Category: Daily Financial Times

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) celebrated Tourism Day 2025 with a vibrant event designed to inspire the next generation of tourism leaders.

Organised by students from the Advanced Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management, the event aligned with the United Nations World Tourism Day theme, ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’, highlighting the crucial role of youth in building an equitable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism industry.

The day brought together industry experts, university students, and high schoolers for a dynamic program of insightful discussions, cultural showcases, and collaborative activities. A key highlight was a panel discussion on the role of youth in sustainable tourism.

Distinguished panellists included Lanka Sportreizen Chief Executive Officer D.K.R. Dharmapala, City of Dreams Sri Lanka Human Resources Director Sanchitha Uduwavidana, DTH Travel Manager – Marketing Communications and B2C Menik Paranawithane, The Serendipity Collection and The Serendipity Experiences Director/General Manager Shaleen Shanthikumar, and Travel Specialist and Women in Travel Collective Co-founder Thushni De Silva. The discussion explored how young people can champion sustainable practices, sports tourism, wellness travel, and innovative entrepreneurship to shape the industry’s future. Panellists emphasised that youth have the power to drive positive change by embracing creativity, technology, and responsible practices. The session concluded with a call to action for participants to harness their passion and fresh perspectives to build a tourism industry that protects the planet, preserves culture, and fosters meaningful global connections.

Adding to the day’s learning experience, Jude Malindra, Tourism Consultant and Mindful Retreats Sri Lanka Co-founder, delivered an engaging session on wellness tourism. He highlighted that wellness travel should uplift not only individuals but also entire communities. Sharing strategies on co-creating experiences with local populations, revenue-sharing models, and authentic Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine practices, he emphasised, ‘True wellness empowers and uplifts entire communities by honouring indigenous medicine-not exploiting them.’

Beyond discussions, the event celebrated Sri Lanka’s rich heritage. Guests enjoyed traditional performances, while an inter-university quiz challenged participants’ knowledge of tourism trends and sustainability. CAHM’s culinary and hospitality students also showcased their talents by preparing and serving a variety of authentic Sri Lankan delicacies, offering attendees a true taste of the island’s culture.

Tourism Day 2025 at CAHM sent a clear message that young minds are central to transforming the future of tourism. By embracing sustainable practices, innovation, and a strong sense of community, the next generation is well-positioned to lead the industry toward resilience, inclusivity, and long-term success.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed Maithri Evan Wickremesinghe, PC as a member of the Governing Board (GB) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) with effect from 2 October.

In terms of the provisions of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 (CBSL Act), GB has been established as the body responsible for overseeing the administration and management of the affairs of CBSL and determination of the general policies of CBSL. Further, in terms of Section 12 (1) (b) of the CBSL Act, the members of GB will be members of the Monetary Policy Board, as well.

Wickremesinghe succeeds Rajeev Amarasuriya following his relinquishment of duties as a member of GB on 27 June, 2025.

Wickremesinghe is a President’s Counsel, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and holds an Honours Degree in Law from the University of Colombo. He is a practicing lawyer appearing as a counsel in the appellate courts of Sri Lanka and at arbitrations both at national and international levels. He also functions as an arbitrator in national and international arbitrations and has been an expert witness on Sri Lankan law for litigations overseas.

Wickremesinghe is the Chairman of the University Services Appeals Board and serves as a member of the Governing Council of HelpAge Sri Lanka, a Trustee of Ayati Trust Sri Lanka.

He also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Convenience Foods Lanka PLC and as the Chairman of its Governance and Nominations Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Wickremesinghe had previously held the positions of a Senior Independent Director of a listed commercial bank and the Chairman of its Audit Review Committee and the Nominations Committee.

He was also an Independent Director of a listed conglomerate and the Chairman of its Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Wickremesinghe was a former visiting lecturer and examiner at the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo, University of Moratuwa and at the Kotalawela Defence Academy, Sri Lanka.

He has also functioned as an examiner at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and a member of the Board of Governors and the Manager of S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

LAUGFS Gas PLC yesterday said it has suspended operations of its Dubai-based subsidiary Slogal Energy DMCC pending a compliance review after the company was named by the US Treasury for allegedly trading in Iranian-origin petrochemical products.

‘LAUGFS Gas reaffirms its unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency, and adherence to international regulatory frameworks,’ the company said in a statement.

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) last week designated Slogal Energy DMCC, accusing it of purchasing and selling Iranian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shipments to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

LAUGFS Gas said: ‘Slogal Energy has never knowingly engaged in, or facilitated, any trade involving sanctioned entities or products of sanctioned origin.’ The company said all transactions had been carried out in line with international trade practices and were backed by certificates of origin and Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation verifying legitimate supply sources.

LAUGFS said all commercial operations of Slogal Energy have been halted and that a legal and compliance review is underway with assistance from US sanctions counsel. The company plans to petition for the delisting of Slogal Energy DMCC from the US Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under Executive Order 13902.

LAUGFS confirmed that its domestic liquefied petroleum gas distribution business in Sri Lanka remains unaffected by the development.

In a classic game of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, South Africa held their nerve to pull off a thrilling three wickets win with three balls to spare against Bangladesh at Visakhapatnam yesterday.

It was Nadine de Klerk who came up trumps again. She did it against India the other night and yesterday she pulled it off again in a tense chase. It was always going to be tough against a Bangladesh side stacked with spinners chasing 233. Tazmin Brits fell for a duck and then the set Anneke Bosch and Laura Wolvaardt were involved in a mix-up which cost the latter her wicket. The former went in the next over and the debutant Annerie Dercksen soon after. At that stage, Bangladesh were well ahead with South Africa on 78-5. But the cool and calm heads of Marizanne Kapp (56 off 71 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Chloe Tryon (62 off 69 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) put South Africa back on track. Their stand of 85 off 109 balls involved good running and calculated risks. With the dew coming down quite heavily, Bangladesh failed to grip the ball and that ultimately cost them the game. Kapp got out which again opened the door for Bangladesh and when Tryon was run-out, Bangladesh really believed they could pull it off. But Nadine de Klerk (37* off 29 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Masabata Klaas (10* off 13) took their side home with some help from Bangladesh’s fielders who dropped de Klerk in the penultimate over. It eventually proved to be costly for Bangladesh as de Klerk finished the match off with a six as she had done against India.

Bangladesh finished strong to their innings led by Shorna Akter who smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 35 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) to provide the final flourish that her team so desperately needed, having taken an ultra-cautious approach with the bat at the beginning. Shorna became the first Bangladeshi woman to hit three sixes in an ODI innings. Ritu Moni played her part too with a quick-fire 19 off 8 and together they gave Bangladesh something to defend. Bangladesh openers put on a 50-run stand but took almost 16 overs to do so. Even till the halfway stage, they had only 73 on the board. But with wickets in hand and Shorna showing her big-hitting ability, the momentum picked up in the latter stages.

Scores: Bangladesh Women 232-6 (50) (Fargana Hoque 30, Rubya Haider 25, Sharmin Akhter 50, Nigar Sultana 32, Shorna Akhter 51*, Nonkululeku Mlaba 2/42)

South Africa Women 235-7 (49.3) (Laura Wolvaardt 31, Anneke Bosch 28, Marizanne Kapp 56, Chloe Tryon 62, Nadine de Klerk 37*, Nahid Akter 2/44)

After three matches – one of which was washed out due to rain, Sri Lanka find themselves still without a win in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Today they take on New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium, a team they have beaten in both formats WODI and WT20I, and should be confident of repeating that success again.

But for that to happen they need a big innings from their Captain Chamari Athapaththu who is the only player in the side who can match up to the skills and experience of other top batters in the teams playing the World Cup.

The experience that Athapaththu has no one else in the team can come close to and at 35 she is not getting any younger and this perhaps could be her final appearance on a World Cup stage.

Athapaththu has only to take the cue from the captains of Australia (Alissa Healy – 142 v India), England (Nat Sciver-Brunt – 117 v Sri Lanka) and South Africa (Laura Wolvaardt – 70 v India) whose innings brought victory to their teams.

Today’s game is crucial to Sri Lanka’s chances if they are to finish in the top four of the standings to qualify for a place in the semi-finals. In the two matches they have played so far, Sri Lanka has lost their grip after being in dominating positions while fielding (against India) and batting (against England). A crucial aspect of their losses has been due to poor catching and the inconsistency of the bowlers to bowl a good line, which has resulted in letting the opposition off the hook.

‘We cannot afford to make mistakes like we have done against India and Australia, being in strong positions and letting go of the grip. It has gone on for too long. Whether batting or bowling we have to continue the momentum till the full 50 overs. The players know that, and with the ability they have, they are prepared to do it,’ said Head Coach Rumesh Ratnayake at the pre-match media conference.

On the fielding – ‘We need to bring our catching to flawless, zero level even if it is just one catch we missed.’

Player to watch New Zealand Women’s Captain Sophie Devine

On the batting – ‘Everyone must play the anchor role. We have six batters who can play that role but it has not happened. We hope that it will happen tomorrow. We have held long discussions on this aspect at team meetings and at practices.’

On the bowling – ‘Bowling wicket to wicket we have discussed it before the match, but when they go out something else is happening not what we have discussed. That is a problem we need to rectify.’

Sri Lanka’s record in World Cups has been rather poor. Since beating Pakistan in 2017, they have won only one in the last 10 matches.

‘We have spoken about those stats. What has happened is in the past. We have to think of the present and win the moments. We are a much better side than what we have performed. We are hoping that it will come at any time. Other than Australia, we have beaten all the other teams. I wouldn’t take that as an excuse but I want the team to do much better than they are doing right now.’

Ratnayake is hopeful that the players can put back the mistakes they have made from the two losses and turn the result in their favour against New Zealand who have only one win and two losses to show and will be keen to add to their points tally.

His message to the supporters of the team and the spectators who have turned up in their numbers for Sri Lanka’s matches is: ‘Don’t give up hope, please come and support us. This is a team which has won matches in the past. It’s a team that has beaten New Zealand in both formats of the game. Every match we go focussing on a win and plan for a win. Hopefully it happens tomorrow.’

If there is one player Sri Lanka would want to see the back of as early as possible is the New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine who is the leading run-getter in the ongoing World Cup with 260 runs (avg. 86.66) with one century and two fifties in the three matches played so far. Her century (112 against Australia) unlike the other captains came in a losing cause.

Gestetner of Ceylon PLC yesterday said that Hong Kong-based World Elite Ltd. has acquired a controlling 50.01% stake in the company through trades executed in the market.

World Elite purchased more than 1.3 million ordinary shares in Gestetner at Rs. 239.75 per share, amounting to a total consideration of Rs. 318.7 million.

Of the total shares acquired, 1.2 million were purchased from Gestetner (Eastern) Ltd., while the remaining 65,920 shares were bought from the market.

Gestetner of Ceylon PLC operates in the office automation and document solutions sector.

The share closed at Rs. 254 yesterday. The company reported a net asset per share of Rs. 212.60 as at end June 2025.

JF Packaging Ltd., intends to officially announce its Initial Public Offering of Ordinary Voting Shares.

The Investor Forum has been scheduled for 21 October to provide potential investors with an in-depth understanding of the company’s operations, business model, and future growth plans. Investors from across the globe are invited to join the forum via an online video stream, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with the company’s leadership. The company encourages interested parties to join the forum and gain valuable insights into this investment opportunity.

The Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates organised a special gathering on 8 October together with Cinnamon Hotels for the Conference Ambassadors appointed under the Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Program (SLCAP) UAE Chapter, launched to build on the momentum of the Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Program and to strengthen engagement with the Conference Ambassadors and to discuss the way forward plan.

The UAE chapter of the Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Program (SLCAP) was officially launched in April 2025 by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), and Sri Lankan Airlines.

This initiative was launched highlighting the country’s efforts in promoting Sri Lanka as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), which is a key pillar of its national tourism development strategy.

With its world-class hotels, modern conference facilities, vibrant culture, and unmatched natural beauty, Sri Lanka offers a unique blend of business and leisure for MICE travellers. Sri Lanka is emerging as an ideal destination for international corporate events, incentive tours, and industry conventions combining professional infrastructure with authentic Sri Lankan hospitality.

Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates Alexi Gunasekera, underscored the importance of MICE tourism for Sri Lanka in the region and extended an appreciation for Cinnamon Hotels for their support in promoting MICE tourism and specially, this initiative launched in the UAE.

He further elaborated the importance of the role vested with the appointed Conference Ambassadors in promoting MICE tourism in Sri Lanka, leveraging their professional experience, networks, and close engagement with key industry stakeholders to attract international events and elevate Sri Lanka’s global standing in the MICE sector. Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Chief Commercial Officer Radhey Tawer highlighted the important role of the appointed Conference Ambassadors and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Manager Global Alliances and Partnerships Dinika Kumarage also presented the vision behind this initiative, the journey ahead, and the way forward in taking Sri Lanka’s global presence even further. Sri Lankan Airlines Regional Manager (Middle East) Jayantha Abeysinghe and Senior Vice President – Global Alliances and Partnerships of John Keells Leisure and John Keells Group Head of Corporate Affairs Dileep Mudadeniya also attended the gathering.

Sri Lankan professionals appointed as Sri Lanka Conference Ambassadors were awarded with certificates during the meeting held at the premises of the Consulate General office in Dubai.

As part of this initiative, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates hosted a networking reception for the Conference Ambassadors and the senior representatives from the Cinnamon Hotels to have an engaging dialogue with UAE-based travel professionals, corporate planners, and tourism stakeholders to highlight the country’s potential and establish stronger partnerships in the region and to attract high value visitors.

The networking reception was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders, including- Industry bodies, Airline partners such as Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Canada. Travel and logistics partners: Alrais Travels, Corporates: Danube Group, influencers, media, and MICE enablers.

The Sri Lanka Golf Ranking Tournament 2025 tees off today (14) at the scenic Victoria Golf Resort in Rajawella, drawing some of the island’s finest golfing talent for four days of top-level competition. Over 40 golfers are set to battle it out at the National Ranking Tournament for October.

The event features a strong line-up of seasoned professionals and emerging stars at this tournament. This tournament will be worked off till 17 October with the cut off taking place after day 2.

Only the top 15 amateurs will qualify for day 3 and 4. This tournament also will serve as a trial to select the long list of Golfers for the Asian Games 2026 which will take place in Japan next year.

The junior golfers will play on 16 and 17 October at the same venue.

Hayleys Fentons Ltd., has announced the launch of Hayleys Mobility, a new venture delivering cutting-edge new-energy vehicle solutions and infrastructure, supporting the country’s transition towards sustainable mobility. This initiative comes in response to the growing demand for cleaner, smarter, and more energy-efficient transportation options among Sri Lankan consumers and businesses.

Through exclusive partnerships with world-renowned automotive brands, Hayleys Mobility introduces a range of New Energy Vehicles, comprising its hybrid and electric models, along with EV charging solutions to develop a cleaner, future-ready transportation ecosystem.

As the exclusive authorised distributor for OMODA and JAECOO and SRM vehicles in Sri Lanka, customers will have access to full manufacturer warranties, certified after-sales support and genuine parts availability. In partnership with StarCharge, a global leader in EV charging infrastructure, Hayleys Mobility will further expand access to reliable and convenient charging solutions across the island.

Backed by over a century of trust and innovation, the venture reflects the Hayleys Group’s continued commitment to advancing sustainable technologies and enhancing customer experience. Its brand tagline, ‘Not Many. Just One.’, captures a focus on excellence and distinction within the mobility sector.

The new Hayleys Mobility logo draws inspiration from the strength of the Hayleys identity. The orange accent from Hayleys Fentons signifies agility and energy, while the three forward-sweeping lines represent motion, innovation and a progressive, future-oriented outlook.

Hayleys Fentons Ltd., Managing Director Hasith Prematillake stated: ‘Hayleys Mobility is a strategic evolution of our portfolio. With exclusive access to some of the fastest-growing global automotive brands, we aim to redefine mobility in Sri Lanka through a trusted, future-ready ecosystem built on sustainability and innovation.’

Hayleys Mobility Ltd., Director Roshani Dharmaratne added: ‘Our customers can expect world-class vehicles supported by dependable after-sales service and infrastructure, Hayleys Mobility represents the strength of our portfolio and our vision to lead Sri Lanka’s mobility transformation.’

Hayleys Mobility Ltd., CEO Rajieve M. Fernando said, ‘Our vehicles are designed to deliver unmatched driving pleasure, combining advanced safety measures, convenient features, and innovative technologies. From advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to fast-charging capabilities, every model is designed to make sustainable mobility both accessible and enjoyable.’

Sri Lanka spends billions of rupees annually on fuel imports, with transportation accounting for 33% of the country’s total energy consumption. The adoption of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) presents a significant opportunity, not only to reduce environmental impact but also to conserve valuable foreign exchange, contributing to a more sustainable and economically resilient future.

Hayleys Mobility is driving this change, providing customers not just vehicles, but the chance to explore, experience, and embrace the next era of mobility. Every model in its lineup is delivered with responsibility, transparency, and compliance with government regulations, reflecting a steadfast commitment to innovating with integrity.