked a transformative milestone in its sustainability journey with the official launch of the Sampath Bank Green Deposit, a fixed deposit product dedicated to financing environmentally sustainable projects. The launch event, held recently, brought together the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sanjaya Gunawardana, Chief Financial Officer Ajantha de Vas Gunasekara, members of the ESG Committee, department heads, and three valued customers who placed the first Green Deposits, symbolising a joint commitment towards a cleaner and more sustainable Sri Lanka.

The Sampath Bank Green Deposit represents a significant step forward in aligning the bank’s financial expertise with its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, while empowering customers to participate in building a low-carbon economy. Offered as a 12-month fixed deposit in Sri Lankan Rupees with interest payable at maturity at prevailing rates, this initiative reinforces the bank’s dedication to integrating sustainability into its core operations and supporting the national transition to renewable energy by 2030.

Sanjaya Gunawardana said, ‘The Sampath Bank Green Deposit is a reflection of our continued belief that responsible banking can shape a better world. Through this initiative, we are transforming deposits into tangible environmental action by financing projects that support clean energy and preservation. The Green Deposit Framework ensures that proceeds are channelled transparently towards eligible green projects, managed responsibly, and reported to our stakeholders. It is our way of assuring customers that their funds are making a measurable difference while upholding the integrity of sustainable finance.’

The Green Deposit Framework, developed in accordance with the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles and the Sri Lanka Green Finance Taxonomy, governs the process through four pillars: use of proceeds, project evaluation and selection, management of proceeds, and reporting. The bank has also obtained an Independent Practitioner’s Limited Assurance Report on Pre-Issuance of the Green Deposit, strengthening its credibility and mitigating any risk of greenwashing.

Funds raised through the Sampath Bank Green Deposit will initially finance solar installations across Sri Lanka, with future proceeds directed towards other qualifying green projects that contribute to environmental sustainability. Open to individuals aged 18 years and above as well as corporate entities committed to responsible investment, the Green Deposit allows customers to align their financial goals while contributing towards a positive environmental impact. Each depositor will also receive an e-receipt via their registered email, reflecting the bank’s commitment to both paperless operations and digital convenience.

Zimbabwe produced a dominant all-round performance to rout Sri Lanka for 95 and win their second match of the T20I Tri-Series by 67 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Having lost their first match to Pakistan two days ago, Zimbabwe put up a clinical show to outwit Sri Lanka in all departments of the game and secure only their third win in 11 T20I matches against Sri Lanka.

The tone for Zimbabwe was set in the opening over when Richard Ngarava hit the pitch hard and got the prize wicket of Pathum Nissanka for a duck. Tinotenda Maposa followed it with Kusal Perera’s wicket in the next over and Sri Lanka never looked like they were in it from then. They went through their lowest powerplay this year – 25-2 (6) – in 14 T20Is.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa ran Kusal Mendis out and then slogged to get himself out. Dasun Shanaka, in his return as Captain, waged a lone hand, making a top score of 34 off 25 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes) after being given a chance early on when Tadiwanashe Marumani missed a run-out. There was no help from the rest of the batters and Sri Lanka at the end played for the Net Run Rate (NRR) as the last pair attempted to bat out the overs. It was poor cricket from Sri Lanka and they had only themselves to blame for the defeat.

Zimbabwe improved on their performance from the opening game, but once again fell short of a par total. Brian Bennett (49 off 42 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) was central to their innings, putting together a 61-run stand off 43 balls with Sikandar Raza (47 off 32 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) that briefly had them on track for something in the region of 180. However, once that partnership was broken, both set batsmen fell before reaching their fifties, and Zimbabwe never found the finishing kick. Bennett fell before the death overs, and Raza was caught brilliantly by his vis-à-vis Dasun Shanaka just as Zimbabwe were eyeing up a big finish.

Wanindu Hasaranga (3/32) was outstanding with the ball and debutant Eshan Malinga impressed as well with figures of 2/27.

Raza picked up the Player of the Match award with his contribution with the bat and the ball (47 and 1/23), which included his 100th T20I wicket when he dismissed Kamindu Mendis. But it was the Zimbabwe quicks who set it all up, getting enough help from the pitch to tie down the Lankan batsmen who eventually succumbed to the pressure exerted.

This big win helped Zimbabwe’s NRR as they went to the top of the table.

ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka will host ‘An Italian Affair,’ a week-long celebration of authentic Italian cuisine from 24-30 November 2025. The event marks the establishment’s participation in the 10th edition of the Worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine in Colombo, bringing to Sri Lanka the richness of Italy’s culinary heritage and the global values of health, culture and innovation.

In honour of this milestone edition, ITC Ratnadipa will present an exclusive culinary experience led by Chef Antonio Savino, renowned for his mastery of Roman cuisine and over two decades of international expertise. Chef Savino heads Le Voilà Banqueting in Rome, where he has created innovative dining experiences for high-profile clients ranging from Gucci to the G20, earning acclaim for his balance of tradition and contemporary flair. During ‘An Italian Affair’ guests will be treated to an international dinner buffet featuring a curated selection of Italian dishes prepared by the Chef, showcasing regional authenticity, artisanal techniques, and his distinctive culinary style. The curated menu will be served at the Indian Ocean Pavilion for dinner at Rs. 9,600 Nett. His menu promises flavours that honour the heart of true Italian cooking while capturing the emotion and simplicity that make Italian cuisine so beloved around the world.

Guests are warmly invited to take part in this special week to savour the culinary artistry of Chef Savino and experience a taste of Italy brought to life at ITC Ratnadipa. The celebration promises a vibrant, immersive dining journey for both lovers of Italian cuisine and those discovering it anew.

ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo Area Manager Sri Lanka and General Manager Keenan McKenzie said: ‘We are proud to collaborate with the Italian Embassy to bring ‘An Italian Affair’ to Colombo as part of the Worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine. At ITC Ratnadipa, we are committed to setting ourselves apart by curating distinctive culinary journeys and I believe that by bringing curated events of this calibre, we create unique opportunities for our guests to experience diverse flavours from across the world.’

Sri Lanka and India will be connected through a high-voltage transmission line under a joint initiative now moving forward, Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament yesterday.

Wrapping up the debate on his Ministry’s expenditure head, he said both Governments are progressing with the project and reviewing the technical and commercial framework.

Jayakody said Sri Lanka’s focus is to ensure electricity exchanges occur at the most competitive rate once the grid link becomes operational.

The Minister also reported a sharp increase in domestic solar capacity additions this year. He said 800 MW of solar had been connected to the grid by October, mostly from rooftop systems, compared with 533 MW for the whole of 2024. The minister expects total additions to reach 900-1,000 MW by year-end.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) kicked off on Wednesday (19) with Talent Runway at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams. Powered by DIMO and presented by AOD Academy of Design, the event featured 50 collections unified by the climate change theme of fire, molten rocks, hurricanes, and cyclones. AOD, recognised as a sustainable university, presented designs utilising regenerated and deadstock textiles to position fashion as a regenerative industry and revive island craft heritage for modern, international audiences.