Category: Daily Financial Times

Kemcare Technologies Ltd. has announced that it has been officially certified as a Great Place To Work in Sri Lanka, effective September 2025.

Awarded by Great Place To Work (GPTW), the global authority on workplace culture, this certification recognises Kemcare’s commitment to fostering an inspiring, inclusive, and people-driven work environment.

‘At Kemcare Technologies, our greatest strength lies in our people,’ said the Director. ‘This recognition reflects the trust, teamwork, and passion that define our culture and drive us to enrich lives through innovation and excellence.’

The company proudly shares this achievement with its employees, customers, and partners, reaffirming its dedication to setting new benchmarks in workplace culture and organisational growth.

Kemcare Technologies Pvt Ltd. – Together, we enrich lives.

In most Sri Lankan organisations, cybersecurity is still viewed as an IT concern, i.e. something the ‘tech people’ will take care of once the operational systems are running smoothly.

This mindset is dangerously outdated. In today’s digital economy, where every business process, from payroll to procurement, depends on interconnected systems, cybersecurity is a governance and leadership issue, not a technical one.

Across dozens of organisations we have engaged with, one pattern repeats: the head of IT is expected to ‘handle’ cybersecurity alongside server maintenance, system rollouts, and user support. There is rarely a dedicated cybersecurity function, and very few boards receive structured cybersecurity briefings. The result? Cyber risk remains invisible until a breach occurs.

The misconception: ‘Cyber = IT’

This assumption stems from history. In the 1990s and early 2000s, cybersecurity mainly meant firewalls, antivirus software, and network protection, all managed by IT teams. But the modern cyber landscape is entirely different.

Today, threats exploit not just systems, but people, processes, and access patterns. They thrive on poor governance: excessive privileges, unmanaged accounts, lack of oversight, and weak accountability.

When cybersecurity is left to IT alone, decisions are made on operational convenience, not on risk appetite, compliance exposure, or business continuity priorities. That’s like asking your accountant to write your company’s governance policy.

The reality: Cyber governance is enterprise governance

In leading global organisations, cybersecurity oversight sits with the board risk committee or the chief risk officer, not buried within the IT department. Boards in these organisations routinely ask critical questions: Do we know who has access to what? Can we demonstrate control over privileged accounts? Are we compliant with ISO 27001, GDPR, or local data-protection laws? And if a ransomware attack strikes tonight, who makes the first call and according to what plan?

Cybersecurity today intersects with law, reputation, insurance, and shareholder confidence, all matters that sit within the board’s domain. It is no longer a technical safeguard; it is a pillar of enterprise governance.

The opportunity: Build security governance, not just defences

At Welford Systems, we’ve demonstrated this principle through our Welford IAG (Identity and Access Governance) platform, a system built not to block hackers, but to govern trust.

It helps organisations ensure that every user, administrator, and technical account has clear ownership, defined purpose, and time-bound access. In many of our engagements, organisations realised for the first time how many orphaned or unmanaged accounts existed, a hidden risk that no firewall could ever fix.

Cyber maturity begins not with a new tool, but with ownership, visibility, and accountability. Technology simply enforces what leadership chooses to govern.

A call to Sri Lankan leadership

Sri Lankan businesses are digitising at record pace. It’s time to move cybersecurity out of IT’s inbox and onto the board agenda. The rapid digital growth, from banking apps to e-governance portals, will only be sustainable if leadership recognises that cyber resilience is a business discipline, not a technology expense. The responsibility for digital trust starts at the top with the board and the CEO.

The next generation of successful organisations will be those that govern cybersecurity as seriously as finance, because in a digital world, the two are inseparable.

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has arrested a female who has close connections with a SLBFE driver, who has defaulted over Rs. 10 million from job seekers promising jobs in Israel.

According to the SLBFE, the SIU had received several complaints regarding a large-scale scam carried out by the driver, who had been working at the SLBFE and had been dismissed, claiming to provide jobs in Israel.

Acting on the instructions of SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, the Bureau’s Police Unit launched a special probe into the matter.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had collected large sums of money from individuals across the country, claiming he could secure them jobs in Israel. The money was deposited into a bank account belonging to a woman identified as his mistress.

The SIU officers of the Bureau arrested the woman on Saturday in the Avissawella area. During questioning, she admitted to maintaining a close relationship with the driver and allowing her account to be used for the transactions.

She was produced before the Avissawella Acting Magistrate and remanded until today (27).

The Bureau confirmed that eight formal complaints have been lodged so far against the absconding driver, with total defrauded amounts estimated to be around Rs. 10 million.

SLBFE Chairman Wickramasinghe said extensive efforts were underway to track down and arrest the main suspect.

‘We are committed to bringing all those involved in foreign employment frauds to justice, irrespective of their position,’ he said. ‘The Bureau’s newly established Police Unit has already exposed several such scams, and we will ensure strict legal action against the culprits.’

The Bureau has urged any additional victims of this scam to come forward and lodge complaints via its hotline 1989.

MiHCM, a global HR technology provider, last week unveiled a host of new AI-powered solutions to top corporate leaders, partners, and customers at MiHCM Connect 2025 hosted at the Celestine Ballroom at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo.

At the high-profile event attended by a host of distinguished invitees, MiHCM Group CEO Harsha Purasinghe showcased how the company’s new cutting-edge AI solutions could boost productivity, deliver unparalleled insights, and transform processes – heralding a new era of work tech.

He also spoke on the company’s revamped solutions, explaining how they had been upgraded to better suit customer needs.

‘We’re entering a new era of work tech, where AI isn’t just a feature – it’s a foundation,’ said Purasinghe. ‘With Syntra, MiA, and our SmartAssist suite, we’re not just enhancing HR; we’re transforming how organisations operate. These solutions are built to deliver secure, intelligent, and actionable insights that empower leaders and employees alike. Our mission is to help businesses move from reactive to proactive, from manual to intelligent, and from siloed to unified.’

MiHCM Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Pubudini Abeyesekera added: ‘At MiHCM, we’re committed to delivering solutions that are not only intelligent but also deeply relevant to our clients’ evolving needs. The new product line-up reflects our vision to empower organisations with tools that simplify complexity, drive strategic outcomes, and elevate the employee experience.’

Syntra, MiHCM’s AI brain

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of Syntra, MiHCM’s AI-powered brain.

‘Syntra represents the foundation of our future – the engine that drives intelligence across the entire MiHCM ecosystem. Over the past few years, we’ve been building not just features, but a deep AI capability that can understand context, process data, and deliver intelligent outcomes. We wanted to go beyond automation and analytics, to create a platform that learns, adapts, and powers intelligent decision-making for organisations. Today, I’m proud to introduce Syntra – our AI Core Platform that brings together data, insights, and intelligence into one unified framework,’ said Purasinghe.

Syntra unlocks the power of each client’s MiHCM private tenant data, combines it with the same organisation’s enterprise data lakes, business systems, and uploaded documents, and generates real-time insights and visualisations.

Transforming raw data into interactive insights that guide decisions and reveal deeper workforce patterns and seamlessly blends private, structured, and unstructured data, it delivers contextual intelligence while keeping customer data completely secure and isolated.

‘What makes Syntra truly powerful is its ability to unlock your organisation’s private intelligence without exposing your data to public models. Syntra fuses your internal and external data safely to deliver the most meaningful insights – all in real time,’ said Purasinghe.

Syntra turns any question into instant answers, charts, tables, and dashboards, exportable into PowerPoint, Excel, or PDF. It connects to MiHCM and third-party systems via secure APIs, consolidating all workforce and enterprise data into one intelligent layer.

‘With Syntra, we are shaping the next decade of MiHCM, where AI becomes the foundation for every digital workforce experience. This is our bold step forward – from digital HR to truly intelligent work technology built in Asia, for the world,’ added Purasinghe.

Built on Microsoft Azure, Syntra ensures enterprise-grade performance, uptime, and regional adaptability, with end-to-end security and compliance – including AES-256 encryption, TLS 1.2+, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 9001, GDPR and PDPA compliance, and Responsible AI principles.

MiA, the agentic HR assistant

Also unveiled at Connect 2025 was the all-new MiA – a personal agentic AI assistant built to redefine the employee experience.

‘Traditionally, employee self-service and experience delivery have been through web portals and mobile apps, and they’ve served us well for the past seven years, but they have limitations. We realised it was time to reimagine the entire employee experience. Our vision was to turn every employee into an empowered digital worker, supported by an intelligent, personalised AI assistant,’ said Purasinghe.

MiA goes beyond chatbots, acting as an intelligent companion that can understand natural language, take actions, and complete HR tasks automatically. Employees can now apply for leave, check policies, generate insights, or get approvals by simply conversing naturally with MiA.

‘Imagine an entire workforce guided each day by their own personal digital workplace assistant – one that understands you, your work, and your context. MiA, our fully agentic, AI-powered personal assistant, is designed to replace traditional web and mobile self-service.’

MiA combines intelligence with enterprise-grade security.

Smart, secure solutions for the future of work

Expanding on the company’s Data and AI offerings, Purasinghe highlighted that the world had entered a new era of AI, and that MiHCM’s dedicated AI team was capable of solving complex HR and work challenges with advanced AI capabilities.

Other products showcased included:

SmartAssist for Core – streamlines HR operations with AI-driven automation

SmartAssist for Recruitment – revolutionises talent acquisition through intelligent insights

SmartAssist for Reports – generates, refines, and personalises reports in moments

MiHCM Support Agent – enhances customer service with 24/7 AI-powered support

The event also featured a showcase of MiHCM’s Core, Payroll, Talent, and Data modules, concluding with a session on the company’s security and compliance framework.

All new products, including Syntra and MiA, will be available to clients from January 2026.

Sri Lankans across the island rely on three-wheelers, vans, motorbikes, and small trucks not just for transport, but for income. They are delivery riders, distributors, small and medium scale entrepreneurs and self-employed workers, whose daily effort supports and uplifts local economies. Yet despite their contribution to the country’s economy their access to organised credit is limited and they have remained underserved by formal financial institutions.

Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd., (MIFL), a licensed non-bank financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is addressing this gap by offering leasing and loan products tailored for this segment of micro-entrepreneurs. The company focuses particularly on individuals who depend on vehicles for their daily income and offer structured, repeatable financing to help improve their earning potential.

Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd., Managing Director and CEO Mufaddal A. Choonia said: ‘We work with customers who don’t fit conventional lending profiles but are the ones who drive real economic activity. Our goal is to offer the ‘earn and pay’ segment of customers, financial solutions that are serviceable by their earning patterns and we do not fit them into systems that weren’t built for them. This, we believe is the future of inclusive financial access in Sri Lanka.’

Sri Lanka’s credit gap for this customer segment and MSMEs stands at over $ 13 billion due to limited financing available to these individuals who are without payslips, fixed assets, or CRIB histories. Many work informally and cannot meet the documentation requirements or traditional collateral conditions demanded by most financial institutions. While they may use formal banking services, their access to formalised credit remains limited.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka has over one million registered three-wheelers, with approximately 800,000 used for commercial transport. The sector supports an estimated 760,000 households and over 2.8 million people.

Data shows that 98% of three-wheeler drivers actively save through formal banks, despite operating outside traditional employment structures. For most of these customers, leasing remains the only option to access vehicles. MIFL’s deep understanding of this segment of customers ensures that the repayment cycles for these customers are aligned to their daily cash flows, thereby ensuring easy rental repayments.

MIFL’s financing model seeks to change this by making vehicle ownership more accessible and cost-effective. Its emphasis on dealer partnerships and flexible credit structures allows customers to engage on terms better suited to their cashflow cycles. In doing so, MIFL provides a path toward long-term income retention and asset ownership – both of which are critical to building economic resilience at the household level.

China Mobile Shandong and Huawei have been honoured with the ‘Most Innovative Telco AI Deployment’ award for their co-developed Intelligent Network Change Management Platform (INCMP) at the annual Network X awards ceremony held recently.

The platform stood out for its pioneering simulation technology and deep integration with real-world practices, showcasing the partners’ extraordinary collaboration and remarkable achievement in network digitalization and setting a new benchmark for intelligent transformation in global network services.

Network X is a global event in the communications industry, convening leading operators, innovators, and decision makers. Its awards celebrate groundbreaking achievements across the sector, honouring the projects that redefine the industry’s future and also guiding the industry’s continued growth.

China Mobile Shandong operates an IP network serving over 100 million users in Shandong province across mobile Internet, home broadband, enterprise private lines, and IPTV services. As the network expands and service complexity increases, managing configuration changes has become increasingly challenging. Since 2024, the company has executed over 1,500 network changes. Traditional manual configuration verification, which relies heavily on human experience, is prone to errors and omissions, posing risks to network reliability and stability.

To address these challenges, China Mobile Shandong partnered with Huawei to integrate Huawei’s next-generation Centralised Model-Operation Simulation (CMOS) algorithm from iMaster NCE into the INCMP. Together, they built a ‘zero-error’ autonomous network, delivering three major improvements. They are Pre-change predictive simulation, In-change precise control and Post-change visualised traceability.

Operation statistics have confirmed the platform’s remarkable improvements: major incidents have been prevented, network migration efficiency has improved by nearly 60%, and user complaints have dropped to near zero. China Mobile Shandong has also incorporated the change simulation pass rate into the operation workflows of several critical network change scenarios, driving the province-wide standardisation of network operations and maintenance.

Abans PLC hosted its annual Circle of Excellence 2025 awards ceremony at the Monarch Imperial on 17th October in Battaramulla, bringing together key mobile business partners from across Sri Lanka, including regional distributors, island wide mobile dealers, suppliers, and frontline sales teams. As the National distributor for leading global brands such as OPPO, Realme, Motorola, and itel, Abans has played a pivotal role in driving mobile innovation and accessibility across the country.

This event marked a moment of reflection and recognition, celebrating the tremendous growth and performance achieved over the past year through strong collaboration and market agility.

The mobile business has seen remarkable expansion and impact over the past year; with record-breaking sales, deeper market penetration, and strengthened partner relationships contributing to one of the most successful periods in recent history.

The evening recognized that business relationships are more than transactions; they’re built on trust, consistency, and shared goals. By honouring top performers and reaffirming its commitment to collaborating with its partners, Abans reinforced the belief that long-term success is driven by strong human connections.

Opening the ceremony, Mr. Buddhika Dharmawardana, Director Operations at Abans PLC, highlighted the growing importance of mobile retail in Sri Lanka’s digital economy. He assured partners that Abans remains fully committed to supporting their efforts and strengthening the ecosystem together.

Managing Director at Abans, Mr. Rusi Pestonjee expressed sincere appreciation to all partners for their continued support and encouraged them to stay closely aligned with Abans as the company moves forward. His message was clear; progress is a shared journey, and every partner plays a vital role.

Mr. Rangana Naotunna, Head of Mobile Sales, echoed this sentiment by inviting partners to deepen their engagement and continue building on the momentum of recent years.

Chief Marketing Officer Dr. Chathura Jayawardana closed the speeches with a note of gratitude and optimism; thanking partners for their dedication and announcing the upcoming launch of a new product range at competitive prices, that is designed to create fresh opportunities for growth. He extended special thanks to mobile business partners from across Sri Lanka, including regional distributors, island wide mobile dealers, frontline sales teams, and valued suppliers representing OPPO, Realme, Motorola, and itel; whose collective efforts have been instrumental in driving success throughout the past year.

The awards segment recognized outstanding contributions across multiple categories, celebrating excellence in both performance and partnership.

Accordingly, the awards for Regional Distributors for the Highest Sales Contribution, the Highest Target Achievement were conferred, in addition to Island wide Outstanding Mobile Dealers being awarded, while the Abans Sales Team were awarded with appreciation awards, recognizing the dedication and impact of each recipient.

Each award was a reflection of hard work, consistency, and the kind of dedication that drives real results. More than recognition, it was a moment to thank those who continue to go above and beyond.

As the event concluded, the message of the Abans Circle of Excellence 2025 was made clear; it wasn’t just about celebrating the past, it was about building the future. With renewed energy and shared purpose, Abans and its partners are ready to take the next step forward, together.

The PGA Tour has cancelled its 2026 season-opening event in Hawaii after failing to find an alternative venue to host The Sentry. The tournament, which was to be played from 8-11 January, had to be moved from the Plantation Course at Kapalua on the island of Maui because of drought conditions.

However, the PGA Tour said that, ‘having assessed alternate venues in Hawaii and beyond,’ it could not hold the tournament because of ‘logistical challenges – including shipping deadlines, tournament infrastructure and vendor support.’

The first event of next year will now be the Sony Open, scheduled from 15-18 January at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Sentry, which relocated from California to Maui in 1999, was the PGA Tour’s season opener between 1986 and 2013 before returning to that slot in 2024, when the Tour switched back to a calendar-year schedule. The field at the event would have featured the top 50 players from the previous year’s FedExCup standings, as well as winners of PGA Tour events from the previous year.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, has unveiled Apple’s revolutionary iPhone 17 series, bringing together cutting-edge technology, powerful AI capabilities, and superior 5G-ready performance to elevate the everyday experiences of Sri Lanka’s modern, connected consumers.

The iPhone 17 series introduces a new era of mobile innovation, powered by Apple’s A19 and A19 Pro chips that enable console-level gaming, advanced multitasking, and next-gen Apple Intelligence features like Live Translation and Image Playground. The devices also feature Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion for ultra-smooth visuals, and a camera system that pushes boundaries – from the 48MP Dual Fusion setup on the iPhone 17, to the groundbreaking 200mm telephoto lens and 16x optical zoom on the Pro Max. The all-new iPhone Air, at just 5.6mm thin, combines pro-level performance with stunning portability. Fully optimised for Dialog’s 5G-ready network, users will experience seamless connectivity, ultra-low latency, and exceptional reliability – making the iPhone 17 series the definitive choice for professionals, creators, and everyday users who demand more from their mobile devices.

Customers who pre-ordered through Dialog received an exclusive bundle of premium benefits, including a free Apple 20W charger and 2TB of complimentary data. The first 50 customers who paid with a Visa Infinite card also received free AirPods Pro 3. Additional advantages included 24 months of accidental damage coverage inclusive of two screen repairs and two back glass repairs, a 12 month Apple warranty and 12 month extended warranty, Club Vision and Star Rewards discounts, trade-in offers, and 0% instalment plans of up to 60 months. While pre-orders have already sold out due to high demand, customers can still view the full iPhone 17 range at Dialog Experience Centres.

Dialog continues to lead Sri Lanka’s digital transformation by introducing transformative technology experiences that are intelligent, intuitive, and future-ready. The launch of the iPhone 17 series reflects Dialog’s commitment to delivering the most advanced devices, fully optimised for its state-of-the-art 5G-ready network. By combining seamless performance, powerful AI capabilities, and world-class reliability, Dialog empowers Sri Lankan consumers to thrive in a world where speed, innovation, and always-on connectivity are essential to modern life.

On October 22, 2025, the Lanka Impact Investment Network (LIIN), announced several key initiatives signaling the dawn of a transformative era in the Sri Lanka’s economy, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and impact investment landscape. LIIN released the country’s first-ever impact investment landscape study; established the country’s first Social Entrepreneurial Fund (SEF); unveiled a new reality TV series entitled On Eagle’s Wings; and announced Sri Lanka’s inaugural Impact Investment Summit, taking place February 12th 2026.

In room full of partners, sponsors and stakeholders in downtown Colombo, LIIN shared key findings of the country’s first-ever impact investment landscape study, made possible with the World University Service of Canada and funded by the Government of Canada. The study comes at a critical time as the country looks to rebuild and attract new types of capital. The study is the result of collaboration across multiple partners, local institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), and development organizations, all aligned in a shared goal: to make Sri Lanka an attractive and credible destination for impact investors.

Another key initiative announced by LIIN during the evening: the establishment of the Social Enterprise Fund (SEF). The SEF will facilitate the inflow of global impact capital and sustainability finance to Sri Lanka. Created in partnership between the Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN), and the UNDP, SEF invests in businesses with strong growth potential and a clear commitment to making positive social and environmental impacts. SEF invests in companies which are moving into the acceleration phase from the incubation stage, and companies are given an investment and

access to a mentorship network along with much needed capacity building workshops that maximizes their growth.

After having successfully facilitated investments in 37 enterprises through the former and widely popular Ath Pavura TV reality show, LIIN also celebrated the launch of their upcoming reality TV series called On Eagle’s Wings. OEW will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their impact-driven businesses to potential investors, with a focus on sectors like climate adaptation, women led and inclusive businesses, and social impact. The OEW program is aiming to empower 400+ local social impact enterprises.

Chandula Abeywickerma, Founder and Chairman of the LIIN set the scene for the audience introducing the Impact Investment Summit 2026, noting that while impact investments and green financing are relatively new concepts in Sri Lanka, developed economies have been prioritizing them for the past 25 years.

Presenters at the briefing thoughtfully pieced together the four initiatives that together show the big picture and the potential of impact investing in Sri Lanka. The recommendations set out in the Impact Investment Landscape Study will help bridge gaps and chart a more inclusive and resilient future in Sri Lanka. The report is a first in providing a comprehensive mapping of the opportunities, challenges, and pathways to unlock private capital. The Social Enterprise Fund and On Eagles Wings reality show slated for next year are grounded in the principles of promoting social entrepreneurship that create positive environmental impact and enhance inclusion of women and the next generation. And the inaugural Lanka Impact Investment Summit 2026 represents years of ground work and will open the doors to shared knowledge, awareness and understanding. It will be a place where impact investment emerges as a transformative financial approach, and the future of business that aligns financial returns with measurable improvements in well-being and equity.

LIIN extended its gratitude to all the integral partners and sponsors with whom LIIN is collaboratively paving the way forward and pioneering these initiatives.

The Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) aims to create a sustainable and inclusive economy in Sri Lanka by facilitating impact investments that generate social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns.