Category: Daily Financial Times

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka recently has hosted its flagship conference at the Hilton Colombo, bringing together industry and HR leaders to explore trust, culture, and leadership in building resilient, inclusive, and people-centred workplaces.

The day opened with an inspiring address, ‘Great Starts Here,’ by Great Place To Work Sri Lanka Director/CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka, who stressed that culture today is mission-critical, in driving trust, empowerment, retention, and the attraction of top talent, while creating sustainable, purpose-driven impact.

In his keynote on ‘Culture Capital,’ Brandix Group Managing Director Hasitha Premaratne, emphasised that shared values and behaviours drive success. He discussed on building resilience, using AI to enhance the human workforce, and leveraging trust and empowerment as key strategic advantages.

Internationally bestselling author and founder of the world’s largest organisational empathy platform Mimi Nicklin, highlighted Sri Lanka’s productivity slumps and talent drain as symptoms of a growing ’empathy deficit.’ She urged leaders to view empathy, emotional intelligence, and communication as vital skills, noting that psychologically safe workplaces foster creativity, collaboration, and resilience.

Great Place To Work Senior Consultant Hasindu Samarasinghe launched the ‘Nation Builders: Powered by People’ recognition, highlighting how organisations can drive livelihoods, invest in people, and uplift communities through holistic strategies in brand equity, ESG, (Environmental, Social, and Governance) DEI, (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and human capital development.

The conference also featured a series of sessions with industry leaders addressing today’s most pressing workplace challenges.

Transparent Leadership in Turbulent Times showcased how trust and authentic leadership fuel adaptability and long-term success. It was highlighted that leaders who communicate openly, act with integrity, and model accountability not only build credibility but also empower their organisations to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Cultures explored how recognising employees as leaders and fostering trust and loyalty can transform engagement, spark creativity, and drive innovation. By cultivating a culture of respect and collaboration, organisations strengthen team cohesion and unlock sustainable business growth and competitive advantage.

In The Trust Dividend, experts revealed how trust serves as a powerful economic multiplier, delivering tangible returns such as higher engagement, stronger collaboration, faster innovation, and improved financial performance.

To Thrive, Not Just Survive tackled the questions of talent retention and collaboration, offering strategies for organisations to not just withstand challenges but turn them into opportunities for growth in a volatile world.

Glocal Leadership emphasised the art of balancing global standards, innovation, and perspectives while adapting strategies to local cultures and contexts, enabling leaders to deliver results in an interconnected world.

Work Reimagined: Culture, Skills and AI provided a forward-looking perspective on how technology and human skills intersect to future-proof organisations and drive meaningful performance.

The Asia Panel on Building Trust, Empowering People, and Driving Performance brought together regional experts to share actionable strategies on cultivating openness, listening actively, and learning from teams to foster stronger trust and higher performance.

Sessions on Embedding Wellness in Workplace Culture and The Human Balance Sheet: Workplace Wellness Index, emphasised how resilient organisations are built on healthy, motivated, and engaged employees.

The conference also celebrated organisations recognised by their employees as Great Place To Work Certified, honouring their commitment to high-trust, people-centric cultures. It also reaffirmed Great Place To Work Sri Lanka’s role in driving workplace transformation and helping organisations thrive in a dynamic environment.

It was not the perfect game for either of the sides, but Sri Lanka held their nerve better than Bangladesh to pull off a seven-run win at the Dr. D.Y. Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on Monday to register their first win in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Till the final two overs the momentum was entirely on Bangladesh’s side with their Captain Nigar Sultana Joty leading the way with a half-century (77 off 98 balls, 6 fours). With Bangladesh requiring 9 runs off the final over she was the key, but unfortunately for them she was not on strike.

‘Actually, I don’t like to lie, when we started the 49th over, we had a winning chance of only 25%,’ said Sri Lanka Captain Chamari Athapaththu rewinding the final moments of the game. ‘But with the over bowled by Sugandika (Kumari) and the pressure she created, the game shifted to our side. We had to defend 9 runs in the final over and I knew then we had a chance. There was a decision to be made whether it was Udeshika (Prabodhani) or I would bowl the final over. At that time Udeshika came and told me, ‘Chamari, you take the last over as you seem to be in the right mood for it better than me’. She is the most senior player in the team and when she said that I gained a lot of confidence to bowl the final over.’

And what a final over Athapaththu bowled. She took four wickets conceding just one run to deny Bangladesh a win which they had within their grasp.

‘I knew the Bangladeshi batters liked to play the sweep shots, slog shots, and cut shots and they needed the width to play them. I tried to bowl full and straight, no width, attack the stumps and sometimes bowl the yorker. I knew of the Bangladesh players only Joty plays straight, and the others try to play across the line. That’s why I attacked the stumps all the time and it worked successfully for me. The senior players came and said that Joty was a very strong player in the long-off region. So I pushed the long-off back and bowled at her. We were successful in getting her wicket. If she was there, we couldn’t have won the match.’

Athapaththu said that she was disappointed with the batting of her team who at one time looked like they would score 270-280, but were dismissed for 202 well inside their quota of 50 overs.

‘First of all, I have to tell you the way we batted, I was not happy. We had a good start, but we didn’t continue that run. As a captain, I was not happy the way we played today. We are a pretty good team, and we didn’t play to our potential. After we had a good start in batting, we collapsed and we lost four wickets and we finished very badly in the first innings. It’s too hard to make a team get into a good mindset after that. But coach Rumesh Ratnayake came to the dressing room and said, ‘Okay, the first half is finished. You have to look forward. Execute the right plans at the right time, play your game and be positive. These are the things we talk about in the dressing room. We finally won. It is really good for us.’

‘Actually, I have to say that I wasn’t in a positive frame of mind. I was a little upset. Rumesh Ratnayake has played a lot of cricket and has done a lot of coaching. It is his skill as a coach that has taken Sri Lankan women’s cricket this far. We have made good progress in the past two years. The majority of people don’t know where Sri Lankan women’s cricket was about four to five years back. Our successes in the past two years a lot of credit should go to the coach. He is a very cool person and he knows how to handle the team.’

‘I saw how he spoke to the team after we were dismissed for 202 and how he motivated them when everyone was down mentally. That’s the biggest thing that a coach should have. Other than teaching the skills to the players, I think if he can speak to the mind of the players and motivate them that is what is expected from a coach. A lot of credit for our win today should go to him for the way he handled the team in the dressing room.’

Athapaththu praised the innings of Hasini Perera who scored her maiden WODI fifty (85 off 99 balls) and spoke about her own personal milestone of achieving 4000 runs in WODIs.

‘The way Hasini played was amazing to watch. She is one of our senior players. It was a really good innings. I hope she will continue with her performance in the next game. She is still 29 years old and she can play another 5-6 years for Sri Lanka. I always back her and trust her. She is a good team player. That’s why she missed a lot of fifties. As captain, I know I’ve passed 4,000 runs. It’s a big milestone for me. But at the end of the day, my goal is we have never made it to the semi-finals of any World Cup. That’s what I want to see before I retire. This milestone is good for me. I hope I can play my best cricket till I retire, hopefully’

The win against Bangladesh was Sri Lanka’s first in the tournament following two defeats and two rained off matches.

‘We played only one game in India before this game and four games in Sri Lanka, two of which were washed out and the other two we lost. It’s hard as a team, but the thing is we can’t control the weather. I said to my team, control what we can control. As a professional team, we can’t use that as an excuse. There’s one more game left, we’ll try to play our best game and beat Pakistan and finish on a high.’

Sri Lanka Customs data analysed by Siyaka Research confirms that the country earned $ 1.16 billion from tea exports for the period January to September 2025. Almost 10% more than last year’s figure of $ 1.06 billion for the comparable period.

Sri Lanka exported a healthy 23.7 million kilogrammes (Mnkg) in the month of September this year, up 20% on last year’s quantity of 19.7 Mnkg and boosted the cumulative total for the calendar year which has now risen to 198.3 Mnkg, up 9% on last year’s nine-month total of 182.3 Mnkg.

Based on total USD earnings of $ 1.16 billion, this converts to an approximate FOB value to $ 5.86 per kg compared with $ 5.81 in 2024 and $ 5.47 in 2023.

Improved performance on value Addition which has risen to 58% of the total compared with 54% the year before has made a positive contribution.

Tea in Packets are up 21% YoY with Instant Tea exports rising 25%. Shipments of Tea Bags have grown 6% YoY and account for 10% of tea exported from Sri Lanka.

Exports to Iraq have risen 24%YoY to 30 Mnkg. Russia follows with quantities of 16.6 Mnkg down 10% on last year’s volume of 18.4 Mnkg.

Exports to Libya have recorded a massive increase of 154% from 6.2 Mnkg to 15.9 Mnkg. Turkey follows with a quantity of 15.2 Mnkg up 14% on last year.

The UAE a major transit point, has recorded a quantity of 14.2 Mnkg down 18% on last y

Salesforce announced last week that Agentforce now proactively identifies cyber threats and automates compliance management through its integrated Security Centre and Privacy Centre solutions.

These new capabilities empower organisations to detect risks earlier, streamline remediation, and improve overall governance – helping teams move from reactive defence to proactive protection.

In today’s fast-evolving threat landscape, security and compliance professionals face mounting challenges. Nearly half of all security leaders spend more time configuring and troubleshooting tools than mitigating threats, while 90% of compliance executives report a sharp increase in responsibilities over the past three years. This growing complexity often leads to burnout and exposes organisations to unnecessary vulnerabilities.

Agentforce was designed to change that. By leveraging Salesforce’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered platform, Agentforce automates repetitive tasks, monitors anomalies in real time, and guides teams through the steps needed to address security and compliance issues swiftly and effectively.

In Security Centre, Agentforce continuously monitors user activity, detects irregular behaviour, accelerates investigations, and provides guided remediation workflows. Teams can deploy the system from a pre-built template designed to proactively catch, triage, and resolve incidents. Integrated with Slack, it enables users to receive, discuss, and act on alerts directly within their collaboration tools – improving both speed and coordination.

In Privacy Centre, Agentforce uses regulatory context from frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to autonomously detect, prioritise, and minimise data exposure. It continuously scans Salesforce tenant metadata and privacy policies to highlight non-compliance risks, recommend corrective measures, and automatically enforce key data management practices like retention and classification.

Salesforce SVP – Product Management Marla Hay said: ‘Agentforce’s new security and compliance capabilities are designed to take the pain out of the most tedious, time-consuming responsibilities for today’s professionals. Within Security Centre and Privacy Centre, Agentforce helps teams focus on higher-value strategic work while minimising risk and ensuring trust.’

Organisations including CMC Energy and Cervello are already seeing results. CMC Energy Chief Information Officer Paul Mackay said: ‘Agentforce gives us intelligent, real-time insights and natural-language tools to identify, assess, and respond to threats instantly. It has transformed the way we manage security.’

Agentforce in Security Centre and Privacy Centre is available now, with expanded autonomous threat detection and data compliance features launching in Spring 2026.

Closeup has unveiled ‘Break The Barrier,’ Sri Lanka’s first-ever crowdsourced love story book. This landmark creation is not merely a book but a living testament to the courage of young hearts, the beauty of unspoken emotions finding voice, and the timeless power of love that dares to cross boundaries.

The journey began with a simple yet profound realisation: countless young people hold their love stories captive in silence, restrained by fear and hesitation. Closeup sought to liberate those voices. What began as a campaign blossomed into a movement, brought vividly to life in a short film that followed the tender story of Lavan and Fri, two students whose bond transcended the limitations of spoken language. Their story captured the nation’s imagination, drawing over 42 million views within a matter of weeks across Meta and TikTok, a cultural moment that proved how deeply the message resonated.

From there, the movement invited Sri Lankans to share their own experiences of breaking barriers and expressing love without fear. The response was extraordinary. Hundreds of stories poured in, raw and real, luminous with courage and vulnerability. A distinguished panel of literary voices, among them Wasantha Dukgannarala, Kelum Srimal, and Yesha Fernando, carefully selected 100 of the most remarkable tales. Together, these voices form ‘Break The Barrier,’ the first crowdsourced love story book in the history of Sri Lanka.

Its launch at the Waters Edge Hotel during Literature Month was nothing short of a celebration of expression itself, with authors, creators, and cultural icons gathering in a spirit of shared joy.

Unilever Marketing Director – Personal Care, Beauty and Well-Being Shamara Silva said: ‘At Closeup, we believe that every love story deserves to be heard. The silence barrier is real, but so is the courage within our youth to break those barriers. This campaign and this book are a tribute to that courage-to everyone who dared to break the silence and express their love. We are proud to be the brand that stands with young people and those who are young at heart, giving them the fresh confidence to seize the moment and be true to their hearts.’

Category Head – Oral Care Migara Keembiyage said: ‘Closeup has always stood for more than just oral care. We are here to inspire confidence and empower young people to be their authentic selves. ‘Break The Barrier’ is not just a campaign; it’s a movement to help our youth embrace love without fear. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our agency partners-MullenLowe Sri Lanka, WPP Sri Lanka (Mindshare), Isobar Sri Lanka, New Media Solutions, Wings Activations, and the team at Bees Bells. Their creativity, passion, and relentless commitment made this campaign a reality and helped us reach millions of hearts across the country. Together, we have shown that when we break barriers, we create space for love, acceptance, and true connection.’

This book is not only a symbol but also a promise. It tells a generation that their emotions matter, that love can be declared and celebrated, that silence need not be a prison. It is a mirror in which countless young Sri Lankans may finally see their own reflections, and a beacon guiding them to speak boldly of the affections that stir their hearts.

This literary milestone is more than pages bound together. It is a chorus of hearts set free, a collection of voices that will echo for generations. With ‘Break The Barrier,’ Closeup marks a defining cultural moment in Sri Lanka, one that celebrates courage, intimacy, and truth. It reminds us all that every love story deserves to be told.

Sri Lanka’s high skilled, professional workforce and geographical location can ensure there are growing opportunities across the financial services sector for Sri Lanka, according to Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) Chair Michael Cole Fontayn.

During his second visit to Sri Lanka, the global educational charity and professional body’s Chair pointed to strategic partnerships as one of the drivers of CISI growth in Sri Lanka.

The CISI, which will celebrate 15 years in Colombo in 2026, signed a MoU earlier this year with the Association of Accounting Technicians, which is partnering with the CISI to boost its members’ career prospects through shared materials.

Cole Fontayn, who was appointed chair of the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange in April this year, undertook a full itinerary. This included meetings in Colombo with the Central Bank Governor Dr P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with CISI’s accredited training partner The Academy of Finance, along with attending events and presentations with the local ACCA, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the University of Colombo.

Fontayn also had meetings with CISI’s National Advisory Council (NAC), led by MCSI NAC President Nandika Buddhipala, and including Sarvodaya Development Finance and Echelon Media Chair Channa de Silva MCSI, Sri Jayewardenepura University Faculty of Finance Head and SEC Chair Professor Hareendra Dissabandara MCSI, Global Best Practice Group Regional Director – Asia Indrajith Fernando MCSI, and Independent International Consultant Ranel Wijesinha.

During his meeting with the University of Colombo Vice Chancellor Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, Fontayn discussed opportunities to build student capacity and strengthen engagement. He said: ‘CISI is a piece of the puzzle in enhancing the knowledge of financial services professionals. We achieve this by expanding our membership, building bridges and partnerships, particularly across Commonwealth countries and through our strong presence in the MENA region.’

CISI Country Head Sri Lanka Michael Fernandopulle said: ‘We are very much looking forward to seizing collaboration opportunities that support the students and alumni of the University of Colombo and help enhance their careers.’

Discussing the impact of CISI qualifications, the Vice Chancellor Professor Karunathilake said: ‘The University of Colombo has long standing collaborations with the UK, we are glad to strengthen that relationship by entering a partnership with the CISI. The recognition of these qualifications will go a long way for our students.’

In addition, Cole Fontayn met with CISI’s locally engaged colleagues, led by Michael Fernandoupulle.

Fontayn said: ‘We at CISI are particularly proud of all our Sri Lankan staff, partners, members, board members and ATPs. Next year will mark CISI’s 15th year in Colombo and with the international financial services market growing and adapting to the challenges of AI, we encourage Sri Lankans considering a career in financial services to reach out to CISI, become lifelong learners and join the CISI global professional membership community.

‘Sri Lanka is our largest operational hub outside the UK and plays a key role in supporting our global reach. As part of our commitment to serving members worldwide our dedicated quarterly stakeholder engagement series, for example, is designed to provide insight, connection and value. Working with other sector professional bodies to explore themes which are key to Sri Lanka’s financial landscape, including sustainable finance and ethical AI, is an important partnership strategy for CISI’s continued growth and ability to support the upskilling of local talent,’ he added.

Alongside its local stakeholder engagement work, the CISI has increased its presence across Sri Lanka’s education sector through direct engagement with universities and schools. ‘As part of our outreach we have made our Certificate in Ethical Artificial Intelligence available to qualifying groups in Sri Lanka, helping to broaden access to ethical, future focused professional education and reinforcing our charitable mission,’ said Fontayn.

The CISI’s work in Sri Lanka includes outreach programs through visits to schools and universities and through its accredited training partner, the Academy of Finance. The Institute is also working with Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission to build CISI learning modules into its diploma offering.

A recent World Bank review of Sri Lanka’s public finances shows the progress being made in stabilising its economy, with one of the largest fiscal adjustments in its history – equal to nearly 8% of gross domestic product (GDP) since 2021.

Fernandoupulle said: ‘We were delighted to welcome Fontayn to Sri Lanka. CISI membership offers value both to members and the countries in which the CISI operates. Membership really makes a difference to a person’s life, both in terms of continuing professional development as well as the employment markets it potentially opens. From a country perspective, Sri Lanka aims to position itself as a regional financial hub, making it even more important to strengthen our financial centres with skilled professionals.’

‘As a charity, the CISI is also identifying which regions could benefit from its philanthropic endeavours. There is plenty of work we can do in South Asia in the less privileged areas of India and Sri Lanka, in terms of creating financial literacy and inclusion. We’ve got broad public, educational objectives, but we’re looking at how we can bring those to life. Don’t let not having the perfect solution put you off trying. That’s our mantra for the next few years. Keep making powerful contributions, and it will make a difference.’

Regarding the CISI/University of Colombo project, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick said: ‘I warmly congratulate the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and the University of Colombo on this important collaboration. Enabling BSc. Financial Engineering graduates to qualify for CISI’s enhanced Associate membership is a significant step forward in strengthening professional pathways for Sri Lankan students. This partnership reflects the continued commitment to excellence in education, and the deepening of people-to-people links between the UK and Sri Lanka.’

The Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) yesterday said the technical issues which caused the recent disruption to the Lanka Government Cloud (LGC) services have been fully resolved. All affected online Government services are now fully operational and accessible to the public.

ICTA assured the public and Government institutions that at no stage during the incident was the security or integrity of data compromised.

‘Throughout the restoration process, the highest data protection and security standards were upheld, and no data loss has been reported, and the associated assurance processes were given precedence and priority over the speed of recovery,’ the agency said in a statement.

ICTA extends its sincere appreciation to all Government institutions for their cooperation and support during the restoration period, and to the public for their patience and understanding.

ICTA extends special thanks for all the industry partners for immediate deployment of their resources and expertise, which was instrumental in the prompt restoration of the systems. Their action in treating the disruption as a critical national priority enabled a rapid return to operational status and underscored a commendable commitment to public service continuity.

The recently contracted new and advanced LGC environment referenced in previous communiques of the ICTA, is now ready to take over workloads from the existing environment through a carefully planned migration exercise.

Contrary to mis-statements in certain media, the said migration exercise had not commenced at the time of the LGC failure. Preparation for migration was an exercise carried out in parallel with LGC recovery operations and was in no way related to the failure of the existing system.

ICTA remains committed to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of digital government services. Continuous measures are being taken to strengthen the resilience, capacity, and reliability of the Lanka Government Cloud to support Sri Lanka’s growing digital ecosystem.

Sustained growth and stability reaffirm SLICGL’s leadership as Sri Lanka’s premier state-owned insurer

Sri Lanka Insurance General Ltd., (SLICGL) has announced its financial results for the nine months ended 30 September, reflecting solid growth and sustained profitability supported by improving market conditions and renewed consumer confidence.

For the nine months ended 30 September, SLICGL recorded a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 21,853 million, reflecting an 18% year-on-year growth. The company achieved an operating profit of Rs. 257 million and a profit after tax of Rs. 2,614 million, reflecting 17% year-on-year growth supported by improved consumer confidence, increased vehicle imports, and a strengthened market position.

As a state-owned insurer, SLIC General continues to play a pivotal role in national economic development. During the period, the company paid Rs. 0.7 billion in taxes and maintained significant investments of Rs. 11.5 billion in Government securities, reflecting its contribution to fiscal stability and economic growth. Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation further strengthened the Treasury through dividend payments of Rs. 1.5 billion in 2025, a 17% increase from the previous year reinforcing the group’s role as a key contributor to national revenue and supporting economic progress.

SLICGL Chairman Nusith Kumaratunga said, ‘Our results for the first nine months of 2025 reflect the strength, stability, and strategic focus of Sri Lanka Insurance General. As a state-owned enterprise, we continue to fulfil our responsibility to protect individuals, enterprises, and national assets while delivering consistent value to the economy.’

SLICGL’s performance reflects a balanced and resilient portfolio, with strong new business growth across its network of 143 branches and through a dedicated team of sales representatives and advisors across the country. This broad distribution base continues to strengthen the company’s market presence and accessibility for customers nationwide.

As a state-owned enterprise with a national mandate, SLICGL remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s protection landscape – safeguarding people, property, and economic progress with reliability and integrity.

SLICGL’s strong fundamentals and reputation have been reaffirmed by independent recognitions:

Fitch Ratings has assigned SLICGL an A+ (lka) National Insurer Financial Strength Rating – the highest rating awarded to any insurance company in Sri Lanka, reflecting exceptional financial stability and sovereign backing.

Brand Finance 2025 named SLICGL the No. 1 Most Valuable General Insurance Brand in Sri Lanka, reaffirming its national leadership and enduring consumer trust.

With the strength of Government ownership and the confidence of millions of policyholders, Sri Lanka Insurance General continues to lead with purpose combining financial excellence, national service, and a steadfast commitment to protecting every Sri Lankan household and enterprise.

HNB PLC has announced the appointment of Kyle Abeysinghe, Sri Lanka’s National Swimming Captain and Paris 2024 Olympian, as its newest Sports Ambassador. The partnership marks a shared commitment to advancing Sri Lanka’s sporting excellence and nurturing the next generation of athletes.

Kyle Abeysinghe said: ‘For any athlete, having the right support makes all the difference, and the journey to the Olympics is not an easy one, and having HNB by my side gives me the strength to push further every day. As I train with my sights set on the 2028 Olympics, I want to show young Sri Lankans that the journey is just as important as the goal, whether it’s in sport, education, or life. What makes this partnership special is that HNB is not just backing me as an athlete, but standing with every young person who dares to dream. Together, we want to encourage a new generation to believe in themselves, work hard, and keep moving forward no matter the challenge.

Kyle’s journey, from breaking national records to making a determined comeback after a four-year hiatus, reflects his resilience, leadership, and commitment to excellence. Having represented Sri Lanka internationally since the age of 14, he brings over a decade of experience at the highest levels of competition, including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and South Asian Games. His career stands as a testament to perseverance and the power of consistent effort.

HNB Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications Upul Adikari said: ‘Sport teaches us resilience, discipline, and the courage to believe in ourselves, values we hold close at HNB as well. By partnering with Kyle, we are supporting his journey to the 2028 Olympics while at the same time celebrating Sri Lanka’s sporting spirit. Our hope is to inspire young Sri Lankans to face challenges with confidence, strive for excellence, and recognise the incredible potential they carry within them.’

HNB recognises Kyle as a role model for Sri Lankan youth, combining sporting excellence with education, leadership, and social impact. His pursuit of becoming the first Sri Lankan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics via the ‘A’ standard reflects a commitment to setting new benchmarks for the nation. His ability to inspire teenagers about both athletic ambition and financial responsibility adds depth to his role as Brand Ambassador, making him a powerful figure for change.

HNB has a longstanding legacy of supporting Sri Lankan athletes, including National Netball Captain Dulangi Wannithilake, National Basketball Captain Anjali Ekanayake, and National Youth Hockey Captain Manula Hewawasam, who are all part of the HNB team. The partnership with Kyle builds on this foundation, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s sporting ecosystem and creating holistic opportunities for youth, with a continued focus on netball and swimming – two sports deeply connected to the nation’s identity and future.

It began with a sense of anticipation; 12 partners, 12 stories of persistence, all bound for Thailand under Technocity’s Highfliers Program. For the salespeople who achieved their MSI targets, this wasn’t merely a holiday. It was recognition; a human moment in a world of targets and transactions.

Bangkok unfolded like a celebration of contrasts: bustling streets, serene temples, and laughter that carried through dinner cruises. Pattaya brought freedom; sun, sea, and the satisfaction of success.

‘You could feel Technocity’s appreciation in every detail,’ shared one partner. ‘It reminded us why we work so hard.’

Highlights of the journey included visits to Coral Island and its water activities, Tiger Park, and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum each moment curated to reflect achievement and joy.

The Highfliers Program is Technocity’s way of turning numbers into narratives, a premium loyalty initiative that unites the island’s best-performing salespeople, offering them not just rewards, but shared memories.

Reflecting on the program’s essence, Technocity Chairman Famy Ismail said: ‘Recognition should feel personal. We want our partners to know that their commitment builds our collective success; this journey was about celebrating that spirit.’

For six unforgettable days, work transformed into wonder. Upon their return, the Highfliers carried more than souvenirs; they carried pride, motivation, and a renewed sense of belonging.

Technocity didn’t just take them on a tour. It took them on a journey of connection.

For the Highfliers, it wasn’t simply a trip; it was a lifestyle experience, a Technocity signature moment that blended glamour with gratitude.

As one partner aptly put it: ‘It wasn’t just about what we sold. It was about who we became.’