Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Loyalty and rewards management platform CH17 Loyalty, has announced its partnership with menswear brand – Signature. CH17 Loyalty CEO Jumar Preena said this collaboration marks yet another step forward in CH17’s mission to deliver unmatched privileges and lifestyle experiences to its growing base of discerning members.

CH17 Loyalty is built on the principle of understanding customer behaviour and aligning rewards with real needs. Menswear remains a high-demand category within Sri Lanka’s retail landscape, particularly among young professionals, executives, and the aspirational middle class.

By bringing Signature into its partner network, CH17 directly addresses this demand, offering its cardholders access to premium menswear at the right price point. The partnership ensures that CH17’s members enjoy value without compromise-with Signature’s reputation for impeccable tailoring, contemporary designs, and durability reinforcing that promise.

Signature has become synonymous with affordability with quality and is the go-to choice for the busy corporate executive who requires style and comfort at the best price. Beyond the corporate office environment, the brand has also earned recognition in the sports arena with the endorsement of Sri Lanka’s Cricket’s both men and women national teams, who look elegant and smart on Signature smart casual wear. Beyond cricket the brand also has a stake in rugby and hockey.

This unique positioning-bridging professional wear with lifestyle apparel-aligns perfectly with CH17’s philosophy of rewarding loyalty with brands that inspire trust and admiration.

This collaboration between Signature and CH17 Loyalty is not just about discounts-it’s about creating an aspirational lifestyle ecosystem where loyalty is rewarded with brands that matter. By weaving together consumer insights, retail value, and digital innovation, CH17 continues to lead the loyalty and rewards space in Sri Lanka, added Preena.

Lanka IOC PLC has come on board to partner with Rescue Animals Sri Lanka (RAS), in the latter’s fundraiser, Gabriel’s Charity Auction and Fashion Show in aid of Rescue Animals Sri Lanka, on 31 October at the Cinnamon Grand.

Lanka IOC Managing Director Dipak Das said: ‘Sustainability is at the heart of our business model. Our decision to partner with RAS stems from our corporate commitment to provide environmentally responsible energy, and help engage communities establish win-win partnerships for humans and nature.’

RAS was founded by Anusha David, driven by her sheer love for animals and her deep desire to help as many as she could. Hailing from a family involved in caring for stray animals, her work in this field began over five decades ago. From domestic to farm animals and wildlife, RAS’ work is all encompassing and includes street work amongst Community animals, running an animal sanctuary, rescuing farm animals, and battling court cases on behalf of beleaguered wildlife.

‘Coexistence with nature and animal life is essential for all life, humans and animals alike. It is indeed heartening that Lanka IOC has come forward to partner with us in our endeavours and Das’ foresight and commitment is laudable and I can only hope that it will be emulated by other Corporates,’ David said.

‘India, given its large population, experienced the highest absolute number of child displacements linked to weather-related disasters during this period, totalling 6.9 million across all hazards,’ the report said.

‘Bangladesh recorded the highest relative impacts, with child displacements representing an estimated 7.2% of its child population. Sri Lanka followed closely, with an estimated 4.6% of its under-18 population displaced over the past seven years.’

From 2016 to 2022, Sri Lanka recorded an average of 965 child displacements per disaster. Over that seven-year period, approximately 280,000 Sri Lankan children, or 4.6% of the country’s child population, were displaced. ‘Storms caused 54% of the displacement, while floods forced 44% to leave home,’ the report noted.

Tropical Cyclone Roanu, which brought the heaviest rainfall to Sri Lanka in more than 25 years in 2016, displaced around 141,000 children. However, most of these displacements were ‘pre-emptive evacuations,’ which UNICEF said helped prevent fatalities.

‘When analysing the regional data, it is crucial to acknowledge that many displacement figures stem from pre-emptive evacuations, particularly in countries with established evacuation procedures and early-warning policies like Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka,’ the report said.

‘While these evacuations constitute a form of displacement and can create vulnerabilities for children, they have proven highly effective at protecting lives, with fatalities from natural hazards, especially cyclones, decreasing dramatically since implementing such preventive measures.’

The report noted that South Asia remains vulnerable to displacement caused by weather-related disasters and the worsening impacts of climate change, intensified by rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other hazards.

‘Amidst these crises, children face considerable risk, including disruptions to their education and healthcare and increased exposure to protection violations, including violence and exploitation,’ UNICEF said.

The organisation urged Governments, donors, development partners, and the private sector to work together to improve protection, preparedness, and inclusion of children in climate-related policies and actions.

The Sri Lankan construction industry has issued a renewed call to the Government, urging immediate implementation of long-delayed relief measures as the sector faces one of the deepest downturns in its history. Industry leaders stress that these measures are urgently needed because, for a very long time, the Government has not approved the budget proposals already put forward by the industry. They warn that continued bureaucratic delays could lead to further collapse of businesses, job losses, and stalled national infrastructure projects.

Although the Government has recently launched several large-scale infrastructure projects, industry stakeholders argue that the benefits have flowed to only a handful of the biggest contractors. This concentration of work, and the ignorance of contractors’ requests to the Government has left the SME sector and smaller contractors-who form the backbone of the industry-struggling without opportunities due to banks blocking funds, stalled projects, lack of vehicles and people, etc., and in short all their resources have been blocked. Industry warns that without a fairer distribution of projects, thousands of smaller firms and their employees will be shut out of the recovery process, undermining the sector’s long-term stability and diversity.

Reviving Sri Lanka’s construction industry is not just an economic priority, it is a national imperative with transformative social impact. As a sector that contributes nearly 7-8% to GDP and sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs. As one of the country’s largest employers, the industry has the capacity to rapidly generate jobs across both skilled and unskilled segments, directly easing unemployment pressures.

A sector in crisis

After the Easter Sunday attacks, political instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, import bans, hyperinflation, and fuel shortages, construction activity contracted by 23% in 2023 alone, more than 500,000 jobs have been lost since 2019, and half of all registered contractors-particularly SMEs-have exited the sector. Nearly 20% of Sri Lanka’s population, which depends on construction for direct or indirect livelihoods, has been affected.

Relief measures stuck in limbo

Two Governments and two construction ministers have already endorsed 26 relief measures, but none have been fully implemented. Industry associations argue that the delays stem from excessive bureaucracy, repeated committee reviews, and misinterpretation of contract conditions.

Contractors stress that they ‘cannot wait indefinitely while projects collapse’ and insist that what is required now is ‘execution-not more studies.’

Key demands for immediate action

Urgent measures essential for survival, include:

Institutional reform: Establishing a high-powered Standing Steering Committee on Construction, with both Government and industry representation, to cut through bureaucracy and oversee implementation.

Tax and cash flow relief: Exemption from the Social Security Contribution Levy on pre-2022 contracts, early release of retention funds against guarantees, and reimbursement of actual overheads for stalled projects.

Fairer contracts and payments: Enforcing standard contract conditions, granting automatic extensions for COVID and crisis-related delays, and linking delayed payment interest to the Central Bank’s policy rate plus 3%.

Inflation and forex protection: Compensating for price escalations across all contracts, revising rates for crisis-hit projects, and shielding contractors from currency fluctuations through government-backed letters of credit.

Safeguarding industry capacity: Rejecting abnormally low bids, reintroducing clustering of contractor grades to support SMEs, and ensuring direct payments to subcontractors and suppliers to keep the supply chain afloat.

A warning

Thus, construction has the fastest potential to reignite growth and restore public confidence. Every rupee invested here generates strong multiplier effects across more than 60 allied industries-from cement and steel to transport and services-multiplying tax revenues and supporting small businesses nationwide. For the Government, incentivising construction through targeted tax breaks, concessional financing, and accelerated approvals will yield quick fiscal returns while visibly improving roads, housing, and public infrastructure.

Just as importantly, a revived industry means affordable housing for families, better urban mobility, and a foundation attractive to foreign investors. By placing construction at the centre of the Government’s recovery agenda, the Government can deliver inclusive growth, tackle unemployment, and send a clear signal that the nation is back on the path of development.

Every moment lost risks worsening unemployment and eroding economic stability/growth; urgent action to revive construction is vital for Sri Lanka’s future survival.

The fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the All Island Dairy Association (AIDA) was recently held at The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, with Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha as Chief Guest.

Speaking at the AGM, AIDA President Asoka Bandara thanked the Government for removing the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on fresh milk from the last Budget.

He explained the role of the AIDA, which represents the country’s leading dairy collectors and product processors, producers such as large- and medium-scale farms, service providers of the value chain, as well as milk importers.

He stressed that the Association as the main focal point is fully committed towards the country’s dairy development process and is a willing partner to support the Government in achieving these objectives in collaboration with public sector institutions and Governmental authorities.

AIDA stakeholders collect over 65% of the local milk produced predominantly by the rural dairy farming community, which produces the bulk of Sri Lankan fresh milk. Furthermore, some members have also invested and managed large- and medium-scale dairy farms and also represented by members involved in the importation of dairy equipment, powders, and other relevant inputs.

Bandara highlighted the current challenges for the dairy industry, including high taxation for investments in large farms, the need to upgrade small farmers to commercially viable mid-sized farms, to ensure availability of high-quality fodder and concentrates for cattle feeding, an integrated approach for artificial insemination of cattle, and to improve the progeny of Sri Lanka’s low-yielding cattle.

Minister Lalkantha added that the vision and objective of the Government and his Ministry are in congruence with the views expressed by the AIDA President.

Looking forward to the support extended in developing the industry through robust private-public partnerships, he also explained that making available State land for cultivation of fodder/maize could be carefully considered in an objective manner to alleviate the shortage of feed and feed ingredients.

As the AIDA produces only 40% of the nation’s fresh milk requirement, he welcomed the supportive gesture by the AIDA towards the Government’s dairy development endeavours. The Minister will also focus on improving herd quality through National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) intervention and to increase the much needed production of fodder and maize.

The AIDA will formally propose their action plan urgently to the Minister considering the impending national Budget timelines.

The meeting was graced by all top AIDA members and Ministry officials, including NLDB Chairman Dr. B.S.C. Perera, NLDB Deputy Chairman Dr. W.M.D.S. Wanninayaka, and leading NGOs involved in the dairy value chain.

The following members were elected to the AIDA Executive Committee for 2025/2026:

President: Asoka Bandara (Maliban Group).

Vice Presidents: Saranga Wijesundara (Kotmale Holdings PLC – Manufacturing and Processors); Sasanka Perera (Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC – Producers and Collectors); Saman Perera (Fonterra Brands – Importers); and Andy Weerawan (Prima Group – Service Providers).

Exco Members: Mohamed Imtiaz (Hare Park Dairies Ltd.); Susantha Malwatte (Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd.); Upul Dissanayake (Access Agro Ltd.); Dr. Keerthi Gunasekera (Quadragen VetHealth Ltd.); Kevin Jansz (Watawala Dairy Ltd.)

Technical Committee: Chalindra Pathirana – (Nestle Lanka Ltd.) – (Chairman of the TC); Ruwan Kumara (Fonterra Brands Lanka); Manoj Gunathilaka (Access Agro Ltd.); Manoj Jayasundera (Rich life Dairies Ltd.)

Treasurer: Gamini Rajapaksa, Hypromac Engineering Services

Immediate Past President: Nishantha Jayasooriya, Richlife Dairies Ltd.

Consultant/GM: A.C.H. Munaweera

Secretariat:Gloria Hewapatha

People’s Leasing and Finance PLC has announced the appointment of Dr. Isuru Manawadu as a Director to its Board, following the requisite regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Manawadu is a distinguished academic and professional currently serving as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. He holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, having completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with a B.Sc. Accounting (Special) degree, where he was honored with the ACCA Gold Medal for outstanding academic and extra-curricular performance at the 2011 General Convocation. Professionally, Dr. Manawadu is a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (admitted in 2014) and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA-UK). His expertise covers a wide range of areas including international accounting, accounting quality, investment decision-making, forensic accounting, sustainability accounting, and taxation, and he teaches Financial Accounting, Corporate Reporting, International Accounting Standards, and Public Sector Accounting and Finance. Furthermore, Dr. Manawadu contributes significantly to national service, serving as a Board Member of the Api Wenuwen Api Fund under the Defence Ministry, and as both a Board Member and Audit Committee Member of the Shrama Wasana Fund under the Labour Ministry.

People’s Leasing and Finance PLC said his extensive academic rigor, professional credentials, and public sector experience will be a considerable asset to the Board’s governance and strategic oversight.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that several long-standing laws and regulations are obstructing efforts to address the ongoing shortage of medicines in the country.

He noted that while some question why the Government cannot amend these laws despite having a Parliamentary majority, many of the regulations in question are not new but inherited from the British colonial period.

Speaking at the opening of the Vipassi Buddhist Centre at the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Jayatissa stressed that legal reforms in the health sector must be approached carefully, as existing rules are interlinked and cannot be amended in isolation.

He further explained that strictly adhering to these outdated provisions slows down decision-making and makes it difficult to respond swiftly to urgent challenges in the health system. As a result, he said, the Government is often compelled to depend on assistance from donors, philanthropists, and international partners to manage shortages and maintain medical supplies.

India maintained their 100% start to the Women’s World Cup with a comfortable 88-run win over rivals Pakistan in Colombo.

Harleen Deol top-scored with 46 and Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 35 from 20 balls late on to lift India up to 247 in an innings that saw numerous batters make starts but fail to kick on.

Seamer Diana Baig took 4-69 as Pakistan bowled India out for the first time in a women’s ODI from the last ball of the innings but a first win still eludes them.

After slipping to 26-3 in the chase, Pakistan briefly rallied as Sidra Amin – who went on to make 81 from 105 balls after being dropped three times – and Natalia Pervaiz put on 69 for the fourth wicket.

But India, led by Kranti Goud’s 3-20, stuck to their task to bowl Pakistan out for 159 in the 43rd over and move top of the group table.

As is so often the case when India and Pakistan meet, though, there was far more to it, with controversy and confusion peppered throughout the day.

Perhaps the biggest talking point came from an incident early in Pakistan’s innings when opener Muneeba Ali was controversially run out.

The left-hander was struck on the pad by Goud and as the India bowler appealed unsuccessfully for lbw, Deepti Sharma collected the loose ball and threw at the stumps.

She hit but replays showed Muneeba had grounded her bat before the ball was even in the picture and a ‘not out’ decision from the third umpire Kerrin Klaaste went up on the big screen in the ground.

However, before the game restarted, the decision was looked at again and it transpired that when the ball hit the stumps and dislodged the bails, Muneeba had lifted her bat and was still stood out of her crease.

While the batter had already grounded her bat and was not trying to sneak a single, the third umpire changed her decision to ‘out’ and despite Pakistan protests, which saw Captain Fatima Sana tell her batter not to leave the field for a short time, Muneeba had to go.

In a further twist, had India simply reviewed the lbw decision, the whole controversy would have been avoided because ball-tracking showed Muneeba was plumb lbw.

Against a backdrop of political tensions between the two countries, that captains Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands, which was no surprise – especially given the precedent set in recent matches between the men’s sides.

Pakistan batter reprimanded for ICC Code of Conduct breach

Pakistan’s batting standout Sidra Amin has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 contest against India in Colombo.

The right-handed batter was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.’

The incident occurred during the 40th over of Pakistan’s chase, when Sidra forcefully hit her bat onto the pitch after being dismissed.

In addition to the reprimand, one demerit point has been added to Sidra’s disciplinary record. This is her first offence in a 24-month period.