Category: Daily Financial Times

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) successfully concluded an insightful and engaging Experience-Sharing Forum (ESF) on the topic ‘The Evolving Leadership Role of Marketers’ on 18 May 2026 at the Jubilee Ballroom, Galle Face Hotel.

It brought together over 70 SLIM members, associate members, and SLIM professional members for an evening dedicated to thought leadership, professional learning, and industry networking.

The keynote session was delivered by globally renowned academic, INSEAD Singapore Unilever Chaired Professor of Marketing and marketing expert Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan. Widely respected for his research and contributions in the areas of business disruption, organisational renewal, transformation, and emerging markets, Prof. Padmanabhan shared valuable insights on how the role of marketers has evolved far beyond traditional brand communication to become a critical driver of business growth, innovation, and strategic leadership.

The event was attended by SLIM President Enoch Perera, SLIM Joint Secretary Asanka Perera, and SLIM Executive Committee Member Channa Jayasinghe, along with members representing various sectors of Sri Lanka’s marketing and business community.

Sharing his thoughts during the session, Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan said, ‘The marketer’s role today is increasingly intertwined with enterprise leadership. Organisations now expect marketers to not only understand consumers and markets, but also to guide transformation, navigate uncertainty, and help businesses remain relevant in highly competitive environments. It was a pleasure to engage with Sri Lanka’s dynamic marketing community and exchange ideas on these important developments.’

SLIM President Enoch Perera said: ‘SLIM continuously strives to provide meaningful learning opportunities that connect Sri Lanka’s marketing professionals with globally recognised expertise and contemporary industry thinking. Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan’s session offered valuable perspectives on the evolving expectations placed on marketers and highlighted the importance of leadership, adaptability, and innovation in today’s business environment.’

Throughout the session, participants were encouraged to rethink the future responsibilities of marketers in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing global business environment. Discussions focused on leadership agility, customer-centric transformation, data-driven decision-making, and the growing expectation for marketers to contribute meaningfully to overall organisational strategy and long-term value creation.

SLIM Vice President – Education and Research Manthika Ranasinghe said: ‘Today’s marketers are expected to lead with both strategic vision and adaptability in an increasingly dynamic business environment. This ESF created an important platform for professionals to gain fresh global perspectives on leadership, transformation, and the expanding role marketers play in shaping organisational success.’

SLIM Vice President – Events and Sustainability, Rajiv David said: ‘SLIM remains committed to curating impactful forums that encourage meaningful industry dialogue and continuous professional growth. The strong participation and engagement witnessed at this ESF reflected the growing importance of leadership-driven marketing and the value of knowledge-sharing within Sri Lanka’s marketing community.’

The event concluded successfully with an interactive networking session, reaffirming SLIM’s commitment to advancing marketing excellence, professional development, and thought leadership within Sri Lanka’s evolving business landscape.

Congo DR produced another shock result at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding one of the tournament favourites, Portugal, to a 1-1 draw in Houston on Wednesday.

The African side created history when Yoane Wissa scored Congo’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal deep into first-half stoppage time, cancelling out João Neves’ sixth-minute opener for Portugal.

Comms mate Ltd., a new UK-registered platform developed by a PR and communications agency News Publisher established in 2018, has officially launched a suite of AI agents purpose-built to transform how small and medium businesses manage customer engagement.

Unlike generic chatbots trained on internet data alone, Comms mate’s AI agents are developed and refined by communication experts with more than two decades of corporate communications experience – making them among the first truly human-trained customer care solutions available to SMEs.

As businesses grow, so do their inboxes. Managing increasing volumes of customer enquiries across multiple channels – while maintaining speed, consistency, and brand voice – places enormous pressure on lean teams. Add to that the missed opportunities for upselling and cross-selling buried within routine interactions, and the cost of poor communication management becomes very real.

Most businesses know they need better customer engagement. Few can afford enterprise-level solutions to achieve it.

Comms mate’s AI agents are not built on automation alone. Each agent is a closed sourced model trained through a structured briefing process guided by communication experts, ensuring responses are brand-aligned, professionally worded, and contextually intelligent from day one.

The result is a human-trained AI solution that does more than answer questions – it strengthens stakeholder relationships, captures engagement opportunities, and frees teams to focus on higher-value work, all while delivering 24/7 customer support.

The concept was first proven through The Publicist – the world’s first corporate AI agent trained exclusively by communication experts. Developed by News Publisher within hours, its rapid success was underpinned by decades of real-world expertise in managing diverse stakeholder enquiries, navigating varied brand tones, and delivering media-ready responses. Unlike a standard chatbot, Comms mate’s human-trained AI agents are built on that accumulated communications intelligence – effectively cloning the expertise of a seasoned communicator, so businesses can deliver consistent, professional responses at scale, without repeating themselves.

‘Every business wants to provide fast, consistent responses to customers – but doing so can place significant demands on time and resources,’ said Comms mate and News Publisher Founder Fiona Nanayakkara.

‘What surprised us during development was how complicated many AI solutions had become. We wanted to make the process simple. With the right communications expertise and a single briefing document, businesses can have a tailored, affordable AI communications agent ready within a week.’

News Publisher – established in 2018 and operating across the UK and Sri Lanka – believes businesses of all sizes should be able to access the communications capabilities that were previously available only to large enterprises. Through Comms mate, the company aims to bridge that gap: making human-trained AI agents, built by communication experts, accessible and affordable for growing businesses everywhere.

Kandy Sports Club has issued a strongly worded letter to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), signed by its Secretary Sujeewa Liyanage, expressing serious concerns over what it described as repeated administrative shortcomings and calling for urgent reforms to protect the image of the sport.

The letter follows the recent visa issue that prevented the Sri Lanka national team, which included two Kandy players, from travelling to South Korea for its scheduled Asia Rugby Top 3 fixture against South Korea. As a result, Sri Lanka was forced to concede the match without taking the field, a development that drew widespread criticism from the rugby fraternity.

In its communication, Kandy SC described the incident as one of the most unfortunate episodes in the history of Sri Lankan rugby administration, arguing that the failure to secure travel documentation on time reflected poor planning and execution of responsibilities that should have been addressed well in advance.

The club stated that the lapse not only denied players and coaching staff the opportunity to compete at international level but also damaged the country’s reputation and disappointed rugby supporters who had placed their confidence in the national side.

While acknowledging that sporting bodies can face operational challenges, Kandy SC stressed that international travel arrangements, documentation and administrative coordination are fundamental responsibilities that must be handled efficiently and professionally.

The club urged Sri Lanka Rugby to ensure that the office of the CEO is managed by a person with the necessary competence, experience and professionalism to safeguard the interests of the game both locally and internationally.

The strongly worded communication is also being viewed by many within rugby circles as an indirect warning that Kandy SC could reconsider releasing its players for national duty unless significant improvements are made to the administration of Sri Lanka Rugby.

This letter is expected to increase pressure on Sri Lanka Rugby to address its administrative shortcomings and restore confidence among players, clubs and supporters. Furthermore, the Minister of Sports is expected to take action following the inquiry into the lapse by

Visa has announced the launch of ‘Click to Pay’ in Sri Lanka, marking an important step in advancing secure, seamless, and frictionless digital commerce experience for consumers.

‘Click to Pay’ massively improves the online payment checkout experience by enabling the consumers to enjoy faster, more secure purchases without any friction, merchants to improve payment success rates and customer conversions and issuer-banks to drive higher card usage.

As digital commerce continues to grow in Sri Lanka, consumers and businesses alike are placing greater value on payment experiences that are fast, intuitive, and secure. However, the important step in online payment experience – guest checkout across websites and apps – often remains cumbersome, relying on manual card entry, multiple form fields, and repeated authentication steps that slows down transactions and even leads to abandoned shopping carts or drop-offs, resulting in unpleasant consumer interactions and loss of business for merchants.

With ‘Click to Pay’, consumers can get started with a simple, one-time setup when they first checkout on a participating merchant website or app. Using just their email address or mobile number, they can securely enroll their Visa card in a few quick steps. For subsequent purchases, shoppers can instantly access their saved card details, select their preferred card, and complete transactions in just a few clicks -without the need to re-enter card information each time. Existing authentication methods, such as one-time passwords, will continue to apply as required, ensuring each transaction remains secure.

Security is central to Click to Pay. It is tokenised by design, meaning – sensitive card details are replaced with secure digital tokens at the back-end rather than being passed through the checkout flow. This makes the actual card number invisible, lowering fraud risk while strengthening payment performance.

Visa Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Avanthi Colombage said: ‘At Visa, we understand that as more Sri Lankans embrace digital ways to shop and pay, it becomes increasingly important to deliver payment experiences that are trusted, secure and seamless. With ‘Click to Pay’, Visa is helping enhance how consumers interact with seamless digital payments by making online checkouts simpler and safer. By embedding tokenisation into the checkout experience, we are reducing the exposure of sensitive card details in the payment flow, empowering consumers to complete every online purchase safely and without friction. This is a significant step that Visa is introducing to advance payment capabilities in Sri Lanka in support of continued evolution of the country’s digital payments ecosystem.’

Black Knight, a leading personal care brand within the ICL Brands Ltd., portfolio, has announced its partnership as Title Sponsor of the Ella Archers franchise ahead of the Sri Lanka Padel League (SLPL) 2026, marking the occasion with the unveiling of the team’s official jersey at ICL Brands Headquarters in Colombo.

The partnership brings together one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised personal care brands and a franchise preparing to compete among the country’s leading padel talent when SLPL Season 2 takes centre stage from 18 to 21 June 2026 at Padel House, CR and FC, Colombo 7. The tournament is expected to showcase the continued rise of padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, while strengthening its growing presence in Sri Lanka.

Black Knight’s association with the Ella Archers reflects a shared spirit built on confidence, energy and performance. Confidence, self-expression and performance have long been central to the brands identity. Those qualities align naturally with padel, a sport that combines athleticism, strategy and intensity, while attracting a growing community of players and supporters across the country.

ICL Brands Marketing Director Chethika Rajapakshe said: ‘Black Knight has always stood for confidence, individuality and the drive to perform at your best. Padel reflects many of those same qualities. Its rapid growth, youthful energy and competitive spirit make it an exciting platform for us to engage with a new generation of sports fans and athletes. Ella Archers is a team that has demonstrated ambition, character and a strong competitive mindset, making them an ideal partner for Black Knight. We look forward to supporting the team throughout the tournament and celebrating the continued growth of padel in Sri Lanka.’

The jersey unveiling offered supporters and stakeholders a first look at the colours the Ella Archers will carry into competition, signalling the beginning of an exciting campaign as the team prepares to take on some of the nation’s finest talent.

As anticipation builds ahead of the opening serve, Black Knight’s partnership with the Ella Archers adds further momentum to a tournament that continues to attract growing interest from players, brands and fans alike. The collaboration reflects Black Knight’s commitment to championing emerging sporting platforms while standing behind individuals who compete with confidence, determination and purpose.

Colombo hosted the Mineral Sands Technical Conference 2026 yesterday, bringing together international experts, investors, industry leaders, and public officials to explore opportunities for developing Sri Lanka’s mineral sands sector through processing, technology, and investment.

Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday said the Government will decide whether to extend its fuel subsidy and relief measures after assessing economic conditions at the end of the current three-month period, while early indications show that the recently imposed 50% surcharge on vehicle imports has successfully reduced import demand.

Addressing a special media briefing, he said the Rs. 10 billion relief package introduced by the Government was designed as a temporary response to the economic impact of the Middle East crisis and was never intended as a long-term support measure.

‘From the outset, the Government made it clear that the Rs. 10 billion relief package was introduced to address a specific external shock and its impact on the economy. Our assessment at the time was that the immediate effects would be concentrated within the first three months,’ he said.

Dr. Fernando stressed that policy responses to external shocks should be calibrated according to evolving circumstances rather than being extended automatically.

‘It would not have been prudent to assume that an external event, such as the conflict in the Middle East, would necessarily require relief measures for one year or longer. External shocks should be addressed through short-term policy responses based on available information,’ he said.

He noted that there was no immediate need to decide on an extension of the subsidy program, adding that the Government would continue monitoring developments before taking further action.

‘Therefore, there is no need to rush into a decision regarding what happens after the three-month period. We will assess developments and respond accordingly. The Government has adequate cash buffers and will continue to maintain fiscal discipline,’ Dr. Fernando said.

The Deputy Minister pointed to improving global conditions, noting that oil prices had eased considerably after the initial spike triggered by geopolitical tensions.

‘Current global developments are encouraging. Oil prices, which surged sharply during the initial stages of the crisis, have since fallen significantly and are approaching previous levels. If that trend continues, we expect to manage the situation effectively,’ he said.

However, Dr. Fernando added that the Government remained prepared to intervene if circumstances changed.

‘If circumstances require further intervention, we will provide targeted relief based on the prevailing conditions and the best available information,’ he said.

Commenting on the impact of the 50% surcharge imposed on vehicle imports, Dr. Fernando said the measure had produced the intended results by cooling excessive import demand and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves. ‘Yes, the surcharge has had a noticeable impact,’ he said.

According to him, speculative import activity continued immediately after the surcharge was introduced, with importers rushing to open letters of credit (LCs) for vehicle purchases.

‘One day after the surcharge was imposed, the value of vehicle-related LCs reached around $ 88 million,’ he revealed.

As a result, he explained the daily foreign exchange requirements for vehicle imports rose sharply in the initial stages and has since moderated significantly.

‘By June, the average daily value had fallen to below $ 4 million. According to the latest data available up to 12 June, the figure stood at $ 3.79 million per day and continues to decline,’ he said.

Dr. Fernando said the trend demonstrated that the surcharge had been effective in discouraging panic-driven imports and helping restore more sustainable demand levels.

‘This demonstrates that the surcharge has been effective. People have realised that there was no need for panic-driven imports, and demand has begun returning to more sustainable levels,’ he said.

The Deputy Minister added that the moderation in vehicle imports had also improved the Government’s projections for annual import expenditure, easing concerns over external sector pressures and foreign exchange outflows.

Pussalla Agri Ventures has achieved a significant milestone in its organic transformation journey after being awarded EU Organic and USDA Organic certifications for its premium Ceylon cinnamon products.

The certifications were conferred recently at Control Union Sri Lanka, marking a major step forward in the company’s ambition to enter high-value international markets.

The recognition strengthens Pussalla Agri Ventures’ position as an emerging exporter of certified organic products, particularly its flagship organic Ceylon cinnamon.

The company began its structured transition to organic cinnamon cultivation several years ago, developing a fully integrated system covering cultivation, processing, and value addition. It currently manages extensive cinnamon cultivation lands under strict organic agricultural practices, ensuring compliance with global certification standards.

The EU Organic and USDA Organic certifications, issued through Control Union Sri Lanka, confirm that the company’s farming and processing systems meet stringent international requirements, including restrictions on synthetic chemicals, traceability controls, and environmental sustainability practices.

In addition to these certifications, the company is already certified under SL GAP, Food GMP, and Cosmetic GMP standards, further reinforcing its compliance with both agricultural and food safety requirements across multiple product categories.

Company representatives described the achievement as a key milestone in the Pussalla organic journey, noting that it paves the way for expanded access to premium export markets in Europe and the United States, where demand for certified organic spices continues to rise steadily alongside growing consumer preference for sustainable and traceable products.

Pussalla Agri Ventures emphasised that its organic cinnamon is sourced entirely from its own estates, ensuring full control over quality, traceability, and processing integrity. The integrated model enables cinnamon to be harvested, processed, and packed under closely monitored conditions, maintaining consistency with international organic standards.

The products include premium-grade quills, powder, and value-added cinnamon items derived from carefully managed plantations producing authentic True Ceylon Cinnamon.

Pussalla Agri Ventures’ certification places it among a growing group of Sri Lankan exporters adopting globally recognised organic systems, further strengthening the country’s reputation in high-value spice export markets.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday directed the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Illegal Assets Investigation Unit to arrest former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and produce him before court in connection with an alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena when the case was taken up before court.

During proceedings, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the third suspect, informed court that his client was prepared to make a confidential statement under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

CID officers informed court that Rs. 7.8 million allocated to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2014 for promotional activities had allegedly been used to distribute 12,000 T-shirts during the Uva Provincial Council election campaign, resulting in a loss to the State.

The Magistrate also ordered the release on bail of the Bureau’s former Managing Director, Rumi Jaufer, who had been held in remand custody. He was released on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each and was prohibited from travelling overseas.

Investigators informed court that charges had been filed under the Public Property Act.

The Magistrate further sought clarification on whether the Bureau’s former Finance Director, who had been named in the B Report, would also be cited as a suspect. The CID informed court that advice from the Attorney General was still pending.

The case was fixed for further hearing on 14 October.