Category: Daily Financial Times

Sri Lanka consumes roughly 258,000 metric tonnes of chicken annually, according to the Department of Animal Production and Health, and that figure has been climbing steadily as protein awareness grows and fast-food culture deepens. Behind that volume lies a practice that most consumers never see: the routine use of antibiotics in commercial poultry farming, applied not to treat disease but to accelerate growth and compensate for poor biosecurity. New Anthoney’s Farms, one of Sri Lanka’s few antibiotic-free poultry producers, has spent years building a credible counter-argument to that norm, and the science increasingly backs its position.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is the process by which bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to defeat the drugs designed to treat them. The World Health Organization has described AMR as one of the greatest threats to global public health, attributing 1.27 million deaths directly to resistant bacterial infections in 2019 alone, with the broader toll estimated at 4.95 million deaths when infections to which AMR contributed are included. The WHO now projects that without coordinated action, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of mortality.

The livestock sector is a significant driver. Antibiotics administered to animals pass through the food chain and into the environment, accelerating resistance in bacteria that affect both animals and humans. In the poultry industry specifically, the pattern is well established: farms under pressure to produce faster and at lower cost turn to antibiotics as a management crutch rather than a last resort.

What the data shows in Sri Lanka

Local research confirms the scale of the problem. A study published in the Sri Lanka Veterinary Journal examining commercial poultry farms in the Kurunegala district found that 98% of farms surveyed were using at least one antimicrobial drug, with enrofloxacin, amoxicillin and tetracycline among the most common. Resistance profiles from faecal samples showed tetracycline resistance at 81.8% and resistance to fluoroquinolones including ciprofloxacin at 31.8%. These are not obscure compounds: ciprofloxacin is a critically important antibiotic in human medicine, classified by the WHO as essential for treating severe infections where few alternatives exist.

The implications are direct. When resistance builds up in poultry gut bacteria and those bacteria enter the food chain, soil, or water supply, they carry their resistance traits with them. Consumers who never take an antibiotic themselves can still be exposed to resistant organisms through the food they eat.

New Anthoney’s position in the market

New Anthoney’s established its antibiotic-free model not as a marketing angle but as a production philosophy tied to long-term commercial viability and public health responsibility. The company’s Harithahari range of chicken is certified antibiotic-free, produced under strict biosecurity protocols that eliminate the conditions that prompt conventional farmers to reach for antimicrobials in the first place. Harithahari, which means ‘green’ in Sinhala, is positioned as a premium product for health-conscious consumers who understand what antibiotic-free means and why it matters.

The company’s approach received formal academic recognition through a memorandum of understanding with the University of Peradeniya, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost agricultural research institutions. That partnership reflects a broader commitment to grounding its production standards in science rather than self-certification, and gives the Harithahari claim an independent layer of credibility that most competitors cannot match.

New Anthoney’s has also positioned itself as a future export business. Antibiotic-free certification is increasingly a non-negotiable requirement for entry into export markets, particularly in the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, where food safety regulations are tightening around antimicrobial use. Establishing the production standard now, before export ambitions mature, means the company will not face a costly retrofit of its operations when it is ready to compete internationally.

Building awareness at every level

The challenge with AMR is that its consequences are diffuse and delayed, which makes it difficult to communicate with urgency. New Anthoney’s has approached this through layered awareness work that reaches different audiences in different ways.

Internally, the company has run staff awareness programs at its Hanwella facilities, focusing specifically on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and what antibiotic-free production actually requires from the people involved in it. These sessions covered the company’s own Harithahari protocols, the ethical basis for antibiotic-free farming, and the role each employee plays in maintaining standards that cannot be compromised at any point in the production chain.

Externally, New Anthoney’s has engaged industry peers, food sector stakeholders, and the wider public to make the case that responsible food production is not a niche concern. The company’s argument is straightforward: the same logic that governs responsible medicine use applies to food production. Antibiotics keep people alive. Overusing them, whether in hospitals or in chicken farms, erodes the very efficacy that makes them valuable.

Sri Lanka has a historically rich food culture, and New Anthoney’s frames its work within that tradition. Food that sustains people properly has always been a national value. What has changed is the industrial context in which food is now produced, and with it the responsibility that producers carry.

Why this matters now

The WHO’s Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance calls on all sectors, including agriculture and food production, to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use and preserve the effectiveness of existing drugs. Sri Lanka adopted a National Action Plan on AMR in 2017, but implementation across the food sector has been uneven. Industry leadership, rather than regulation alone, will drive the change that the plan envisions.

New Anthoney’s is one of the few Sri Lankan poultry producers putting that leadership into practice at scale. Its model demonstrates that antibiotic-free production is commercially viable, scientifically defensible, and responsive to where consumer demand and regulatory standards are heading. For a country working to build export-credible food industries, that matters considerably.

The National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) officially launched the Best Innovative Business Model Awards (BIBMA) 2026 on 14 July, reaffirming its commitment to fostering business excellence, innovation, and sustainable economic growth in Sri Lanka.

As NIBM approaches six decades of excellence in education, research, consultancy, and industry engagement, the Institute continues to introduce initiatives that strengthen the country’s business ecosystem and promote globally competitive organisations.

BIBMA 2026 was introduced as a prestigious national platform dedicated to recognising organisations that have transformed the way they create, deliver, and capture value in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. The awards aim to establish a national benchmark for innovative business models while encouraging organisations to embrace innovation, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness.

The awards program is open to organisations across four sectors, Start-ups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Corporates, and Public Enterprises, with 30 awards to be presented across these sectors. Applications officially opened at the launch event, with submissions closing on 15 September. Shortlisted organisations will be notified by 15 November, before progressing to the final evaluation stage and the prestigious Awards Gala later this year.

BIBMA 2026 adopts a robust evaluation framework based on the internationally recognised Business Model Canvas developed by Osterwalder and Pigneur, integrated with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Organisations will be assessed across nine key dimensions: Key Partnerships, Key Activities, Key Resources, Value Propositions, Customer Segments and Customer Relationships, Channels, Revenue Streams, Cost Structure, and Sustainability Integration.

More than an awards program, BIBMA 2026 has been developed as a national initiative to promote business excellence, encourage continuous innovation, and strengthen Sri Lanka’s business ecosystem. Through a rigorous and transparent assessment process conducted by an independent Assessment Council comprising distinguished academics, industry experts, policymakers, and business leaders, participating organisations will receive valuable benchmarking against internationally recognised business model standards.

NIBM Chairman Dr. Chinthake Perera said: ‘Innovation is the cornerstone of sustainable business success in today’s rapidly evolving world. Through BIBMA 2026, NIBM is creating a credible national platform that encourages organisations to rethink how they create value, embrace innovation, and compete on a global stage. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting Sri Lankan enterprises in building resilient, future-ready business models that contribute to the nation’s economic growth.’

NIBM Director General Dr. D.M.A. Kulasooriya stated: ‘For nearly six decades, NIBM has remained at the forefront of developing professionals, organisations, and industries that contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic progress. BIBMA 2026 introduces a new dimension to our business consultancy initiatives by recognising innovative business models that create sustainable value. Through this program, we aim to help organisations benchmark themselves against internationally recognised standards while fostering innovation, competitiveness, and long-term growth.’

NIBM School of Business Director Kolitha Ranawaka added: ‘The NIBM School of Business has long been recognised for its expertise in business education, executive development, research, and consultancy. BIBMA 2026 is a natural extension of this expertise, providing organisations with an independent and structured platform to evaluate and strengthen their business models. We believe this initiative will not only recognise excellence but also inspire organisations to continuously innovate and enhance their competitiveness.’

BIBMA 2026 Steering Committee Chair Dr. Baratha Dewanarayana said: ‘BIBMA 2026 was designed to celebrate organisations that have successfully reimagined how value is created, delivered, and sustained. More importantly, it establishes a credible national benchmark that encourages continuous innovation, cross-sector learning, and business excellence while promoting sustainable business practices across Sri Lanka.’

BIBMA 2026 Consultant/Lecturer and Project Lead Sandamini Withanachchi said: ‘BIBMA 2026 offers organisations an opportunity to benchmark their business models against recognised best practices, gain national recognition, and showcase their achievements. Beyond the awards, the program encourages participants to evaluate their strengths, embrace innovation, and build resilient business models capable of creating long-term value.’

Beyond recognising excellence, BIBMA 2026 also serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking among leaders from Sri Lanka’s business community. By bringing together organisations from four diverse sectors under a single nationally recognised framework, the initiative seeks to foster cross-sector learning and inspire the adoption of innovative and sustainable business practices that contribute to the country’s economic development.

Organisations interested in participating may submit their applications through the official BIBMA website. Applications are accepted under four categories: Startups – Rs. 10,000, MSMEs – Rs. 25,000, Public Enterprises – Rs. 30,000, and Large Corporates – Rs. 75,000.

The starting point

Sri Lanka has an unusually good problem. A fully worked diaspora-engagement plan has sat in a ministry drawer since 2015, alongside 41 self-organised expatriate networks of doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and executives – already active and waiting to be used.

For a decade, Sri Lanka has competed for the world’s mobile wealth – digital nomad, retiree, and investor visas – while offering its own emigrants no comparable path home. Every country in this brief built its program on a smaller diaspora, or a worse fiscal position, than Sri Lanka has today. The gap isn’t ideas. It’s execution.

Guiding principles

Four principles should govern how the coordinating unit operates, independent of which instrument it’s running.

1. Purpose, not polity. Engagement is a means to remittances, investment, skills, and credibility – not an end in itself. Every instrument below is judged against a concrete outcome, not its existence.

2. Facilitator, not implementer. The State’s job is to remove friction and get out of the way of the 41 existing networks that already know how to organise. It should lead only where the market genuinely won’t.

3. Open the leadership table. The coordinating unit shouldn’t be staffed solely by the officials who let the existing plan sit unused for a decade. Diaspora networks – including younger, less-connected members – need real design seats, not consultation after the fact.

4. Audit, don’t compete. Diaspora engagement is non-competitive between countries, so Sri Lanka can borrow freely from India’s OCI card, Malaysia’s TalentCorp, Israel’s Yozma fund, Thailand’s tax regime, and Mexico’s 3×1 match fund – each sized to its own fiscal reality.

Status: Will I feel welcome?

The Sri Lanka Overseas Citizen (SLOC) Card, modelled on India’s OCI scheme, would give lifelong, multiple-entry status – not a renewable favour – to anyone who has held Sri Lankan citizenship, or whose parent or grandparent did, with property rights and investment parity with residents. India signed up over a million cardholders in thirteen years. The card would also double as a census, turning 41 scattered networks into one database.

A lighter Golden Visa tier, sized to Sri Lanka rather than the UAE, would offer 5-10 year renewable residency for $ 100,000-250,000 committed to Port City property, a BOI-approved venture, or the co-investment fund below. The UAE’s AED 2 million threshold assumes oil-economy liquidity Sri Lanka doesn’t have; a local figure should be aspirational for a mid-career Gulf engineer, not reserved for Colombo’s wealthy.

Both tiers should carry UAE-style family provisions – sponsorship of dependent children and a simplified spousal path. A diaspora professional weighing return usually weighs it for a household, not just themselves.

These instruments should also be differentiated by diaspora profile: a first-generation Gulf emigrant, still connected to consular networks, responds to different outreach than a second-generation professional in London who knows Sri Lanka mainly through family visits and social media.

Fiscal: Does the math work?

Malaysia’s Return Expatriate Program offers the sharpest lever: a flat, reduced tax rate for a fixed window, removing the biggest deterrent – swapping tax-free Gulf income for a normal domestic bracket. Sri Lanka should adopt this directly. The pieces already exist: a concessionary 16% rate on research income, a 10% cap on education income, a VAT exemption for R and D. The task is packaging what exists into an application a diaspora scientist in Melbourne can actually find.

Dual banking rights and genuinely unfrozen foreign-currency accounts need statute, not policy – crisis-era capital controls mean only a legal guarantee will be believed.

Thailand’s model goes further, offering full exemption on foreign-sourced income and up to 13 years of corporate tax exemption for diaspora-founded businesses. Sri Lanka could extend that exemption to Port City firms founded by returning entrepreneurs – an incentive currently missing.

Capital: Beyond the remittance pipeline

Three mechanisms, in order of readiness:

A Yozma-style matching fund for Port City start-ups: modest Government capital co-investing alongside diaspora and private money, privatised once the market matures. Israel built an entire venture ecosystem this way from 1993 and now produces more NASDAQ-listed companies per capita than any country on earth – a sharper “invest” pitch than a bond, without asking the diaspora to lend to a Government that has already defaulted on them once.

A Sri Lanka Diaspora Bond, ring-fenced and reported publicly, line by line. India used this model in 1998 and 2000 to raise billions in weeks during a reserves crunch much like Sri Lanka’s own; Israel has used it since 1951. This should follow the equity fund, not lead it.

A Diaspora Village Match Fund, modelled on Mexico’s 3×1 Program: hometown associations fund a school roof, water system, or clinic, and Government matches it at district, provincial, and central level – the fastest of the three to show results, and one that gives ordinary remittance-sending families, not just wealthy investors, real ownership.

Capital rarely moves at the level of “the diaspora” as a mass – it moves through a small number of well-connected champions. Sri Lanka’s own equivalent of Ireland’s Craig Barrett or Denmark’s Goodwill Ambassadors likely sits inside one of the 41 networks. Engaging a handful of these figures, through a diaspora business network, should be an explicit workstream.

Frictionless return

Fast-track mutual recognition of medical, engineering, and nursing credentials with the UK, Australia, Canada, and the Gulf states – Sri Lanka’s largest diaspora concentrations and most short-staffed sectors since the post-2022 emigration wave. This costs almost nothing: a Sri Lankan-trained doctor who qualified abroad currently can’t resume practice at home without re-certifying from scratch.

Sri Lanka My Second Home – an existing retiree component – pairs a half-tax holiday and Government land for elder-care housing with foreign-currency accounts for diaspora seniors. Elder care abroad runs $5,700 a month and up; this needs only activation.

The Reverse Brain Drain component – tiered science grants and short lecture visits for overseas academics – deserves China’s Thousand Talents treatment, minus the eight-figure bonuses Sri Lanka can’t afford. Returnees under such schemes publish 27% more than peers who stayed abroad. Return needn’t be full-time to matter.

Institutional spine

Every country that made this work – India, Malaysia, Ireland – did it through one dedicated unit with real authority, not an inter-ministerial memo. Sri Lanka’s coordinating unit needs to be:

Established by statute, not MoU, so it survives a change of Government.

Modelled operationally on TalentCorp – mapping skilled Sri Lankans and matching them to roles or investment opportunities.

Bound to fixed processing windows – the mechanism that stopped Ireland’s and Malaysia’s programs being buried the way Sri Lanka’s already was once.

A facilitator, not a gatekeeper, toward the 41 existing networks, leading only where none yet exists.

Governed with diaspora representation built in – a standing advisory seat, drawn from established and younger diaspora figures alike.

Local roots

Diaspora affinity is rarely felt toward “Sri Lanka” in the abstract – it’s felt toward a specific town, district, or province of origin. The Village Match Fund is, in effect, a local-engagement instrument: provincial and district authorities should co-design which projects get match-funding, and the SLOC card’s census should map which regions send diaspora to which countries, so local Governments can approach the relevant networks directly.

Managing domestic friction

A returnee on preferential tax treatment, sitting next to a colleague who stayed and pays full rates, will breed resentment if unaddressed. The fix isn’t fewer incentives – it’s attached obligations. Mentorship, guest lecturing, or local hiring quotas as conditions of preferential status turn a one-way concession into a visible two-way exchange.

Rollout plan

Trust, not incentive design, is Sri Lanka’s binding constraint. Each phase is gated: the next begins only once the current one delivers its proof point.

Phase 1 – Deliver Something (0-6 months). Launch the SLOC card on existing architecture; sign credential-recognition agreements with the UK, Australia, Canada, and the Gulf; stand up the coordinating unit by statute with fixed windows and a diaspora advisory seat.

Exit: SLOC processing on time; one recognition agreement signed.

Phase 2 – Activate What Exists (6-12 months). Package the research, education, and R and D tax concessions into one online application, differentiated by diaspora profile; launch My Second Home; write banking rights into statute; open Reverse Brain Drain.

Exit: measurable uptake plus the statutory banking guarantee in force.

Phase 3 – Ask for Capital, Tangibly (12-24 months). Seed the Yozma fund, anchored by identified diaspora champions; launch the Village Match Fund in pilot districts, co-designed with provincial authorities; extend the corporate exemption to Port City founders.

Exit: one Yozma co-investment closed; one Village Match project completed and audited.

Phase 4 – Earn the Bond (24+ months). Publish a full audit of Phase 3 spending; launch the Diaspora Bond, ring-fenced and publicly reported.

Exit: none – this phase is the destination, contingent on Phase 3’s audit passing scrutiny.

The ask

Sri Lanka does not need a new plan. It needs the existing one completed with the missing low-cost pieces – the Yozma fund, the village match, credential recognition – a coordinating unit with statutory teeth, a leadership table staffed by the diaspora it serves, and a signature. Forty-one networks are already organised and waiting. The invitation, not the persuasion, is the only step that remains.

In a crucial Under-23 Inter-Club 2-day Group A game played at the P. Sara Oval yesterday, Bloomfield held the upper hand on the opening day against Tamil Union.

Former Richmond College off-spinner Tharinda Nirmal took five Tamil Union wickets for 38 runs to put them out for 152. By the close Bloomfield had wiped out 81 of those runs losing three wickets and required a further 72 runs to gain the vital first innings lead.

Group A table toppers Moors SC were in dire straits in their match against Ragama CC at Moors SC grounds. Left-arm seamer Dinith Kumarasinghe took 4/32 to bowl out Ragama CC for 183 for whom Lahiru Abeysinghe (50 off 72 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and Captain Dasith Gunathilaka (53 off 61 balls, 2 fours, 5 sixes) hit fifties apiece. Moors SC in their turn slumped to 110-8 by the close, their batting being dismantled by seamer Kaveesha Liyanarachchi (3/24) and left-arm spinner Maleesha Silva (4/18).

BRC vying for a quarter-final place from Group C have begun their match against Ace Capital CC at the BRC grounds well, posting a first day total of 387-6 based largely on a fabulous double century from opener Isuru Fernando (201* off 251 balls, 23 fours, 4 sixes) and a century (109* off 128 balls, 9 fours, 4 sixes) from Lithma Perera who together shared a double century stand of 217 for the sixth wicket.

From the same group Nugegoda SWC made the highest total of the day reaching 410-5 against Navy SC at the Panadura esplanade. Former Peterite Lahiru Dawatage was nine runs shy of reaching a double century having faced 229 balls for his 191* (23 fours). With skipper Dasis Manchanayake (81 off 85 balls, 12 fours, 3 sixes) Dawatage added 130 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the big total.

Former Mahanama College wicket-keeper/batsman Anjala Bandara hit a sparkling 157 off 220 balls (19 fours) to take Group B table leaders CCC to a first day total of 328-8 against Leo CC at the CCC grounds. Bandara shared a third wicket stand of 133 with Sanul Weerarathna (70 off 129 balls, 8 fours). Seamer Nethma Karunaratne took 4/65.

Off-spinner Amith Perera (4/66) and right-arm medium-fast seamer Shehan Pramod (5/64) brought about the downfall of Police SC for 207 at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. Police SC skipper Dhanuja Induwara missed out on a century three runs (97 off 106 balls, 13 fours, 1 six). By the close Negombo CC had lost 4 for 117 to trail by 90 runs.

Group D leaders SSC were in control of their match against Panadura SC at the SSC grounds. Former Nalanda College off-spinner Malsha Fernando took 7/39 off 18 overs to dismiss Panadura SC for 177 where Asadisa de Silva’s 50 (80 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) was the top score. SSC finished two runs short of overtaking Panadura SC’s total on 176-3 courtesy of fifties from Rivith Jaysuriya (56 off 59 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and skipper Shevon Daniel (61* off 79 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).

United Southern SC scraped through to a first innings win against NCC at the NCC grounds, after spinners Sumeda Sampath and Damesh Mathishan took seven wickets between them to terminate the NCC innings for 131. United Southern SC lost their eighth wicket at 113, but their ninth wicket pair batted with purpose to put them in front and gain a first innings lead of 22. Shaveen Perera top scored for NCC with 53 (58 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes). NCC in their second innings were 38-3.

Kurunegala SC powered by a century (128 off 194 balls, 10 fours) from wicket-keeper Janith Ravishka and his stand of 149 with Yashmith Jayasundara (67 off 109 balls, 6 fours) made 314 against Kandy Customs SC at the Welagedara Stadium. By the close Kandy Customs SC had made 15-1. Adeesha Pabasara took 5/100 bowling left-arm chinaman. These matches will continue on its second day today.

Meanwhile, Chilaw Marians CC took first innings points off Galle CC at the Moratuwa Stadium to qualify for a quarter-final place from Group C. Chilaw Marians CC built on their first innings lead of 62 by declaring at 314-8 leaving Galle CC with the tall task of chasing 377 for a win at the Moratuwa Stadium. A feature of the Chilaw Marians CC innings was the fifth wicket stand of 159 between Darshaka Sandeep (101 off 136 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) and Yasiru Lakshan (65 off 118 balls, 8 fours). Off-spinner Manitha Rajapaksa took 4/95 for match figures of 9/139. Galle CC finished on 124-5. – [ST]

The 10th edition of the C Rugby Carnival concluded in exciting fashion, with top honours shared among outstanding mercantile and old boys’ teams at the CR and FC ground last weekend.

CDB Finance emerged Mercantile Bowl champions after defeating Dialog in the final, while Cinnamon Hotels clinched the Mercantile Cup title, with Commercial Bank finishing runners-up. LSEG won the Mercantile Plate championship. In the Old Boys’ and Girls’ category, Ananda defeated Royal to lift the Bowl, St. Sylvester’s overcame Isipathana to win the Cup, and Trinity beat Thurstan to secure the premier title.

Individual honours went to Anjana Vinodh (Cinnamon Hotels), Slisha Fernando (Commercial Bank), Anuka Boyagoda (Trinity), and Ovidhini Daluwatte, who were named the tournament’s Most Valuable Players. (SJ)

HSBC Sri Lanka has been recognised as the ‘Best International Bank in Sri Lanka’ at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, one of the financial industry’s leading global award programs.

HSBC Sri Lanka was also named ‘Best for Securities Services’-the first time the bank has received this award.

In the Awards for Excellence 2026 winner’s summary, Euromoney noted: ‘HSBC’s international platform in Sri Lanka is defined by its ability to execute across borders in complex and constrained environments. Operating in Sri Lanka for 134 years, HSBC has a corporate and institutional banking franchise spanning global trade solutions, global payment solutions and securities services. The bank connects clients to 31 markets across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, delivering across trade, payments, lending, foreign exchange and capital markets.’

Globally, HSBC received multiple awards at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, including Asia’s Best Bank, Asia’s Best Bank for Large Corporates, and Asia’s Best Bank for Securities Services, as well as Best International Bank in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

HSBC Sri Lanka CEO Mark Surgenor said: ‘Proud of what our teams have achieved. This recognition reflects our clients’ trust and our commitment to connect Sri Lanka to the world-bringing international reach, market access and seamless service to support our customers’ ambitions.’

Earlier this year, HSBC Sri Lanka was also recognised as the Best International Bank in Sri Lanka for 2026 by FinanceAsia.

Vietjet is rolling out a limited-time, exclusive promotion on its new Colombo-Ho Chi Minh City route, featuring Eco fares from $ 90 one-way (inclusive of all taxes and fees) along with 20kg of complimentary checked baggage.

The route, Vietjet’s first scheduled service connecting Sri Lanka and Vietnam, is set to commence operation on 18 August 2026.

The promotion begins at 22:30 on 20 July and runs until 21:30 on 23 July 2026 (Sri Lanka time), with fares bookable via www.vietjetair.com or the ‘Vietjet Air’ mobile app. Passengers who select a 20kg checked baggage option during booking will receive it free of charge, regardless of ticket class. The promotion is valid for travel between 18 August 2026 and 31 March 2027 (blackout dates apply).

Operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the new service departs Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo at 23:00 and arrives at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City at 05:55 the following day. Return flights depart Ho Chi Minh City at 18:15 and arrive in Colombo at 21:50 (all times are local time).

The new route gives Sri Lankan travellers direct access to Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant food scene, historic sights and modern skyline, along with seamless onward connections across Vietnam and the wider Asia-Pacific region through Vietjet’s extensive flight network. From Ho Chi Minh City, passengers can conveniently connect to numerous destinations across Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and beyond.

The route also opens Sri Lanka’s beaches, tea country and wildlife to a growing base of Vietnamese and regional travellers, supporting two-way tourism growth between the two countries.

Passengers flying with Vietjet can enjoy a modern fleet, professional onboard service and a selection of hot meals, including Vietnamese specialities such as pho and banh mi, alongside Vietnamese iced milk coffee. Members of the Vietjet SkyJoy loyalty program can also earn and redeem reward points across Vietjet services and more than 250 partner brands spanning travel, dining, shopping and lifestyle.

The General Sales Agents are Andrew The Aviation Company Ltd.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by Delhi Police yesterday while leading a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, as the Congress stepped up pressure on the Government over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Police detained several Congress MPs and party workers after demonstrators marched from Rajaji Marg to Lok Kalyan Marg, alleging police brutality against students protesting over the examination controversy a day earlier. Officers were seen carrying Rahul Gandhi to a police bus as the protest was dispersed.

‘They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them. They are scared of us,’ Priyanka Gandhi said while being taken into custody.

The detentions came after Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh claimed Rahul Gandhi had changed his position during discussions with Government representatives near the protest site.

The Rotary Club of Colombo ushered in a new chapter in its illustrious history with the Installation Ceremony of its 98th President, Rtn. Azad Mansoor, held on Friday, 3 July 2026, at the magnificent Cumulus Ballroom, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo.

In a dignified and elegant ceremony steeped in Rotary tradition, President Azad Mansoor was formally installed alongside his wife Ifeth, symbolising their shared commitment to a year of dedicated service. Joining them was the newly appointed Board of Directors, an accomplished team poised to lead the Club with vision, integrity, and purpose during the Rotary Year 2026-2027.

The event was honoured by the presence of Chief Guest Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, District Governor Rtn. Kumar Sundararaj, Past Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran, Immediate Past District Governor Delvin Pereira, several Past District Governors, Past Presidents, distinguished Rotarians, corporate leaders, diplomats, family members, and invited guests.

Over 150 invitees attended the memorable evening, which celebrated fellowship, leadership, and Rotary’s enduring commitment to humanitarian service.

The Installation Ceremony represented far more than a ceremonial transition of leadership. It reaffirmed the Rotary Club of Colombo’s proud 98-year legacy of service to Sri Lanka. Established in 1929 as the country’s first Rotary Club, the Club has remained at the forefront of community service, humanitarian initiatives, education, healthcare, youth development, and nation-building. This remarkable journey began under the leadership of its Charter President, Colonel T.Y. Wright, whose vision laid the foundation for generations of dedicated Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of Colombo extends its sincere appreciation to its valued corporate sponsors, partners, and members, whose generous support and commitment made this prestigious event a resounding success.

As the Club embarks on another year of service under the Rotary International theme, “Create Lasting Impact,” President Azad Mansoor has outlined an ambitious program focused on sustainable community development, educational empowerment, healthcare initiatives, environmental stewardship, and strengthening partnerships across the public and private sectors.

With the Club’s historic Centennial Celebration just two years away, the Rotary Club of Colombo is committed to expanding its impact and reaching even more communities in need.

President Azad Mansoor has extended an open invitation to corporate organisations, business leaders, philanthropists, professionals, and all socially responsible individuals to join hands with the Rotary Club of Colombo in advancing meaningful humanitarian projects that transform lives and build stronger communities.

Together, we can create a lasting impact and continue a proud legacy of “Service Above Self.”

The Cabinet of Ministers have approved a proposal to replace the planned purchase of 600 standard buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) with air-conditioned deluxe buses, upgrading the Government’s fleet renewal program at a total estimated cost of Rs. 21.6 billion.

The 2026 Budget had initially allocated Rs. 14.4 billion to procure 600 standard buses with seating capacity for 49 to 54 passengers under the Government’s investment program.

However, following the introduction of the Road Safety Plan 2025-2026, buses used for passenger transport have been identified as priority vehicles for safety improvements, prompting the Government to revise the procurement specifications for intercity and long-distance services.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the revised proposal would require an additional Rs. 7.2 billion, increasing the total project cost to Rs. 21.6 billion.

‘Rs. 1.8 billion will be needed in 2026 as an advance payment, while the remaining Rs. 5.4 billion will be allocated during the 2027-2028 period,’ he explained the additional funding requirement.

Under the revised specifications, Dr. Jayatissa said air-conditioned deluxe buses will replace the originally proposed standard buses for intercity and long-distance operations, with the aim of improving passenger comfort and service quality.

‘The decision forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to modernise the SLTB fleet, improve the quality of long-distance public transport services and strengthen road safety standards across the country’s passenger transport network,’ he added.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by the Transport, Highways and Urban Development Acting Minister to proceed with the procurement of 600 deluxe buses instead of the standard buses for which funding had originally been allocated.