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Sri Lanka took a significant step forward in advancing the conversation on responsible business practices with the convening of the high-level roundtable on living wage, held on 24 September 2025 at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

Organised by the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (Network Sri Lanka) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO Sri Lanka), the event was hosted as A. Baur and Co.’s nationally significant event in its role as patron of the Business and Human Rights Working Group of Network Sri Lanka.

Taking place against the backdrop of the ILO’s High-Level Regional Dialogue on ‘Shaping the Living Wage Agenda in Asia and the Pacific’ in Colombo, the roundtable brought together C-Suite executives and senior business leaders from across Sri Lanka for a closed-door dialogue on the future of living wage in the corporate landscape. The session created a space to exchange ideas, reflections, and perspectives on one of the most pressing challenges for sustainable business and social equity.

Global-local dialogue

The keynote address was delivered by International Organisation of Employers (IOE)Director of Policy – Industrial Relations and ILO Coordination Luis Rodrigo Morales-Velez, who spotlighted the global significance of operationalising living wage frameworks while highlighting the critical role of the private sector in advancing fair and equitable work conditions, while stressing that this effort must go hand in hand with Government responsibility to provide an enabling environment through sound labour market policies, effective regulation, and support for enterprise development. His remarks set the tone for the discussions that followed, bridging global labour standards with the Sri Lankan corporate context.

The roundtable was also joined by ILO specialists Anoop Satpathy, Wage Specialist, Nicolas Maitre, Economist and Ravi Peiris, Senior Employer Specialist who presented key elements of the ILO conclusions on Wage Policies including living wages and contributed to the discussion relating to its advancement of living wages in the context of Sri Lanka. It was mentioned that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in aspiring towards this objective. Sri Lanka can take note of their current practices in collective bargaining and wage and benefit fixation and move towards promoting ‘living incomes’ which will also include wages along with other benefits that support workers’ living standards.

The roundtable was further framed within the context of the ILO’s regional deliberations on decent work and labour standards, spotlighting the global importance of fair and equitable wage practices. At the same time, it was designed to capture the Sri Lankan perspective, reflecting on the country’s evolving economic conditions, workforce realities, and the growing recognition that the private sector has a pivotal role to play in creating a more just and inclusive economy. For Network Sri Lanka, convening this dialogue marked a milestone in advancing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, particularly those related to human rights, labour, and equality. It also aligned with the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster initiative, which calls on businesses worldwide to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, including ensuring that all employees earn a living wage.

Significance of living wage

A living wage goes beyond statutory minimum requirements, ensuring that workers and their families can afford a decent standard of living. This includes access to housing, food, healthcare, education, and the ability to participate meaningfully in society. With rising costs of living and increasing demands on workers across industries, the Living Wage conversation has become a central pillar of global sustainability and human rights frameworks.

By situating the roundtable at the intersection of business imperatives and social responsibility, the meeting highlighted the strategic and ethical importance of embedding living wage principles in corporate strategies. For Sri Lankan companies, this approach not only supports workforce wellbeing and retention but also contributes to supply chain resilience, competitiveness, and long-term sustainable growth.

Hosting as nationally significant event

The event was hosted as A. Baur and Co.’s nationally significant event, reflecting the company’s leadership and commitment to responsible business practices. As Patron of the Business and Human Rights Working Group of Network Sri Lanka, A. Baur and Co. continues to play a catalytic role in advancing conversations that bridge corporate responsibility with national development priorities.

Platform for responsible leadership

By design, the roundtable encouraged peer-level exchange and reflection, with the understanding that business leaders play a decisive role in shaping workplace policies, influencing supply chains, and setting the tone for responsible business conduct. The participation of the ILO and Network Sri Lanka provided additional context and expertise, ensuring that the dialogue was grounded in both global frameworks and local realities.

Advancing forward faster

The roundtable is part of Network Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to support companies in contributing meaningfully to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through its Working Groups, leadership dialogues, and collaborative initiatives, Network Sri Lanka is enabling the private sector to take measurable steps on issues ranging from human rights and labour to climate action, supply chains, and gender equality.

The Colombo stock exchange closed up yesterday extending a rally into its 11th session with buying interest in capital goods and Blue-chip counters.

The benchmark ASPI closed Tuesday up 0.47%, gaining 102.30 points to 21,778.60. The active S and P SL20 gained 7.32 points to close up 0.12% at 6,126.53.

Turnover was Rs. 6.27 billion on more than 154.7 million shares traded.

Foreigners were net sellers with a net outflow of Rs. 362.2 million, up from an outflow of Rs. 15.6 million the previous day.

First Capital Research said riding the wave of Monday’s bullish surge, the Colombo Bourse yesterday charged ahead once more, fuelled by a powerful rally in Capital Goods and Blue-chip counters.

In the early hours of trading, the market experienced a volatile session marked by notable selling pressure. But the market refused to back down. In a steady and determined climb, it fought its way back, turning red into green.

By the closing bell, the index stood at 21,779, a resounding gain of 102 points, sealing another victorious chapter in its upward march. Participation from HNW investors remained relatively low with moderate participation from retail investors.

Additionally, top positive contributors to the index included, DIMO, BUKI, CCS, MELS and WATA. Turnover for the day stood at Rs. 6.3 billion, reflecting a decrease of 12% compared to the monthly average that stands at around Rs. 7.1 billion.

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco sector took the lead in terms of sector wise contributions to turnover, with a share of 20%, followed by the Consumer services and the Capital Goods sectors which produced a combined contribution of 28%. Foreign investors remained net sellers, recording a net outflow of Rs. 362.2 million.

NDB Securities said high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Diesel and Motor Engineering, and Central Industries. Mixed interest was observed in Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka, Hatton National Bank and Ceylon Cold Stores whilst retail interest was noted in Kotagala Plantations, Lanka Credit and Business Finance and Browns Investments.

The Food, Beverage, and Tobacco sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to Sunshine Holdings) whilst the sector index gained 1.83%. The share price of Sunshine Holdings appreciated by 90 cents to Rs. 32.50.

The Capital Goods sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover whilst the sector index edged up by 0.02%.

Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Diesel and Motor Engineering, Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka and Hatton National Bank nonvoting were also included amongst the top turnover contributors. The share price of Ceylon Hotels Corporation increased by Rs. 5.40 to Rs. 48.70. The share price of Diesel and Motor Engineering gained Rs. 335.75 to Rs. 2,070.75. The share price of Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka moved up by one Rupee to Rs. 146. The share price of Hatton National Bank nonvoting closed flat at Rs. 297.00.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday that growth in Sri Lanka will be held back in 2026 by new US tariffs on key exports, even as momentum remains intact this year.

‘These developments will likely tamp down the impact on the economy this year from a 20% tariff imposed on Sri Lankan exports to the US, mostly garments and rubber. But the tariffs will be more of a headwind, holding back external sector performance and consumption in 2026 because of possible job losses, both directly and indirectly,’ the ADB said in its latest report released yesterday titled ‘Asian Development Outlook: Growth Slows as New Global Trade Environment Takes Shape’.

It said that US tariffs have soared to historic heights amid continued elevated trade policy uncertainty. Though generally lower than announced on 2 April, the additional tariffs that took effect in August are historically high. From 2.4% in 2024, the average effective US tariff rate has surged to 17.4%, the highest since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Trade policy uncertainty remains at very high levels, despite easing from April’s peak, the ADB said.

‘Uncertainty is fuelled by announcements of several bilateral US trade agreements without finalised terms, the prospect of new US sectoral tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, and possible revisions to tariffs already in place’.

For Sri Lanka, ADB said growth in 2025 is forecast to remain unchanged at 3.9%, supported by manufacturing, construction and services, after the economy expanded by 4.8% year on year in the first quarter. It forecasts growth to slow down to about 3.3% in 2026.

Industrial production rose 5.1% in the first half, approaching pre-crisis levels, while private credit grew 19.6% in July, driven by vehicle imports, low interest rates and a favourable business outlook.

Inflation returned in August after months of deflation, though price pressures remain subdued. Headline inflation fell 1.7% year on year in the first eight months of 2025, compared with a 0.5% increase a year earlier, as transport and energy costs declined.

The Central Bank cut its policy rate by 25 basis points in May and held it at 7.75% in July. Average inflation for 2025 has been revised down significantly to O.5% while the 2026 forecast is unchanged at 4.5% on expectations of gradually rising food and energy prices.

The current account surplus grew by 30.2% in the first half of 2025 on the back of strong remittances and steady tourism earnings. Imports rose 12.4% during the period, reflecting a surge in vehicle imports, while exports grew 5.7%.

Workers’ remittances rose 19.3% and tourism earnings increased 8.4%. Gross official reserves stood at $ 6.2 billion at end-August, covering 3.7 months of imports, only slightly higher than December 2024, as debt service payments resumed.

The IMF completed Sri Lanka’s fourth Extended Fund Facility review in July, with disbursements totalling $ 1.74 billion so far. Debt restructuring moved forward with agreements reached with France, India, Hungary, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom in 2025.

The ADB said risks remain elevated. These include a stronger-than-expected impact from the US tariffs, volatility in the Middle East affecting remittances, swings in energy prices, and a potential global slowdown that could weaken tourism and external demand. Domestically, weather-related disruptions could weigh on agriculture and food prices.

In August, economic think tank Institute of Policy (IPS) warned that the 20% reciprocal tariff unilaterally imposed by the Trump administration could lead to export losses of $ 634 million and put nearly 16,000 jobs at risk, mostly female workers in the apparel industry.

With a quarter of Sri Lanka’s total exports facing at least a 20-percentage-point increase in tariffs, the trade-weighted effective tariff rate will be 29.9%, compared to 10.20% in April 2025. Sri Lanka’s main exports to the US, apparel and rubber products, will face effective tariff rates of 36.8% and 20.2%, respectively, it said.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) yesterday announced a select fuel price revision effective from midnight today (30).

Accordingly, the price of Auto Diesel will be reduced by Rs. 6 to Rs. 277 per litre and Petrol 95 Octane will be reduced by Rs. 6 to Rs. 335 per litre. Kerosene will be reduced by Rs. 5 to Rs. 180 per litre.

However, there will be no change in the prices of Petrol 92 Octane and Super Diesel.

The Government has announced its intention to explore nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source to diversify its energy mix and strengthen energy security, at the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held in Vienna from 15 to 19 September.

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the IAEA Ambassador M.R.K. Lenagala informed the IAEA that Sri Lanka has included nuclear power as an energy source within the base case of CEB Least Cost Long-Term Generation and Expansion Plan 2025-2044.

Delivering the national statement of Sri Lanka at this key event of the IAEA calendar, he underscored that the move reflects Sri Lanka’s efforts to meet the dual challenges of climate change and energy security.

Ambassador Lenagala reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for the IAEA’s mission to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity across the globe.

A briefing on the progress Sri Lanka has made in the use of nuclear applications for peaceful uses was provided, including the establishment of a Cyclotron based radio pharmaceutical proton facility to support PET scanning for cancer diagnosis on an initiative by the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) with the regulatory approvals from the SLAEB, National Medicines Regulatory Authority and Central Environmental Authority.

While appreciating the IAEA’s continued support and technical guidance towards the progress of Sri Lanka’s peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology including through the Technical Collaboration Projects, the Ambassador outlined several key initiatives that Sri Lanka has undertaken to strengthen the country’s nuclear infrastructure.

Reference was made to the participation of a high delegation led by the Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament earlier this year, in a consultative meeting with the IAEA on adherence to global nuclear security framework focused on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment (CPPNM), as well as to the SLAEB’s hosting of four IAEA follow-up review missions to Sri Lanka, reflecting the country’s continuous engagement with the IAEA.

Dialog Axiata Group Chief Analytics and AI Officer Dr. Romesh Ranawana on Monday said Sri Lanka’s artificial intelligence (AI) adoption remains far behind global peers, largely due to the lack of localisation in language and cultural context.

Sharing insights during a panel at the two-day conference spearheaded by the Digital Economy Ministry in collaboration with SLT-Mobitel, he highlighted the stark localisation gap with other countries. Dr. Ranawana noted that while 50-60% of people in countries such as the US, Canada and Singapore use generative AI tools like ChatGPT at least two or three times a week, Sri Lanka’s usage is low at just 5%. ‘The contrast with India is striking. Adoption there is already at 50-60%, driven by strong localisation efforts,’ he observed.

According to Dr. Ranawana, localisation in AI is twofold. The first is linguistic localisation, which involves building systems that can understand and process Sinhala and Tamil through voice recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS) and optical character recognition (OCR).

‘The Digital Economy Ministry has already begun work on creating Sinhala datasets and models, with an emphasis on making them publicly available to researchers,’ he revealed.

The second is contextual localisation. ‘Most AI systems are trained on Western data. They don’t always reflect our cultural context, values or communication styles. Without that, responses can often feel irrelevant or inaccurate,’ he explained.

However, Dr. Ranawana cautioned against delaying adoption till localisation is complete. Current tools, he argued, are already good enough for practical applications in areas such as education. ‘For example, tools like Google Translate are sufficient to build simple classroom systems today. We should deploy them immediately,’ he said, urging policymakers and industry players to leverage what is already available.

He said deeper localisation must be pursued as a multi-year national program. ‘The goal should be to build comprehensive national datasets that capture our dialects, accents, and cultural contexts, while ensuring data quality and noise reduction. This will not be a one-off project-it requires sustained investment over at least five to six years,’ he said.

Done right, localisation could transform Sri Lanka’s digital economy. It would strengthen government services, empower startups to build locally relevant AI applications, and position the country as a competitive player in the global AI ecosystem.

‘We must view localisation not just as a technical task, but as a nation-building effort,’ Dr. Ranawana emphasised, calling for collaboration between Government, academia, and industry.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham SL) successfully held its 33rd Annual General Meeting at the ITC Ratnadeepa yesterday, in the presence of its members, special invitees, and media representatives.

The AGM marked a significant milestone as the Chamber reflected on a year of meaningful impact, strategic partnerships, and advocacy in strengthening US-Sri Lanka trade, investment, and bilateral collaboration. Members elected a new Board of Directors to guide AmCham into its next chapter, reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to fostering economic prosperity and innovation.

Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda was elected the new President of AmCham Sri Lanka, while Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC Managing Director/CEO Bertram Paul was elected the new Vice President.

MAS Holdings Ltd. Director Shirendra Lawrence was appointed the President Emeritus of AmCham SL.

IAS Holdings Ltd. Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny was elected as the new Secretary and Digiratina Technology Solutions Ltd. Managing Director Riza Wadood will remain as the Treasurer.

Dentsu Grant Ltd. Chairperson/Managing Director Neela Marikkar, Standard Chartered Bank Corporate Coverage Executive Director/ Head Tamani Dias, Hayleys Advantis Group Management Committee, Advantis Express Licencee of Federal Express Corporation Director, IML Delivery Systems representing CityPak Director Chamila Bandara, and HSBC Global Network Banking Head Dilshan Perera were re-elected as AmCham Directors and continue on the Board.

Citibank, N.A Country Markets Head/Treasurer and Director Saneth Gamage, North Manufacturing Ltd. Managing Director Hatem Rajabdeen, Microsoft Sri Lanka Solutions Sales Lead Senior Partner – Sri Lanka and Maldives Chinthaka Dunuwille, and JAT Holdings PLC Director Anika Williamson were appointed as board members strengthening the board’s composition covering various industry sectors.

Addressing the audience, the Chief Guest, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J. Chung, in her keynote address, underscored the mutual interests of U.S. and Sri Lankan businesses:

‘We must work together in Sri Lanka to create a conducive environment by lowering non-tariff barriers, streamlining processes, and ensuring transparency. These actions are not just in the interest of US companies – they are in the interest of Sri Lanka’s long term economic resilience. And when our partners are secure, America is more secure.’

Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing President Shirendra Lawrence stated: ‘Serving as President of AmCham Sri Lanka over the past two years has been a privilege. During this period, we remained steadfast in our commitment to advocacy and fostering meaningful networking opportunities. I am proud to have supported our dedicated and talented Secretariat team in elevating our capacity to influence policy and promote bilateral trade. I leave confident that the Chamber is well-positioned for even greater success under new leadership. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Board, our Secretariat team, and our members for their unwavering support and collaboration throughout this incredible journey.’

Elected unanimously by the membership, incoming President Sandun Hapugoda, shared his vision for the Chamber: ‘I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as President of AmCham Sri Lanka at a time when US – Sri Lanka trade relations are gaining fresh momentum. As we move forward, AmCham Sri Lanka will continue to strengthen its focus on policy advocacy to deepen trade and investment ties. We remain committed to creating meaningful value for our members through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation. I also invite our members to actively engage with the Chamber’s upcoming initiatives. Together, we can drive lasting impact for our business community and both nations.’

The AGM concluded with networking among members, dignitaries, and guests, celebrating another successful year of AmCham Sri Lanka’s contributions to advancing trade and investment ties between the United States and Sri Lanka.

Fresh from the vibrancy of Ganga Addara, Rohan and Ishan De Lanerolle will return to the Lionel Wendt Theatre on 3 October 2025 with Grace Notes, an uplifting and inspiring evening of devotional music.

Marking their first-ever spiritual concert in a theatre, the brothers will blend classical, gospel and contemporary choral traditions, offering a program that is both enriching and beautifully arranged.

They will be joined by some of Sri Lanka’s finest musical talents: Soundarie David Rodrigo on piano, Neranjan De Silva providing orchestral enhancement on keyboards, and the award-winning Soul Sounds Choir, together with the Soul Sounds Academy Choir. The collaboration brings together powerful voices and artistry to create an atmosphere of hope and transcendence.

‘Grace Notes is the first time we’re presenting a spiritual concert in a theatre, and for us that makes it a very special milestone,’ said Ishan De Lanerolle.

‘This is the very first time DLB will collaborate with the award-winning Soul Sounds and the Soul Sounds Academy Choir, along with the incomparable Soundarie David Rodrigo and the amazing Neranjan De Silva. It’s an absolute honour for us to stand on stage with so many gifted people and create music that uplifts hearts and souls’, said Rohan De Lanerolle.

With a repertoire of soul-stirring arrangements, uplifting choral numbers and the brothers’ signature duets, Grace Notes promises to be exceptional and deeply moving.

Tickets, priced from Rs. 1,500 (balcony) to Rs. 10,000 (premium stalls), are already in high demand. For reservations, call, text or WhatsApp 0777 996 991. (MTA)

Around the world, leading economies and cultural capitals are either long-standing powerhouses of arts and culture or are actively investing to become so. Whether in cities such as Paris, New Orleans, Dhaka, Kyoto, Mexico City, Bukhara, and London – or in countries like South Korea, India, Bhutan, South Africa, Egypt, and Peru – the pattern is clear: the arts are being recognised as an industry strategy, a tool of foreign policy, and a national development priority.

The numbers speak for themselves. This summer, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny made headlines with a 30-day residency that attracted celebrity attendees including LeBron James, Penélope Cruz, and Kylian Mbappé – and injected nearly USD 200 million in tourism revenue, doubling summer arrivals to 600,000. Meanwhile, as noted by UN Trade and Development,the global juggernauts of K-Pop,K-Beauty and K-Dramas ‘boast a 4% to 5% annual growth rate, employ over 600,000 people, and generate $12.4 billion in export revenue in 2021. In comparison, the Republic of Korea’s consumer electronic equipment exports generated $4.7 billion.’

University College London (UCL) Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value Mariana Mazzucato, released a discussion paper on The Public Value of Arts and Culture. She notes that when governments embed art, green spaces, sports, cultural programmes, and social services into public infrastructure, they not only improve quality of life but also signal that ‘all people, especially the most marginalised, deserve dignity, beauty, and joy.’

The World Bank echoed this in its 2020 publication The Hidden Wealth of Cities, observing that people who live near high-quality public spaces are more trusting, less isolated, and have greater faith in government. And in this age of AI, do we even need to underline how vital human creativity, originality, and connection have become?

This is all good news for Sri Lanka. We possess a cultural fabric of exceptional richness – in our food, fashion, literature, music, religious festivals – via the work of historians, contemporary collectives and internationally recognised artists. Properly nurtured at a national level, these could generate significant economic and social dividends.

Yet those working in our arts sectors often describe a tough road: funding is scarce or must be constantly validated. And when impact is made, it too feels short-lived in appreciation – undervalued and unsung. All this is while the evidence suggests it ought to be very much otherwise.

Consider that when Sri Lanka earns international acclaim – whether it is Matara-based Asia’s Best Award winners like the Smoke and Bitters team, or the jam-packed Mixmag Asia partnered music series by Dots Bay House; or our artists bringing home global prizes from the Booker to the Olivier, or Condé Nast spotlighting our surf culture, and architectural journals doing the same with Lankan heritage, and contemporary design – that these, and the knock on impact these acclaims bring, are all triumphs of our creative industries. Furthermore, as indicated by World Bank Sri Lanka’s recently announced strategic focus on cultural tourism initiatives to support increased visit durations and spend by tourists in the Western Province, culture is central to unlocking economic growth.

So when the arts are working overtime to bring economic benefit, intellectual enrichment, joy and pride, shouldn’t we reassess how we are often too quick to minimise its value?

I think of all this when recalling the government’s 2023 invitation to us to establish a festival for art and music at the height of the economic crisis as a means of revitalising tourism and rebuilding the economy. In many ways Matara was the perfect place to test this approach – for its Fort had been left devastated and in stasis since the 2004 tsunami. It had also long been centred around the Matara judicial and administrative offices, making it less inviting to public enjoyment or commercial activity.

However in 2023, the completion of a new Matara courts complex in Kotawila, freed up government owned buildings in the Fort for a reimagining. Turning the Old High Court into an art exhibition space was an opportunity to breathe new life into the city, and show that decentralised development is a vital strategy to steel Sri Lankans against future crises and stem the outflow of youth and talent from outer districts. In this regard, for those of us behind MFA – family, friends, and colleagues of fashion designer turned politician late Mangala Samaraweera – the festival has presented a vehicle way to carry forward unfinished dreams both visionary and policy pragmatic.

Community capacity-building and support for exposure to local and global ideas have been central pillars of MFA from year one. The inaugural 2024 festival was free to attend, and featured an extensive contemporary art training programme and a robust ten-session music-in-action program, funded by John Keells Foundation and USAID respectively.

On the art side of things, eight young community artists were mentored for 5 months by five established practitioners. This resulted in the creation of public artworks from recycled plastics and visual art inspired by the often-overlooked labour of Matara’s municipal streetcare staff – both which took centre stage at the final exhibition. Meanwhile, six Sri Lankan and international musicians mentored over 60 aspiring singers and instrumentalists in the power of free expression and voice. They demonstrated the exciting potential for collaboration between Sri Lankan and global music. A core group of these young performers debuted an original song at MFA’s closing concert – their first taste of taking a professional stage.

All these same objectives for cultural led empowerment and development carry forward into 2025 in collaboration with the present government. MFA will return this December alongside policy efforts led by a committee of public and private experts (which include MFA members), who are drafting a Matara Heritage and Development Foundation Act. The Act proposes a public-private board of stakeholders to guide preservation, development, investment, job creation, sustainability, and cultural activity in the district – democratically, transparently, and with broad local and international reach.

Both the Festival and the Act, working in tandem, show clearly how vision and ambitions projected first by a festival can be cemented and bolstered through policy.

From team MFA and Sri Lanka’s governments then, the vision is clear: the arts are not adornment, but a partner – a force that can shape actions, systems, and attitudes for progress. Arts that are people-centred, inclusive, collaborative, and imaginative enough to rebuild one city, and potentially more. We hope you will rally with us for this vision by joining us from the 12 to 15 December in Matara.

The writer is Co-Founder and Festival Director, Matara Festival for the Arts and Programme Lead for Freedom Hub Matara (MFA’s founding organisation)

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) has taken a significant step forward in its journey towards decarbonisation with the installation of a 460kW rooftop solar panel array at its administrative facility.

This milestone project, completed within the 2024/25 financial year, reinforces the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions and increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources.

SAGT has long maintained a strong focus on sustainability, and remains the only terminal in Sri Lanka to publicly disclose its environmental performance through an independently accredited sustainability report. With a clear priority placed on decarbonising terminal operations, SAGT has made substantial progress in reducing Scope 1 emissions, primarily through the hybrid conversion of its Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane fleet. To date, 28 of 31 cranes have been hybridised, contributing to a 22% reduction in carbon intensity per move over the past six years.

The new solar project addresses Scope 2 emissions, which accounted for 22% of SAGT’s overall carbon footprint in the 2024/25 period. The rooftop installation is part of a wider strategy to transition to clean energy sources, and now supplies approximately 3-5% of the company’s annual energy needs, marking the first instance of onsite renewable energy generation at SAGT.

Looking ahead, the company is accelerating its sustainability agenda with a series of targeted renewable energy and electrification initiatives. As part of this roadmap, SAGT will introduce two electric forklifts in 2025 and plans to convert 30 prime movers to electric models from its fleet of 80. The company is also evaluating additional solar installations on its gatehouse rooftops, aiming to create ‘green gates’ that are self-sufficient and powered entirely by solar energy. This will allow gate operations to be completely independent of the grid, with zero emissions.

SAGT CEO Romesh David said, ‘We are proud to mark this new chapter in our sustainability journey with the commissioning of our rooftop solar array. This investment reflects our deep commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while supporting national and global climate goals. As the industry evolves, we are determined to lead by example, transforming terminal operations through clean energy adoption and innovation-driven decarbonisation’.