Category: Daily Financial Times

Amma Nissa, the beloved Sri Lankan restaurant known for its soulful home-style cooking and warm hospitality, recently celebrated the grand opening of its second branch in the heart of Galle Fort.

Following the success of its flagship restaurant, Amma Nissa continues its journey of sharing authentic Sri Lankan flavours inspired by family recipes passed down through generations. The new space reflects the brand’s signature charm – a blend of vintage warmth, local artistry, and contemporary comfort – inviting guests to experience the taste of Sri Lanka in a setting that feels like home.

The launch event welcomed loyal guests, friends, partners and members of the community for an evening of celebration, flavour, and togetherness. Guests were treated to signature dishes, traditional music, and heartfelt stories behind the restaurant’s journey – an embodiment of Amma Nissa’s belief that food connects people beyond tables.

Amma Nissa Founder Shaza H Muzammil said: ‘Amma Nissa has always been more than just a restaurant – it’s a celebration of our heritage, our mothers’ kitchens, and the flavours that define who we are. Opening our second branch is both humbling and exciting, and we’re grateful to everyone who’s been part of this journey.’

With its new opening, Amma Nissa aims to continue supporting local farmers and producers while offering guests an authentic taste of Sri Lankan cuisine – honest, heartwarming, and rooted in culture.

The celebration, held on 18 October, was organised as a heartfelt gesture of appreciation to all those who have supported and contributed to the success and continued growth of Amma Nissa’s second outlet in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.

The team – Shaza, Madusha, and Yaso – extend their sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey who continue to inspire and uplift the Amma Nissa story.

Pix by Daminda Harsha Perera

The newly-appointed Consul General of Sri Lanka to Shanghai, China, Pamoda Gooneratne assumed duties at the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, China, on 17 October.

Addressing the staff of the Consulate General at a simple ceremony held, the new Consul General emphasised the importance of continued commitment in realising the goals of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.

Gooneratne will oversee five areas of jurisdiction, namely the Shanghai Municipality and the four Provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hunan in China, in her capacity as Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Shanghai.

An officer from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (2012 Intake), Gooneratne has completed diplomatic postings in Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea and in the High Commission in New Delhi, India at different capacities, and served as Director (Human Resources and Mission Management) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism prior to the new appointment.

The Richmond 60 Club at a gala event held at the Grand Maitland felicitated the National captains all from Richmond College, Galle in the 3 formats of the game viz. Dhananjaya de Silva (Test), Charith Asalanka (T20I and ODI), Wanindu Hasaranga (former T20I) and Kamindu Mendis (ICC Player of the Year 2024) along with their Richmond College Coach (2010-2020) Dhammika Sudharshana amongst a large and distinguished gathering of Old Boys and well-wishers including Sri Lanka Cricket officials in attendance.

Sri Lanka’s biggest fear in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is not their opponents, but the foul weather that has eaten into the majority of matches played at Colombo’s R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium and threatens their final match against Pakistan today.

Following their win against Bangladesh played at Navi Mumbai, Sri Lanka will be keen to finish off the tournament on a high with a win. But standing in their way is not Pakistan, but the fickle weather.

That even some play and results were possible in the matches played in Colombo was due to the hard-working band of boys who man the covers at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The swiftness with which these boys get the entire ground covered when it rains, and ready for play when it ceases, has won them worldwide acclaim from international teams, cricket commentators, and cricket officials.

The South African women’s team, led by Laura Wolvaardt, paid a fitting tribute to the ground staff with a round of applause after they won their rain-hit match against Pakistan on Tuesday. The game had several stops, but thanks to the ground staff, who did a magnificent job, a minimum of 20 overs was possible to effect a result. The result enabled South Africa to register their fifth win on the trot and go to the top of the table.

South Africa were the only team to get two results from the two games they played in Colombo (against Sri Lanka and Pakistan).

‘They should really get a raise,’ said South African all-rounder Sunne Luus. ‘They’ve been working tirelessly to get us to the park today and in the previous game as well. So I think we’re the only team that didn’t get a rain-affected or washout game, so kudos to them.’

Sri Lanka’s top-order batter Harshitha Samarawickrama said that the team was well prepared for their final match following their win against Bangladesh.

‘After winning the previous match, everyone in the team is in a good mindset and well prepared for tomorrow’s game with the same mentality,’ Samarawickrama said at the pre-match press conference.

It was the bowlers who contributed towards Sri Lanka’s first win of the tournament against Bangladesh, but Samarawickrama said that the batters were determined to put their best foot forward against Pakistan.

‘After that match, during our team meeting, we discussed how we can contribute more as batters. The captain, coach, and all of us spoke about it. We’re hoping to show our best skills in tomorrow’s match.’

One of the key failures in Sri Lanka’s batting has been Samarawickrama’s inability to contribute big. She has been dismissed for scores of 29, 33, 26, 13, and 4.

‘I managed to get a start in three games but couldn’t go on to make a big score. I think that was due to some poor shot selections in certain situations. I’ve worked on that in practice sessions and discussed it with the coaches. I’ve made some adjustments, and I hope to play well tomorrow.’

The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is renowned for helping spinners, but with the constant rains, it has offered some assistance to the fast bowlers as well.

‘We’ve observed how the games have gone here. There’s been help for the pacers as well. We’ve studied the wicket carefully and are preparing to adjust our game according to the conditions,’ said Samarawickrama.

With only one win and four points from six matches, Sri Lanka’s chances of making it to the semi-finals are rather slim and have to depend on other results to come their way. A win against Pakistan could see them finish at least fifth in the final standings.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo recently welcomed the festive season with its much-anticipated annual cake mixing ceremony, held at the hotel’s scenic Pool Terrace overlooking the Beira Lake.

The cherished tradition marked the official start of Christmas celebrations at the property, bringing together corporate partners, media, and loyal patrons for an evening filled with festive cheer and camaraderie.

Guests joined the hotel’s culinary team in the age-old ritual of blending a rich medley of dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices – the heart of the hotel’s signature Christmas cakes and puddings.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo General Manager Dushyantha Tittawella shared his thoughts: ‘The cake mixing ceremony is one of our most treasured traditions, symbolising the spirit of joy, gratitude, and togetherness. At Cinnamon Lakeside, we take pride in creating experiences that bring people closer – blending heritage, craftsmanship, and warm hospitality into moments that our guests carry with them well beyond the festive season.’

The celebration highlighted the artistry of the hotel’s culinary brigade, led by Executive Chef Ashan Liyanage, who guided guests through the ceremonial mixing. Enhanced by elegant festive décor, the event perfectly captured Cinnamon Lakeside’s signature charm as a true ‘Resort in the City’ – a tranquil escape in the heart of Colombo.

Now an eagerly awaited highlight on the city’s festive calendar, the cake mixing ceremony underscores Cinnamon Lakeside’s commitment to preserving timeless culinary traditions while celebrating community spirit. The event also set the stage for the hotel’s festive offerings, which include handcrafted Christmas cakes, hampers, and gourmet dining experiences across its restaurants and outlets throughout the season.

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts has extended its wellness concept to southern coast with the introduction of Kurundu Wellness at Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection, following its successful debut at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams,Colombo.

Named after the Sinhalese word for ‘cinnamon,’ ‘Kurundu’ is the brand’s dedicated wellness concept that combines Ayurvedic principles with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Operated under the theme ‘Wellness by Choice,’ it aims to provide structured and personalised wellness experiences supported by locally inspired practices.

New facility at Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection includes:

Two Signature Wellness Suites, each featuring a private relaxation pavilion and jacuzzi

Thai Massage Room, offering traditional Thai therapies

Manicure and Pedicure Room, designed for restorative care

Access to an expansive Wellness and Relaxation Area with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and cold plunge showers for a complete thermal and hydrotherapy experience

Treatments incorporate locally sourced botanicals and cinnamon-based therapies, complemented by programs that integrate movement, mindfulness, and nutrition.

Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection General Manager Johan Aschan said: ‘The launch of Kurundu Wellness at Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection marks a significant enhancement to our resort’s wellness proposition. Establishing our own wellness identity allows us to offer authentic, locally inspired experiences that meet the expectations of today’s traveller. This initiative further strengthens our resort’s position as a destination for relaxation, rejuvenation, and mindful living.’

As part of its continued development at Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection, the Kurundu Wellness will expand its offering with specialised wellness packages and extended-stay programs in the coming months. These will include targeted wellness journeys tailored to individual guest needs, alongside collaborative retreats with visiting practitioners and experts. The expansion highlights the resort’s commitment to evolving into a comprehensive wellness destination on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena recently held discussions with senior officials of LOT Polish Airlines and ‘Enter Air’ in Warsaw to explore avenues for enhancing air connectivity between Poland and Sri Lanka, through scheduled regular flights, considering the growing influx of Polish tourists to Sri Lanka, to strengthen trade, investment, and people-to-people linkages between the two countries.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena met with LOT Polish Airlines Director – Network Planning Office Robert Ludera and other officials at its headquarters in Warsaw. While recalling the commencement of scheduled direct flights by LOT Polish Airlines to Sri Lanka in 2019, which were subsequently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and other impediments, Ambassador Dharmasena expressed Sri Lanka’s keenness for early recommencement of regular flights under the existing Air Services Agreement. She emphasised the marked increase in Polish tourists visiting Sri Lanka in recent years, with over 44,000 recorded in 2024, and an expectation of a larger number in 2025. Ambassador Dharmasena underscored that while charter flights, such as those operated intermittently by LOT Polish Airlines and ‘Enter Air’, provide seasonal connectivity, regular flights would ensure year-round air connectivity, essential to strengthen tourism, economic activities, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, also enhancing the brand presence of LOT Polish Airlines in Asia.

LOT Polish Airlines highlighted challenges, including engine durability restricting aircraft deployment to some countries, including Sri Lanka. Collaborative marketing with tourism authorities and tour operators to improve route viability to Sri Lanka was also discussed. The airline expressed plans to expand its long-haul fleet by the end of 2026, with Sri Lanka positioned as a high-priority destination for resumption in 2027-28. LOT Polish Airlines currently operates nearly 90 aircraft with over 300 daily departures, carrying approximately 12 million passengers annually.

In September, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena met with Enter Air CEO Grzegorz Polaniecki, and Chief Commercial Officer Andrzej Kobielski, at their Warsaw headquarters to discuss long-term plans for ‘Enter Air’s’ seasonal flights to Sri Lanka.

During the discussions, ‘Enter Air’ confirmed plans to operate direct flights from Warsaw and Katowice to Colombo from 30 October 2025 to mid-April 2026. Ambassador Dharmasena, while appreciating the commencement of charter flights by ‘Enter Air’ with the support of tour operators, urged steadfast continuation of operations to Sri Lanka, considering the growing demand of Polish travellers, strengthening tourism, economic activities, and social relations between the two nations.

The Kingsbury Colombo has been awarded Sri Lanka’s Leading Hotel 2025 at the prestigious World Travel Awards, recognised globally as the benchmark for excellence in travel, tourism, and hospitality.

This accolade reaffirms The Kingsbury’s standing at the forefront of Sri Lankan hospitality, underlining its dedication to refined luxury, attentive service, and guest satisfaction. As a winner among a field of esteemed nominees, both local and international, this recognition reflects the hotel’s commitment to maintaining elevated standards, fostering guest loyalty and setting new benchmarks across Colombo’s competitive hotel landscape.

The Kingsbury General Manager Nandana Wirasinha said: ‘We are deeply honoured by this recognition and extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued guests for their continued trust and loyalty, and to our dedicated team for their passion and commitment. This achievement is a shared milestone that inspires us to continue setting new benchmarks in luxury hospitality.’

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, has earned global recognition by identifying, rewarding, and celebrating outstanding performance across all sectors of the travel industry. Winners are selected through a process that combines peer review, expert evaluation, and consumer input, giving significant weight to both industry acclaim and guest confidence.

Located in the heart of Colombo, The Kingsbury has long been celebrated as one of the city’s most distinguished luxury hotels. With its sophisticated dining venues, elegant event spaces, and reputation for personalised service, the hotel continues to attract both discerning local and international travellers seeking exceptional hospitality. This recognition strengthens The Kingsbury’s role as a pillar of Sri Lankan hospitality, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to quality, consistency, and innovation in delivering unparalleled guest experiences.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has successfully completed Phase One of the SLC Level III Coaching Course, conducted with the aim of developing coaches to strengthen the country’s elite level of the player pathway, which feeds into the national system.

Accordingly, 21 participants consisting of premier clubs and SLC Provincial Coaches followed the course, and among them were seven former national players.

The five-day course featured an intensive blend of classroom sessions, group discussions, and practical sessions, led by some of SLC’s most experienced educators and subject specialists.

The program covered a comprehensive range of areas vital to modern-day cricket, focussing on high-performance culture, athlete management, team branding, mental skills, skill adaptability and execution, biomechanics and movement analysis, performance analysis, high-performance planning and periodisation, strength and conditioning, and media and communication.

These sessions were conducted as part of the ongoing coach education and development initiative by SLC, aimed at strengthening the knowledge base of coaches and aligning their approach with international high-performance standards.

The candidates also completed pre-course assignments prior to the start of the course and were engaged with in-course assignments during the five-day program. They were given post-course assignments to be completed by 31 March 2026.

Completion of all assignments is required before progressing to Phase II, scheduled to commence in April 2026.

The Coach Education Unit is part of the National High Performance Centre of the SLC.

The Colombo stock market closed marginally up yesterday on mixed investor sentiment.

ASPI closed 0.03% up, gaining 7.45 points to 22,791.07 and the active S and P SL20 closed 0.11% lower, down 7.21 points to 6,276.86.

Market turnover was Rs. 6.61 billion on over 217.1 million shares traded.

First Capital Research said the ASPI inched up amid mixed sentiment while retail buying persisted.

The Colombo Bourse witnessed mixed sentiment during the session but ultimately closed in positive territory, with the ASPI recording a marginal gain of 7 points to end at 22,791.

While HNW activity remained moderate, retail participation continued to be strong. DOCK, SAMP, CFIN, HARI, and HUNT were among the key positive contributors to the index.

Turnover stood relatively low at Rs. 6.6 billion, approximately 12% below the monthly average of Rs. 7.5 billion.

The Capital Goods sector dominated activity, contributing 23% to total turnover, while the Banking and Diversified Financials sectors collectively accounted for 32%.

Meanwhile, foreign investors remained net sellers, recording a net outflow of Rs. 235.1 million.

NDB Securities said the ASPI edged up as a result of price gains in counters such as Colombo Dockyard, Sampath Bank and Central Finance Company with the turnover crossing Rs. 6.6 billion.

Meanwhile, the S and P SL20 edged down. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Lee Hedges, ACL Cables and Seylan Bank.

Mixed interest was observed in CIC Holdings, JAT Holdings and Central Finance Company whilst retail interest was noted in SMB Leasing, Industrial Asphalts and Hikkaduwa Beach Resort.

Foreign participation in the market activity remained at subdued levels with foreigners closing as net sellers. The Capital Goods sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to ACL Cables and Colombo Dockyard) whilst the sector index lost 0.27%.

The share price of ACL Cables increased by Rs 4.50 (2.08%) to close at Rs. 220.50. The share price of Colombo Dockyard gained Rs. 27.50 (19.13%) to close at Rs. 171.25.

The Banking sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover whilst the sector index increased by 0.12%. Lee Hedges, CIC Holdings and JAT Holdings were also included amongst the top turnover contributors.

The share price of Lee Hedges moved up by Rs. 25.50 (13.71%) to close at Rs. 211.50. The share price of CIC Holdings recorded a gain of 20 Cents (0.59%) to close at Rs. 34.20. The share price of JAT Holdings appreciated by Rs. 1.50 (3.07%) to close at Rs. 50.40.