Connect with us

Business

Galle Face Hotel presents ‘Yaalpana Santhai’: A gastronomic journey into Jaffna cuisine

Published

on

Executive Chef at Galle Face Hotel

The Galle Face Hotel, an iconic landmark in Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector, is thrilled to unveil the ‘Yaalpana Santhai’ at The Verandah Restaurant. Translating to ‘Jaffna Market’ in English, this two-day Jaffna food festival is scheduled to grace the culinary stage on September 23rd and 24th, 2023.

Jaffna, renowned for its profound culinary legacy and vibrant gastronomic traditions, will be the star of this extraordinary culinary spectacle. The event guarantees to transport you into the heart of Jaffna’s culinary heritage, featuring a tantalizing buffet that pays homage to the best of Jaffna cuisine.

Chef Aritha Fernando

Priced at LKR 7,900 per person, the buffet will be available from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Verandah Restaurant. Nestled adjacent to the iconic ‘Chequerboard’ lawn, this charming venue offers an elegant setting with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The Yaalpana Santhai promises an unparalleled dining experience on the 23rd and 24th of September, providing guests with a unique opportunity to savour the authentic flavours of Jaffna.

Executive Chef at the Galle Face Hotel, Chef Aritha Fernando, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to bring the essence of Jaffna to Colombo with ‘Yaalpana Santhai.’ This event is a celebration of the rich cultural and culinary heritage of Jaffna, and we invite everyone to join us in experiencing the warmth and flavours.”

In addition to the delectable cuisine, attendees will be serenaded by the enchanting melodies of local music and the graceful performances of traditional dancers, creating an ambience of pure authenticity. Furthermore, visitors will have the opportunity to explore and appreciate authentic Jaffna crafts showcased at stalls within the venue, adding an enriching cultural dimension to the dining experience.

At the heart of this exceptional festival lie iconic dishes that embody Jaffna’s culinary excellence. Guests can anticipate savouring traditional delights such as Kaikuthal rice, celebrated for its aromatic and flavourful preparation. Dive into the rich and spicy nandu sodhi (crab curry) that encapsulates the essence of Jaffna’s coastal flavours. Meat enthusiasts will relish the succulence of aatu erachi kulambu (mutton curry), while vegetarians will be captivated by the diversity of Jaffna’s vegetarian offerings showcased in porittha valaikkai kulambu (ash plantain curry). Additionally, the festival will offer dosai, a beloved favourite, to tantalize your taste buds. For those with a sweet tooth, the event promises an array of Northern sweetmeats, including the delectable raya kesari and the ever-popular Laddu and more. These sweet treats will provide the perfect conclusion to your Jaffna culinary journey.

To complement your meal, indulge in traditional beverages, including Naddu Coffee and Nelli Juice, which will be available to enhance your dining experience with authentic flavours and refreshing options.

The Galle Face Hotel extends a warm invitation to all food enthusiasts to partake in this remarkable event. Experience the flavours, aromas, and cultural richness of Jaffna, and let your taste buds embark on an extraordinary culinary voyage. Secure your table now for an unforgettable weekend of gastronomic bliss. For reservations and inquiries, please contact The Verandah Restaurant at +94 11 754 1010 or +94 777 222 135.



Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

AIA delivers strong first half results in 2026; double-digit growth across key financial metrics

Published

on

The Board of AIA Group Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the Group’s financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated:

New business performance and embedded value

Value of new business (VONB) of US$3,212 million, up 10 per cent overall and 14 per cent excluding Thailand(1)

Record high annualised operating ROEV of 18.0 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent in full year 2025

EV Equity of US$83.4 billion, up 6 per cent per share over the first half on an actual exchange rate basis

IFRS earnings

Operating profit after tax (OPAT) of US$4,163 million, up 13 per cent per share

AIA now expects to exceed OPAT per share CAGR target of 9 to 11 per cent from 2023 to 2026(2)

Record high annualised operating ROE of 17.5 per cent, up from 15.5 per cent in full year 2025

Cash generation and capital returns

Underlying free surplus generation (UFSG) of US$3,935 million, increased by 10 per cent per share

Net free surplus generation (net FSG) of US$2,758 million, up 12 per cent per share

US$3.6 billion returned to shareholders in the first half through dividend and share buy-back

Interim dividend increased by 10 per cent to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share

Lee Yuan Siong, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, said:

“AIA has delivered another strong performance in the first half of 2026, with double-digit growth across our key financial metrics, while continuing to return substantial capital to shareholders. VONB reached a record high of US$3.2 billion with growth across all distribution channels, and all reportable segments excluding Thailand. The Group has achieved 17 per cent CAGR since the first half of 2023(3), demonstrating consistently strong demand for AIA’s professional advice and differentiated products.

“At the core of our unrivalled distribution platform is our market-leading Premier Agency. I am delighted that AIA has once again been ranked the number one Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) multinational company globally. We have held this position for a record 12 consecutive years and we have more than double the number of MDRT members of our nearest competitor. In the first half of 2026, our Premier Agency achieved strong VONB growth of 11 per cent excluding Thailand(1). Our extensive network of strategic distribution partners further expands our market reach and generated an 18 per cent increase in VONB, supported by very strong performance in both the bancassurance and independent financial adviser (IFA) and broker channels.

“Strong new business, together with disciplined management of our in-force portfolio, has supported sustained growth in recurring earnings with OPAT per share up by 13 per cent in the first half. As a result, we expect to exceed our 9 to 11 per cent OPAT per share CAGR target for 2023 to 2026(2). UFSG, the Group’s core measure of operating cash generation, increased by 10 per cent per share. After allowing for new business investment, net FSG increased by 12 per cent per share. In accordance with our prudent, sustainable and progressive dividend policy, the Board has declared a 10 per cent increase in the interim dividend to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share. These achievements demonstrate that our financial strategy is working as intended.

“Asia remains the most compelling growth opportunity for life and health insurance. Powerful structural tailwinds across the region continue to create substantial demand for our professional advice and differentiated products and underpin the exceptional long-term prospects for AIA’s business. I am confident that AIA’s disciplined execution of our strategic priorities will continue to deliver long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”

Continue Reading

Business

British Council Sri Lanka launches soft skills workshops to elevate learning and empower communication

Published

on

The British Council team answering questions on Corporate English Solutions from leading corporates about professional development skills courses

The British Council Sri Lanka has launched Corporate English Solutions (CES), tailored to the Sri Lankan corporate and education ecosystem, aimed at helping organisations strengthen workplace communication and professional development.

The launch event took place recently at the NH Collection, Colombo 3, gathering corporate partners, clients and education stakeholders throughout the country.

CES extends the British Council’s long-standing work in English language education and teacher training into a dedicated offering for the corporate sector. The launch introduced two new components to the British Council’s presence in Sri Lanka such as public workshops and teacher training programmes, open to learners and educators beyond the organisation’s existing corporate and academic partners. Guests at the event were shown a short video introducing Corporate English Solutions before the formal proceedings began.

Talal Meer, British Council Regional Business Development Director, South Asia, welcomed guests and introduced the British Council’s team in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, Meer set out the scope of the CES launch, covering the introduction of public workshops in Sri Lanka, the rollout of teacher training programmes, and an overview of the CES product portfolio. Meer’s role covers educational partnerships in the South Asia region, and his address framed the Sri Lanka launch within the British Council’s broader regional strategy.

Continue Reading

Business

Ogilvy Group tops award tally at ‘Dragons of Sri Lanka’ 2026

Published

on

Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka delivered a standout performance at the recently concluded Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026 Awards, securing a total of nine awards comprising two Gold Dragons, one Silver Dragon and six Black Dragons, among the festival’s highest overall award tallies. Gold Dragon wins for Phoenix Ogilvy and Ogilvy Digital, together with the seven additional recognitions across multiple categories, highlighted Ogilvy’s ability to combine creativity, strategic thinking and commercial effectiveness to deliver business results.

Organised by the 4As Sri Lanka, the third edition of Dragons of Sri Lanka shortlisted more than 50 agencies and corporates, making it one of the country’s most competitive marketing communications awards. These local awards, along with the chapters in Malaysia and Pakistan are part of the Dragons of Asia platform, one of the region’s leading programmes for marketing communications effectiveness, with entries being judged on strategy, originality, execution and measurable results.

Ogilvy Digital accounted for eight awards in total, including a Gold Dragon in the Business & Trade Marketing category, and a Silver Dragon in the Innovative Idea or Concept category. The Agency additionally received six Black Dragons across the categories of Innovative Idea or Concept, Business & Trade Marketing, Content Creation, Small Budget, Event or Experiential, and Brand Trial or Sales Generation.

Commenting on the achievement, Sajith Weerasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy Digital, said, “These recognitions reflect the breadth of capabilities we’ve built across strategy, creative, content, experience design, technology and performance marketing. The fact that the work was recognised across so many different disciplines demonstrates our ability to apply creativity to a wide range of business challenges and objectives. We’re proud that this achievement spans multiple clients, categories and types of work, reflecting both the versatility of our people and our commitment to delivering results.”

Continue Reading

Trending