Category: Daily Financial Times

The Royal College Union Aquatics Club (RCUAC) has announced the return of the RCUAC Challenge Shield, set for 7 and 8 February 2026 at the Royal College Swimming Pool. Expanding into a vibrant two-day celebration themed ‘A Weekend at the Pool’, the event brings together junior athletes, schools, families, and supporters for Water Polo, Swimming, and more.

Long hailed as one of Sri Lanka’s premier junior water polo tournaments, the fifth edition this year evolves to include Swimming, blending intense competition with cherished traditions and community spirit.

The action kicks off on Saturday, 7 February, with water polo matches featuring teams across age groups from both boys’ and girls’ schools and clubs nationwide, a vital proving ground for rising stars. Fixtures and participants will be revealed soon.

Sunday, 8 February, shifts to the Swimming Shield, where more than 800 swimmers vie for age-group honours and the prestigious Dr. Jey Gunasegaram Trophy. Presented by RCOBANA (Royal College Old Boys Association of North America) Board Chairperson Athula Meepe, the trophy immortalises the late Royal College old boy’s lifelong commitment to sport and his alma mater.

RCUAC deepens its impact through a continued partnership with the Rotaract Club of Colombo Uptown’s Run For Their Lives (RFTL) 2026. On-site promoters will rally registrations for RFTL’s 12th edition that same day, supporting Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, building on a decade of raising over Rs. 50 million for essential medicines and equipment, following last year’s Spectra success.

Festivities extend beyond the pool with a lively car-park carnival and artistic swimming performances before Saturday’s age-group finals. Diving takes centre stage during Sunday’s lunch break, while an exciting raffle adds extra thrill: Follow RCUAC’s social media for a special post, where 3 winners will be randomly selected and announced on 8 February, claiming fantastic prizes.

Anchored at Sri Lanka’s premier aquatic venue and backed by key sponsors, including Norfolk Foods Ltd., Pelwatte Dairy, George Steuart Health, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd., Royal College Group of 2003 (Rangers), RCOBANA, Royal College Doctors Association, Sports Ministry, Royal College Union (RCU), and Board of Management, the RCUAC Challenge Shield 2026 promises competition, connection, and unforgettable moments for all.

For over four decades, ZILLIONe has stood at the forefront of technology consulting and integration, quietly powering the digital ambitions of organisations across industries. Founded at a time when computing was a fledgling promise, ZILLIONe has spent more than 46 years growing from a traditional IT partner into a trusted leader in digital transformation.

Today, as the business world pivots toward AI-driven strategies and agile digital cores, ZILLIONe’s legacy is more relevant than ever, offering clients not just technology but a competitive edge in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Agile Digital Core: Cloud and Business Applications as Competitive Enablers

At the heart of ZILLIONe’s transformation toolkit lies an agile digital core, built on the pillars of cloud computing, ERP and CRM. These technologies, once considered back-office necessities, have become strategic enablers for operational excellence and innovation. ZILLIONe’s expertise in integrating powerful, scalable cloud platforms allows organisations to rapidly adapt to changing demands, scaling resources up or down as needed without sacrificing security or performance.

ERP and CRM solutions, when thoughtfully deployed, unify disparate data and processes while breaking down silos, enhancing collaboration and delivering a single source of truth across the business. This agility is crucial in today’s environment, where the window for responding to new opportunities or disruptions is narrower than ever. ZILLIONe ensures that clients’ digital foundations remain flexible and future-ready, able to accommodate emerging technologies and evolving business models with minimal friction.

Cyber-Resilience: Shifting Cybersecurity from Cost to Brand Asset

As enterprises digitise, the risks of cyber threats and data breaches have grown exponentially. ZILLIONe recognises that cybersecurity can no longer be viewed as a line-item expense or a reactive fix. Instead, ZILLIONe reframes from cyber-resilience as a brand asset, one that protects not just data but also reputation and trust. Through layered, adaptive security architectures, ZILLIONe helps clients anticipate vulnerabilities and respond proactively, turning resilience into a source of competitive differentiation.

In a marketplace where partners and customers demand transparency and accountability, resilient cybersecurity is now a signal of reliability and corporate responsibility. ZILLIONe’s Zero-Trust Framework approach integrates real-time monitoring, incident response planning and employee awareness initiatives, ensuring that protection is holistic and continuous. By embedding security into the fabric of digital operations, the company elevates it from a defensive measure to a strategic advantage.

Weaponizing Data and AI: From Passive Insights to Predictive Action

Digital transformation once meant digitising records and automating processes; now, it is about harnessing data as an active catalyst for growth. ZILLIONe has been instrumental in guiding clients beyond static dashboards and retrospective analytics, enabling them to anticipate market shifts, customer behaviours and operational risks before they unfold. By embedding AI at the core of digital strategy, ZILLIONe empowers businesses to move from reactive to predictive by using machine learning models to forecast demand, optimise supply chains, and uncover new revenue streams.

Rather than overwhelming decision-makers with raw numbers, ZILLIONe’s approach prioritises actionable intelligence. AI-driven tools are tailored to synthesise complex data into clear, forward-looking recommendations, allowing leaders to navigate uncertainty with confidence. In an era where speed and precision define market success, this shift from passive insight to predictive action is transforming how enterprises compete and thrive.

The Human Factor: Building a Culture of Collaboration and Data Literacy

While technology forms the backbone of digital transformation, ZILLIONe understands that true change is human-centric. They invest heavily in cultivating a culture where collaboration and data literacy are prized. This means equipping teams, not just IT specialists, with the skills and mindset to leverage new tools, interpret data, and participate actively in innovation. ZILLIONe leads clients through change management programs that harness AI, encourage cross-functional teamwork, and empower employees to become stewards of digital progress.

Such an inclusive approach ensures that transformation is sustainable and widely adopted, reducing resistance and unlocking the creative potential of the workforce. By fostering a shared sense of purpose, ZILLIONe helps organisations not only implement technology but also embed it into their DNA.

A Holistic Approach to Future-Ready Enterprises

ZILLIONe’s journey as an AI transformation partner exemplifies the evolution demanded by today’s business environment. Its holistic playbook is driven by leveraging predictive AI, agile digital cores, cyber-resilience and a collaborative workforce that offers a blueprint for enterprises seeking to thrive in the digital age. As technology continues to redefine what is possible, ZILLIONe remains committed to guiding clients not just through the present but toward a future where innovation and resilience go hand in hand.

Softlogic Holdings PLC, yesterday announced the appointment of Chandana De Silva, an accomplished aviation specialist, as the new Country Head of Sabre Sri Lanka.

Sabre Sri Lanka is a subsidiary of Softlogic Holdings PLC and a joint venture between Softlogic Holdings and Sabre.

With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the aviation industry, De Silva has contributed significantly to operational excellence, advancing airline commercial strategy, sustaining revenue growth, fostering government and tourism partnerships, and elevating aviation profiles in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

As a seasoned aviation industry leader with global airline experience, he performed in senior roles in sales, corporate communications, government relations, and executive country management and recognised for leading strategic industry initiatives and enhancing tourism promotion through cross-sector collaboration.

His professional work experience includes key positions in the National Carrier SriLankan Airlines and Emirates Airlines. He performed as Emirates Airline Sales Manager – Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines

Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives, SriLankan Airlines Head of Corporate Communications, Emirates Airline Country Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives, Emirates Airlines Manager – Government Liaison Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Softlogic Group Chairman Ashok Pathirage said: ‘We are pleased to welcome Chandana De Silva, a renowned personally in the aviation industry to our Softlogic family. We are confident that his expertise and experience will contribute to expand our market presence and expedite the growth.’

Expressing enthusiasm about the new role, De Silva said: ‘It gives me great pleasure to join an

organisation as prestigious as Softlogic and to bring with me all the experience I have garnered in my over 30 years in aviation, hopefully we can reach for the skies together in my new chapter in the business of Aviation and Travel trade.’

IT is now said the JVP/NPP Government›s decision to close schools with less than 50 pupils, noticed through Circular 34/2025, will be implemented this year. This would mean that 1,506 schools will be shut down. Closing schools with a few pupils has been a topic for some years. There were schools closed in the past, with little notice. Often it was simply said they «wound up».

Here is a reason why I want Government authorities to speak to parent-teachers, before deciding to close schools. According to the «Annual School Census Reports» of the Ministry of Education a decade ago in 2015, there were 10,144 schools in total. By 2020 that number had increased to 10,155. Also, the number of schools with less than 50 pupils had decreased to 1,439 from 1,515. It’s a decrease of 76 schools within five years. Added to this is the fact that the number of schools with less than 10 teachers in the staff had also decreased from 3,113 to 3,044 during the same five-year period.

That certainly was the trend in formal school education during the five years from 2015 to 2020. While the total number of schools increased, the number of schools with less than 50 pupils decreased along with schools having less than 10 teachers. This was a positive factor, despite all other defects, degenerations and disruptions to school education.

Closed or wound up?

There perhaps wasn’t time to complete a school census for the year 2025. Thus a focus on the 2024 school census report reveals that the number of schools had reduced from 10,155 to 10,047 during that four-year period. This is a decrease of 108 schools. Were they closed, or had they also just ‘wound up’? From these remaining 10,047 schools, how did the number of schools with less than 50 pupils increase to 1,645? When the total number of schools decreased by 108, how did the number of schools with less than 10 teachers increase to 3,065 by 21 schools? These are issues that should be investigated.

In such a scenario, there should be serious factors impacting education to improve its status during the five years from 2015 to 2020 and then to disrupt and dissolve its gains during the next four years. Although it is easy for officials in the Education Ministry and the Government to shut down schools with less than 50 pupils, it is wholly unjust, oppressive, undemocratic, illogical and unprincipled, though easy for officials in the Education Ministry and the Government, to shut down schools with less than 50 pupils in a national education system bound to ensure the right to education for all children.

It is important to find out where these 1,506 schools with less than 50 pupils that have been identified for closure in Circular 34/2025 are located. A vast majority of them are apparently outside urban areas. In the Colombo education zone, out of 122, only two schools have less than 50 pupils in their registers. In the two education zones in Homagama and Piliyandala, out of a total 184 schools, each have only 11 schools with less than 50 pupils. The majority of them are in Pradeshiya Sabha areas. In Sri Jayawardenepura there are six out of 85 schools.

Outside the Western Province and the Central Province, 31 schools out of 96 in the Theldeniya education zone will have to be closed according to Circular 34/2025. In Wilgamuwa, 15 out of 45 schools will have to put up shutters. In Walapane it is 29 out of 89 schools. In two districts in the Uva Province, out of a total of 892 schools, 172 will have to be closed for having less than 50 pupils in each. In the Mannar district, 40 schools out of 132 will have to be closed while in the Thunnukai education zone in Mullaitivu, 25 schools out of 58 will have to be closed. In the three education zones in Kegalle district, 120 schools with less than 50 pupils in each will have to close. This is, out of a total 498 schools. In such remote, rural areas, an average of 20 to 25 percent of the schools will have to face the axe.

Tied to this decision to close schools, there are three serious issues which the Government and Education Ministry officials will have to pay attention to. (1) How many children in the locality of the school to be shut down go to other schools and why (2) Why does a small fraction of the children in the area still attend the school to be shut down (3) Will there be a substantial number of children attending schools outside their locality returning to the school to be closed if that school is adequately improved.

The lack of a moral right and urgency to close the schools

As far as I am aware, there is no official survey nor estimate to understand this negative development. There is therefore no moral right for the Government to decide to close schools on the recommendations of Education Ministry officials who have not even looked at the matter with responsibility. There is also no urgency at this moment to close these schools.

I therefore propose to the Government to (i) immediately withdraw Circular 34/2025 and stop closing schools (ii) initiate a discussion with principals and teachers of these schools, parents of pupils in the school and also with other parents in the locality (iii) in the next three months, initiate a discussion with the relevant elected Local Government body and provide a comprehensive report on the discussions held with observations and recommendations for scrutiny and also request the LG body to adopt a resolution based on their contribution(s) to resolve the issue positively.

I firmly believe it is necessary to insist on «democratising the problem-solving process» by gaining the consensus of parents and teachers. This is especially the case where there is a question about the right to education of children whose schools are identified for permanent closure. Social and teacher union activists must request for such democratisation in this instance.

Q:Virtusa’s journey is deeply intertwined with Sri Lanka, which was also the company’s first offshore delivery center. As CEO, how do you personally view the Sri Lankan technology industry today, and what does Sri Lanka represent in Virtusa’s global delivery network in terms of legacy, capability, and future potential?

Sri Lanka is deeply woven into Virtusa’s DNA. It was our first offshore delivery center and, in many ways, where Virtusa was built outward from. Over the years, Sri Lanka has consistently demonstrated deep engineering excellence, strong domain capability, and a global mindset. I am very bullish about the Sri Lankan technology industry. The talent here has been central to many of our marquee client relationships and platform innovations, and Sri Lanka continues to be a strategic anchor in our global delivery network as we scale for the future.

Q: You have articulated a bold ambition to build Virtusa into a $5 billion enterprise. What does this milestone represent for you personally, and how does it redefine Virtusa’s role in the global technology services industry?

The $5 billion ambition represents our intent to redefine Virtusa as one of the world’s leading domain-driven engineering partners for the AI enterprise. Digital engineering firms that adopt an AI-first mindset will thrive in the AI era, while those that do not won’t. This $5 billion goal is achievable and reflects the scale of impact we want to create for clients, the industries we serve, and the talent within our organization for a new age. Reaching this goal means building a company that combines deep industry expertise, advanced AI capabilities, and global delivery excellence in a way that is both sustainable and differentiated for the AI era.

Q: Achieving that scale requires multiple growth engines working in tandem. How do you plan to lead Virtusa toward the $5 billion revenue goal, and what role do organic growth, offshore delivery centers, AI-led innovation, and acquisitions play in that journey?

Our path to $5 billion is built on a balanced growth model. Organic growth remains critical, driven by deeper client relationships and AI-powered industry solutions, and we are on the path to achieving this goal. Our growth strategy is focused on expansion across the following vectors: industry, geography, and service line, both through organic and inorganic means.

Q: In recent years, acquisitions have emerged as a critical pillar of Virtusa’s growth strategy. How do you approach acquisitions strategically, and what capabilities or market advantages did recent acquisitions such as Valentia Partners, SmartSoCs, and Maverick bring into the Virtusa ecosystem?

Acquisitions are a strategic lever, not a volume play for us. Each acquisition must strengthen our domain depth, extend our technology stack, or accelerate our entry into high-growth markets. Valentia added deep regulatory and advisory expertise, Maverick strengthened our digital and cloud capabilities, especially in the Salesforce ecosystem for the healthcare and public sector, and SmartSoC was pivotal in giving us semiconductor and silicon engineering depth, which we believe are key for the AI era. Together, these acquisitions collectively expand the value we can deliver to clients.

Q: With the acquisition of SmartSoCs, Virtusa has spoken about enabling a ‘chip-to-app’ lifecycle. Could you elaborate on what this end-to-end capability means in practice for clients, and why semiconductor engineering is becoming so central to enterprise transformation?

The chip-to-network-cloud-app lifecycle is about serving clients across the entire digital value chain for the AI-era. With SmartSoCs, we now have the ability to engage at the foundational silicon and embedded systems layer within chips themselves and carry that capability all the way through to the network, cloud platforms and enterprise applications layers of the digital value chain. As AI models grow more complex and infrastructure becomes more critical, this end-to-end capability allows clients to reduce time-to-market, optimize performance, and design more efficient, future-ready systems across IT, OT and product.

Q: AI has been a consistent theme in Virtusa’s strategy under your leadership. How do you see AI shaping Virtusa’s future growth, and in what ways does AI move from being a technology layer to a true business transformation engine for your clients?

AI is central to Virtusa’s growth strategy. We see it not as a standalone capability, but as a multiplier across everything we do. Through our Virtusa Helio suite of AI services and solutions, we help clients embed AI into core business processes to drive measurable outcomes and faster time-to-value. Our approach to AI is firmly centered around the DFV frame. Desirability, which involves reimagining business processes to move from a human only approach to a human plus agent approach; Feasibility, which involves leveraging the right technology and responsible AI to bring the agentic processes to life; and Viability, which involves delivering the right ROI for strategic business imperatives.

Internally, AI is also reshaping how we operate by improving productivity, accelerating innovation, and strengthening knowledge reuse. This dual impact makes AI a foundational growth engine for Virtusa.

Q: As AI adoption accelerates, questions around talent, relevance, and human value inevitably arise. How do you see the role of people evolving in the age of AI, and how is Virtusa investing in upskilling and cross-skilling talent, particularly in markets like Sri Lanka?

At Virtusa, we believe AI elevates human potential rather than replaces it. Our focus is on enabling our people to work at a higher level by combining domain knowledge and engineering DNA with AI fluency. In Sri Lanka, this means strong investments in upskilling and cross-skilling through programs like the Virtusa Thrive Academy, ensuring our teams are equipped to lead AI-driven transformation for global clients.

Q: Virtusa recently partnered with British insurer CFC to open a new innovation and digital services hub in Sri Lanka. What does this center signify in terms of client confidence, domain-led innovation, and Sri Lanka’s positioning as a global capability hub?

The CFC innovation and digital services hub in Colombo is a strong vote of confidence in both Virtusa and Sri Lanka. It demonstrates that global enterprises trust Sri Lanka not just for delivery, but for domain-led innovation in areas like AI-powered insurance solutions. This hub reinforces Sri Lanka’s position as a global capability center and highlights how client partnerships can evolve into long-term innovation ecosystems.

Q: Beyond acquisitions and technology, Virtusa has emphasized domain-driven engineering as a differentiator. How important is deep industry expertise in sustaining growth at scale, especially as clients demand faster time-to-value from AI investments?

Clients today are focused on ROI, speed, and trust. At Virtusa, we believe our advantage is the ability to combine deep industry, technology, and business expertise to deliver just that. Additionally, we firmly believe that Enterprise AI adoption will need to be underpinned inside the business domains at the cross-section of vertical and horizontal business processes. Keeping this principle in mind, Virtusa Helio brings our domain expertise into the AI era with modular AI accelerators that are built with governance and scalability in mind. Responsible AI adoption is non-negotiable for us. By embedding governance, security, and industry context into our agentic solutions from day one, we are redefining domain expertise for the AI age. In doing so, we help clients move fast and deliver real business outcomes at scale without compromising trust or compliance.

Q: Looking ahead five to ten years, how do you envision Virtusa’s evolution as a global organization, and what role do markets like Sri Lanka play in shaping not just delivery capacity, but leadership, innovation, and the company’s long-term identity?

Looking ahead, Virtusa’s next phase will be defined by deeper industry leadership, AI-led differentiation, and continued expansion into high-growth sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and semiconductors, along with our well-established industry verticals such as financial services, healthcare, communications, and tech. Markets like Sri Lanka will play a much broader role in this journey, not just as delivery centers, but as hubs for innovation, leadership development, and platform engineering. The cutting-edge solutions we develop right here in Sri Lanka will continue to shape Virtusa’s identity as we scale globally.

The Infrastructure and Construction Exhibition (INFRACON 2026), a premier industry event dedicated to the nation’s infrastructure and construction sectors, will take place from 3 to 5 July at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (SBMEC), Colombo.

Organised by Lanka Exhibitions and Conference Services Ltd., (Winner of multiple presidential awards in the MICE category and inductee into the MICE Hall of Fame) and Savor International Ltd., from Bangladesh, who is also an industry leader in the MICE sector in Bangladesh.

INFRACON 2026 will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, developers, contractors, engineers, architects, and technology providers. The event will feature organisations and suppliers from 5 major sectors – HVAC-R and Cold Chain, Power and Energy, Green Grid, Safe Water, and Build Materials. These major sectors will be showcased within the exhibition as individual concurrent segments. INFRACON 2026 will serve as a catalyst for growth and collaboration in Sri Lanka’s rapidly evolving infrastructure landscape, with participation from leading local and international exhibitors, shaping the future of infrastructure development in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region.

With strong participation expected from government institutions, private sector organisations, international brands, and trade delegations, INFRACON 2026 aims to foster collaboration across sectors and position Sri Lanka as a regional hub for infrastructure development. With 200 expected exhibitors and over 5,000 trade visitors, the exhibition reaffirms its position as one of Sri Lanka’s most significant platforms for the infrastructure and construction industries.

As Sri Lanka positions itself as a regional hub for development and investment, INFRACON 2026 will play a pivotal role in showcasing opportunities and promoting collaboration to create a more connected and sustainable future.

This three-day event aims to serve as a platform that showcases the latest innovations, products, services, and technologies related to infrastructure development, construction materials, heavy machinery, power and energy, smart buildings, urban development, and engineering solutions.

INFRACON 2026 is more than an exhibition, it is a knowledge sharing and networking platform that supports Sri Lanka’s vision for resilient, sustainable and future-ready infrastructure. Visitors will have the chance to engage with exhibitors through live demonstrations, product launches, and interactive displays showcasing modern, sustainable construction solutions.

Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services, a leading trade exhibition organiser have tied up with Bangladesh’s premier exhibition management company Savor International to team up and bring this event to Sri Lanka. The event is supported by the Solar Industries Association (SIA) and ASHRAE Sri Lanka Chapter, which is the body for the heating, ventilation, AC and refrigeration sector in Sri Lanka.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the next phase of a proposed project to add value to rock phosphate mined by the Lanka Phosphate Company, following investor interest received earlier under a public-private partnership framework.

Cabinet approval was first granted in August 2025 to call for expressions of interest from suitable investors to undertake a value-added rock phosphate project in partnership with the State. In line with that decision, aspirations were invited and 14 submissions were received from interested parties.

Based on the outcome of the evaluation of these submissions, the Cabinet has now approved a resolution submitted by the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development to invite detailed project proposals from eligible investors shortlisted through the initial process.

The project is aimed at expanding downstream processing of locally mined rock phosphate, with a view to increasing domestic value addition and strengthening the fertiliser supply chain.

Technology is no longer just a support function in business – it is the core driver of growth, competitiveness, and long-term survival. In today’s economy, companies that effectively use technology move faster, serve customers better, reduce costs, and make smarter decisions. Those that fail to adapt risk being left behind. As digital transformation accelerates, technology is reshaping not only how businesses operate today but also what the business world of tomorrow will look like.

At present, data is one of the most valuable business assets. Organizations collect vast amounts of information from customers, markets, supply chains, and internal operations. Advanced data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools help businesses turn this raw data into meaningful insights. Companies can predict customer preferences, optimize pricing, manage inventory efficiently, and reduce risks. Decision-making is increasingly data-driven rather than based only on intuition.

Cloud computing has transformed business infrastructure. Instead of investing heavily in physical servers and IT maintenance, companies now use cloud platforms to store data, run applications, and scale operations as needed. This flexibility is especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to compete with larger corporations by accessing advanced tools at lower costs. Cloud systems also enable remote work, global collaboration, and faster digital innovation.

Automation is another major force shaping modern business. Routine and repetitive tasks in finance, HR, manufacturing, and customer service are increasingly handled by software or robots. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) reduces human error, speeds up workflows, and lowers operational costs. In manufacturing, smart factories equipped with sensors and connected machines improve quality control and production efficiency. While automation changes job roles, it also creates demand for more skilled positions in technology management and analysis.

Customer experience has become a key competitive factor, and technology is central to delivering it. Businesses use digital platforms, mobile apps, and AI-powered chatbots to provide 24/7 service. E-commerce systems allow companies to reach global markets without physical storefronts. Personalization technologies analyze customer behavior to offer tailored recommendations, promotions, and services. In the digital age, customers expect convenience, speed, and seamless interaction – and businesses must use technology to meet these expectations.

Financial technology (FinTech) is also reshaping business operations. Digital payments, online banking, and blockchain-based solutions make transactions faster, more secure, and more transparent. Businesses can manage cash flow, track expenses, and access financing more efficiently than before. For startups and entrepreneurs, crowdfunding platforms and digital financial services open new paths to capital.

Looking toward the future, technology’s role in business will deepen even further.

Artificial Intelligence will move beyond automation into strategic functions. AI systems may assist in market forecasting, product design, risk management, and supply chain optimization. Predictive analytics could help businesses anticipate disruptions, from market shifts to logistical delays. Companies that integrate AI into their core strategy will likely gain a significant competitive edge.

The Internet of Things (IoT) will create more connected business environments. Sensors embedded in equipment, vehicles, and products will provide real-time data on performance and usage. This enables predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and costs. In retail, IoT can track inventory automatically. In logistics, smart tracking improves delivery efficiency. Entire supply chains may become more transparent and responsive.

Digital platforms and ecosystems will define future business models. Instead of operating alone, companies will increasingly connect with partners, developers, and customers through shared digital platforms. This creates network effects, where value grows as more users join. Businesses will shift from selling only products to offering integrated services and digital experiences.

Sustainability will also be driven by technology. Businesses face growing pressure to reduce environmental impact, and technology offers solutions. Smart energy management systems, renewable energy integration, and efficient resource tracking help companies lower emissions and costs simultaneously. Sustainability reporting, supported by digital monitoring tools, will become a standard part of corporate strategy.

However, technological advancement also brings risks. Cybersecurity is a critical concern as more business systems move online. Data breaches can damage reputation and lead to financial losses. Companies must invest in strong security frameworks and employee awareness. Data privacy regulations are also becoming stricter, requiring businesses to handle customer information responsibly.

The workforce of the future will need new skills. Technical knowledge, digital literacy, data analysis, and adaptability will be essential. Businesses must invest in training and continuous learning to ensure employees can work alongside advanced technologies. Leadership will also need to evolve, focusing on innovation, agility, and ethical use of technology.

Ultimately, technology is redefining the nature of business itself. Success will not depend only on products or price, but on how effectively an organization uses technology to innovate, connect, and respond to change. The future belongs to businesses that see technology not as an expense, but as a strategic investment – a tool that drives efficiency today and unlocks opportunities for tomorrow.

Artificial Intelligence is often discussed in terms of efficiency, automation and scale. At CodeGen, AI takes a different approach: it acts as a practical driver of everyday progress. By removing friction from daily interactions and strengthening security, it allows people and businesses to operate with greater confidence. The focus is not on replacing human decision-making but on designing intelligent systems that work quietly in the background, simplifying complexity and supporting real-world needs.

At the heart of this vision is a powerful portfolio of AI-driven software and hardware solutions such as LIA, Lumos, FaceRec and VelloPass, each designed to solve real-world problems while collectively enabling safer, more seamless and more efficient ways of living and working.

These solutions operate through autonomous bots and agents, which analyze data, make decisions and take actions on behalf of users, effectively bridging the gap between human intent and machine execution.

LIA: Conversations That Do More Than Talk

Built as an intelligent, agentic system, Limitless Intelligent Agents (LIA) can understand intent, take action and manage tasks across industries such as travel, hospitality, fintech, retail and legal, as well as enterprise operations and IoT-enabled environments.

In practical terms, LIA simplifies how people interact with technology. Instead of navigating complicated software or manual workflows, users can simply talk. Whether it is negotiating hotel rates, planning travel, managing services, providing legal guidance via LIA Legal, or interacting with smart environments, LIA turns conversation into outcomes.

Looking ahead, CodeGen’s vision for LIA is even broader. Under the transformative leadership of Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, LIA is being shaped into an AI Agentic Platform, an ecosystem where multiple specialized agents work together to support businesses and individuals alike. This includes extensions such as LIA Leisure, LIA Muse, LIA Legal, IoT integrations and Butler-style services that can anticipate needs and manage connected environments, enabling users to control devices, adjust settings and control smart home systems through simple voice prompts or conversational instructions. These agents operate as intelligent bots, capable of reasoning, prioritizing tasks and collaborating with other agents to ensure accurate and timely outcomes.

The result is a more natural, human-centric digital experience, one that saves time, reduces frustration, enhances comfort and convenience and makes advanced technology accessible to everyone.

Lumos: The Invisible Engine Powering Efficiency

While LIA engages directly with its users, Lumos works quietly behind the scenes, strengthening how software is built, maintained and scaled across CodeGen’s technology ecosystem.

Rather than being another standalone automation tool, Lumos acts as a unifying engine for the software development lifecycle. It is designed to streamline Project Management, Business Analysis (BA), Coding, Quality Assurance (QA), deployment and monitoring. It delivers meaningful results by making complex processes more structured and easier to manage.In real-world production environments, Lumos-powered monitoring agents have helped detect system failures faster, reduce downtime and prevent significant revenue losses by identifying issues before they escalate.

At its foundation, Lumos is designed to coordinate complex engineering workflows and support teams with intelligent assistance at every stage. It helps standardize best practices, maintains consistency across projects and supports engineers by handling routine and repetitive work. This allows teams in each department to focus more on problem-solving, innovation and delivering real value by transforming software development initiatives.

For CodeGen, Lumos is more than a productivity enhancer, it is a strategic backbone. By automating time-consuming tasks, Lumos reduces manual effort, lowers operational costs and accelerates time to market. The result is higher-quality AI solutions delivered more reliably and at scale.

This strong foundation behind the scenes sets the stage for other CodeGen solutions that interact directly with people and environments, such as FaceRec, which brings the same intelligence and reliability to securing workplaces, controlling access and safeguarding people and assets.

FaceRec: Security That Recognizes You

Security is most effective when it is seamless. FaceRec, CodeGen’s AI-powered face recognition system, uses biometric intelligence to protect people, spaces and processes without adding complexity. It is primarily applied to attendance tracking, access control and analyzing workforce patterns, helping businesses safeguard people and assets while improving operations.

By automating routine tasks and providing insights into presence and behavior, FaceRec reduces reliance on manual checks, cards or passwords, which are often inefficient and vulnerable.

It can also include emotion recognition to track stress or behavioral changes over time, providing deeper insights into well-being and dynamics. When integrated with Cloud Smart School, FaceRec can capture student attendance, monitor engagement and provide actionable insights to improve learning outcomes and overall school management.

FaceRec bots operate continuously, analyzing data and detecting patterns in real time, demonstrating how intelligent agents can extend human oversight and optimize safety, productivity and decision-making.

In a world where offices, schools and even vehicles are becoming smarter, FaceRec ensures that convenience and intelligence do not come at the cost of safety, making it a critical tool for secure, responsive environments.

VelloPass: Smarter Parking for Smarter Cities

Urban mobility is a growing challenge worldwide and something as simple as parking can become a daily source of stress. VelloPass, CodeGen’s AI-driven parking solution, addresses this problem by combining automation, intelligence and biometric security.

With VelloPass, vehicles can be identified, access can be controlled and parking operations can be optimized in real time. The system reduces congestion, improves safety and eliminates the inefficiencies of manual parking management. When combined with biometric technologies, VelloPass also opens the door to future-ready use cases, such as vehicles that unlock or authorize access through face recognition.

By rethinking everyday infrastructure through AI, VelloPass contributes to safer vehicles, smarter cities and more efficient use of shared spaces.

Next-Generation Innovations at CodeGen

Beyond its core portfolio, CodeGen continues to push the boundaries of AI with new developments that address real-world challenges in innovative ways. Among these advancements are automated drones capable of performing tasks with precision and efficiency, enhancing operations in areas such as surveillance, logistics and monitoring.

Another exciting innovation comes from AiGrow, CodeGen’s AI-powered agricultural platform. AiGrow is developing devices that can analyze images captured by drones to assess crop nutrient needs and recommend precise fertilizer application, helping farmers plan more effectively, minimize waste and make smarter, data-driven decisions in real time.

These emerging technologies also utilize intelligent bots and agent-based paradigms to interpret sensor data, make recommendations and execute actions autonomously, extending the reach of AI into practical, real-world applications, while continuing to prioritize efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

One Vision, One Ecosystem: AI for a Secure Society

What unites all these solutions is a clear and consistent vision from CodeGen’s founder and CEO, Dr. Harsha Subasinghe. His ambition is not limited to building successful products but to create an AI-driven ecosystem that enhances security, efficiency and quality of life at every level.

From automating internal development through Lumos, to securing workplaces with FaceRec, managing urban infrastructure with VelloPass and empowering people through intelligent conversation with LIA, CodeGen is addressing the full spectrum of modern intelligent digital life.

In an AI market projected to reach trillions of dollars, CodeGen’s strength lies in its deep R and D focus, first-mover mindset and ability to translate advanced technology into practical, real-world impact. The company’s integrated software and hardware portfolio reflects a simple belief: AI should not feel intrusive or complex, it should quietly make life better and safer.

Building the Future, Responsibly

As AI continues to reshape the world, the true measure of progress will not be how advanced systems become, but how meaningfully they serve people. What sets CodeGen apart is its ability to operate across the full spectrum of AI from conversational intelligence and biometric security to urban systems, enterprise platforms and foundational engineering automation. CodeGen’s approach to AI gains is grounded in responsibility, security and human value.

By designing intelligent systems that converse naturally, protect identities, optimize cities, automate and secure digital ecosystems and strengthen digital foundations, CodeGen demonstrates how bots and agent-based paradigms enable cohesive, adaptive AI solutions across software, hardware, infrastructure and human interaction. The company is not just adopting AI; it is shaping how AI becomes cohesive, connected and truly useful in everyday life.

And in doing so, CodeGen is helping build a future where technology works invisibly in the background, where intelligence flows seamlessly across systems and environments creating a world that is smarter, more secure and unmistakably more human.

Pussalla Meat Producers Ltd., has reached a historic milestone in the nation’s food safety landscape, becoming the first organisation in Sri Lanka’s livestock sector to receive formal accreditation for its microbiology laboratory.

This landmark achievement places the company’s internal testing facility at the forefront of the industry, surpassing even government-sector laboratories attached to the livestock industry in terms of formal accreditation status for these specific scopes.

The accreditation covers a comprehensive scope of essential microbial analyses, ensuring that meat products undergo the most rigorous scientific scrutiny before reaching consumers. The accredited tests include: Salmonella: Detection of primary bacteria renowned as a foodborne pathogen; E. coli: Monitoring for fecal contamination and hygiene indicators; Staphylococcus aureus: Detection of bacteria commonly identified as a foodborne pathogen responsible for food poisoning and Total Viable Count (TVC): A critical measure of the overall microbial population and freshness of the product.

While several laboratories exist within the state livestock infrastructure, Pussalla’s achievement marks the first time a facility in this sector has successfully navigated the stringent requirements of international accreditation bodies. This move is expected to bolster consumer confidence in local meat production and set a new quality ceiling for other producers to follow.

‘This accreditation is more than just a certificate; it is a guarantee to our customers that every piece of meat leaving our facility has been tested to the highest global standards,’ a spokesperson for Pussalla Meat Producers stated.

In the global food market, laboratory accreditation acts as a ‘passport’ for products. By ensuring that their microbiology lab meets international benchmarks, Pussalla is not only securing the local supply chain but also positioning Sri Lankan livestock products for potential growth in export markets.

This accreditation represents a transformative shift in the local livestock industry, bridging the gap between domestic production and international quality expectations. By establishing a testing environment that rivals state-level infrastructure, Pussalla Meat Producers is not only safeguarding public health but also creating a blueprint for the ‘passport’ status required to compete in global markets. As the company continues to uphold these rigorous scientific standards, this milestone serves as a call to action for the entire sector to prioritise transparency and technical excellence, ensuring that Sri Lankan meat products are synonymous with safety and integrity on the world stage.