A mass shooting at Bondi Beach in the Australian city of Sydney yesterday has killed at least 11 people and wounded 29, including two Police officers, Police say.
One man believed to be one of the shooters has also been killed, while a second alleged shooter is in critical condition. Authorities designate the shooting a ‘terrorist’ incident, saying it was ‘designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.’ Hundreds of people had gathered at the beach for an event called Chanukah by the Sea, which was celebrating the start of the Jewish festival.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the ‘targeted’ attack, saying the evil that was unleashed was ‘beyond comprehension.’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he is ‘horrified’ by the ‘heinous’ shooting. ‘I am horrified and condemn [yesterday’s] heinous deadly attack on Jewish families gathered in Sydney to celebrate Hanukkah,’ he posted on ‘X.’ ‘My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hanukkah.’
Sysco LABS has been honoured with the award for Exporter of the Year in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) category for the fourth consecutive year, strengthening its position as a leader in Sri Lanka’s ICT services export industry.
In a landmark achievement, the company also received the coveted ‘Innovative Export Service of the Year’ award for SAGE (The Sysco Agentic Ecosystem), an enterprise-grade AI platform developed entirely in Colombo.
Organised by the Export Development Board (EDB), the awards ceremony took place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on 11 December, where Prime Minster Dr. Harini Amarasuriya presented the honours alongside key Cabinet Ministers. As the nation’s most prestigious recognition for exporters, these awards celebrate exceptional contributions to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
This year’s ‘ICT Exporter of the Year’ award reinforces how Sysco LABS continues to set new standards for Sri Lanka’s technology sector. The company’s work spans advanced AI and machine learning, innovative enterprise solutions, and a deep commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and inclusive workplace practices.
Sysco LABS Sri Lanka Managing Director Thushera Kawdawatta said: ‘Winning ‘ICT Exporter of the Year’ for the fourth consecutive year is a powerful validation of our economic impact-generating substantial foreign revenue while creating significant high-value employment opportunities for Sri Lanka’s top talent. The ‘Most Innovative Export Service of the Year’ award for SAGE, our AI agentic platform, further underscores our world-class ingenuity and demonstrates how we-as part of Sysco, the world’s #1 foodservice enterprise-deliver exceptional value through creativity and innovation. These accolades reflect the passion, commitment, and professionalism of our Sysco LABS team, whose continuous efforts bring immense pride to our nation.’
Operating as Sysco’s benchmarked Global Innovation Centre (GIC), Sysco LABS plays a pivotal role in developing and maintaining the mission-critical digital systems that power the world’s largest foodservice company.