Business
‘Inaugural People’s Convention, a resounding success
The People’s Convention for Good Governance was held at the BMICH in the midst of an exclusive audience, all of them invited and registered by the organizers, on February 25 .The Convener of this National Initiative Richard de Zoysa set the tone for the day by requesting the delegates to observe a minute’s silence for all those fought for the Independence of Ceylon ,the military personnel who sacrificed their lives to defend the country and to all those who contributed to serve their motherland.
He added that the four forums that was to be the hub of the programme ,would speak on how we have reached this perilous predicament,what exactly is the situation we are at present and how we should work to overcome the challenges.
Maithri Gunaratne P.C. former Governor of Central and Uva Province addressed the gathering on the post Independence period . Gunaratne spoke candidly on how nepotism started with D.S. Senanayake appointing his son Dudley to succeed him and the irreversible repercussion of S. W. R. D . Bandaranaike introducing the Sinhala only act to capture power.
“The JVP insurrection and the LTTE terrorism was also largely due to this selfish motive”. He went on to say that large scale corruption started in 1977 during the J R Jayawardena Government where an open market economy was formulated. The present situation where the Constitution does not always enforce the will of the people was also crafted during his tenure. Gunaratne summed up by stating that the Rajapaksa Government though ending the separatist war, failed to reconcile the country and plunged it into bankruptcy, together with the governments that followed.
Omar Khan a US national of Pakistani heritage, having come to Sri Lanka in 1993 and a well known motivational speaker headlined his address a ‘Visionary Catalyst’ , and spoke of the importance of following up on decisions made, if a country is to progress. Murtaza Jaferjee the Chairman of the Advocata Institute delivered a flawless speech on Economic Recovery with a presentation of facts that had the audience captivated.
Prof. Arjuna Parakrama moderated the Education Reforms panel that included Dr.Tara de Mel , Prof. Harendra de Silva and Nile Anandappa. Shehara Parakrama and Sharhan Muhseen a top rung investment banker and an expert in mergers and acquisitions exchanged thoughts on the Production and Services forum.
Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu moderated an interesting panel on Ethnicity which included Selvi Sachithanandam , Ishan Jalill , Jeremy Liyanage , & Arun Siddarth who had a thought provoking discussion on the minorities. Arun Siddarth was candid about the caste problem that is still preventing him entering certain facilities that are reserved for the upper caste Tamils. He also declared that it was the politicians who created the rift between the Sinhalese and the Tamils.
An interesting Q & A followed, which gave much food for thought.The Guest of Honour Dr .Walter Jayasinghe who lives in California, and does an enormous amount of social work for the underprivileged, declared open the Empowering Lanka website that will be a fully transparent fund raising platform with the inflow and outflow clearly visible. Primarily to help alleviate poverty and develop districts that lack basic infrastructure needs, the first Directors Dr./ Ms Walter Jayasinghe and Richard de Zoysa will source funds from both international and local donors.
The funds raised will be disbursed to those who conform to a predetermined criteria laid down by the Board of Directors of the company limited by guarantee. Once commissioned officially, funds will be used to develop District by District monthly as planned by Dr. Sarath Seneviratne who mooted this concept 15 years ago.
The entire convention can be viewed by going into Arise Sri Lanka YouTube channel -@arisesrilanka or Facebook – @Arise Sri Lanka
In a landmark move towards digital transformation within Sri Lanka’s legal system, the Supreme Court officially launched online payment acceptance via GovPay, at a ceremony held on 15th May 2025 at the Supreme Court Complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo 12, under the patronage of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, PC.
This digital initiative enables both legal professionals and general public to make real-time, secure online payments via any GovPay-enabled internet banking, mobile banking platforms and FinTech applications for a wide range of services offered by the Supreme Court including Brief Fees, Certified Copying Fees, Commercial High Court Appeal Filing Fees, Compensation, Cost, Enrollment Fees (Attorney-at-Law), Good Standing Certificate Fees, New Plaint Filing Fees, and Online Payments for Affidavits.
At the initial phase GovPay payments to Supreme Court has been enabled via several online banking platforms and FinTech apps including BOC Smart Pay Mobile App, Peoples Pay Mobile App, NSB Online Banking, Pan Asia Online Banking, Sampath Vishwa Online Banking, HNB PayFast, Seylan Bank Online Banking, DFCC Online Banking, NationsDirect Online Banking / NationsDirect Mobile App, ComBank Digital Online Banking and ComBank Digital Mobile App, NDB Neos Online Banking, Helakuru Mobile App, iPay Mobile App, FriMi Mobile App, Genie Mobile App. The integration with GovPay ensures secure, seamless, and transparent transactions, accessible from anywhere anytime, bringing a new level of convenience and efficiency to the legal community and the general public using courts. Moreover, the entire GovPay digital process, including the receipt which generated via the system are legally valid under the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006 (as amended).
Speaking at the launch, Chief Justice Murdu Fernando PC emphasized the significance of this initiative in modernizing the judicial system, stating that “This marks an important milestone in our journey towards a more accessible and technology-enabled judiciary. By embracing digital platforms such as GovPay, we are not only improving efficiency and transparency, but also enhancing public trust and ease of access to all stakeholders of the judicial system” , the Chief Justice stated.
Integration with GovPay aims to reduce the reliance on physical cash transactions, long queues, and administrative difficulties that have historically burdened court users as well as legal professionals. It also aligns with the national agenda of leveraging digital infrastructure to improve public service delivery.
The Supreme Court’s adoption of technology-based payments is expected to serve as a model for similar implementations across other courts of law throughout Sri Lanka. Several high-ranking legal professionals, officials from LankaPay, ICTA and representatives of the legal and banking sectors were present to witness this historic occasion.
This transformation is the result of collaboration between the Supreme Court Registrar, the Registry Staff, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Digital Economy and key financial and technological institutions committed to enhancing digital inclusion within public institutions with the support of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
As the legal landscape evolves, digital platforms, such as GovPay, will play a critical role in ensuring the justice system remains adaptive, inclusive, and future-ready. The Supreme Court’s forward-thinking initiative is expected to pave the way for comprehensive judicial digitalization nationwide.
Fortude has announced a strategic partnership with Ettos, a leading supply chain traceability platform aimed at enabling fashion businesses to maintain more transparent processes and allowing customers to understand how their products are made. This collaboration will integrate traceability, compliance, and Digital Product Passports (DPPs) into a unified solution, helping fashion brands streamline their supply chains and enhance transparency.
Ettos’ platform simplifies the tracking of raw materials and the verification of sustainability claims. It offers a B2B web platform for managing traceability and compliance, along with a B2C web app that delivers DPPs to consumers via QR codes. Through this partnership, Fortude and Ettos will jointly expand their capabilities in the fashion sector, supporting clients from raw material sourcing to final product delivery.
Adriana Batty, Co-founder of Ettos, said, “We are happy to partner with Fortude, whose expertise in digital solutions and deep roots in the fashion industry align with our vision of creating a transparent global supply chain. Together, we will empower brands and consumers with verifiable sustainability insights.”
With over a decade of experience delivering digital solutions to global fashion brands, Fortude shares Ettos’ commitment to transforming supply chain transparency. Daniel Rodrigo, Senior Vice President Global Technical Consulting at Fortude added, “Our partnership with Ettos reinforces our mission to provide digital solutions that matter. For over a decade, we have been an Infor partner, delivering ERP solutions to numerous global fashion brands. As we broaden our vision to drive digital transformation, this partnership is a significant step toward driving meaningful change for fashion brands seeking enhanced transparency and compliance.”
This partnership marks a significant step forward in meeting the fashion industry’s growing demand for sustainability and transparency. Fortude and Ettos are dedicated to helping brands navigate complex supply chains with confidence, fostering a more sustainable future for fashion.
Turyaa Chennai, a premier five-star deluxe classified hotel under the Aitken Spence Hotels portfolio, celebrates a decade of redefining hospitality in one of South India’s most dynamic urban corridors.
Conceived by the visionary entrepreneur and Late Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC, Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena, Turyaa Chennai was built on the belief that Aitken Spence warmth and world-class hospitality could find a meaningful home in India. Ten years on, his legacy continues—alive in every guest experience, every team member’s dedication, and every milestone the hotel celebrates.
Since its opening in 2015, Turyaa Chennai has become a trusted name in Chennai—offering warm service and contemporary comfort. Strategically located along Chennai’s IT expressway, the hotel has grown into a hospitality landmark for business travellers, international travellers, and local tastemakers. Its vibrant dining concepts, spacious rooms and suites, rooftop leisure areas, and exceptional service standards have made it a preferred address in the city.
To mark its 10th anniversary on 15th of May 2025, Turyaa Chennai is hosting a month-long series of celebrations in honour of its legacy and the people who helped shape it. These include religious blessings, a celebratory dinner for loyal guests and partners, an awards ceremony for team members, and culinary showcases that nod to the hotel’s South Indian and Sri Lankan heritage.
Turyaa Chennai (Aitken Spence Hotels) donates wheelchairs to Tamil Nadu Railways in collaboration with Geo India Foundation.
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