On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, John Keells Foundation (JKF) reaffirmed its long‑standing commitment to combatting gender‑based violence and child abuse through its flagship initiative, Project WAVE (Working Against Violence through Education).

Since its launch in November 2014, Project WAVE has reached over 5.8 million individuals, including employees of the John Keells Group, specific groups such as police officers, lawyers, university students, schoolchildren, teachers, parents, and the wider public.

This year’s campaign was rolled out under the theme “UNiTE to Take Action Against Violence”, adopting a multi‑pronged approach that included internal awareness creation towards preventing and addressing gender based violence (through both awareness sessions as well as an all staff email campaign), a sustained social media campaign and community awareness programmes scheduled across business locations of the John Keells Group. All activities reinforce practical, proactive and everyday actions that individuals can take to prevent or address violence. A symbolic white ribbonpinning ceremony was also held with senior management and project staff, underscoring solidarity with survivors and commitment to ending violence. In addition, JKF’s internal e‑learning module as adapted for external audiences will soon be launched via the JKF’s e‑learning platform, with plans to extend access to universities and community groups.

Mark and Comm, Sri Lanka’s leading boutique public relations and communications agency, has been honored at Campaign’s Agency of the Year Awards 2025 (South Asia), taking home a Silver award and emerging as the sole agency in the Rest of South Asia PR Agency of the Year category. The ceremony took place on December 2 at the ITC Maratha in Mumbai.

The Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards is the region’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in advertising, marketing, and communications. Judged by leading client marketers, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements across creative, media, digital, PR, and specialized categories.

“This recognition is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering PR-led strategies that drive real results for our clients,” said Thanzyl Thajudeen, managing director of Mark and Comm. “Being the only agency shortlisted speaks volumes about the caliber of work we’ve been producing where we create authentic connections that resonate with diverse audiences.”

Established in 2011, Mark and Comm has evolved into a strategic PR consultancy for leading local and multinational brands across technology, agriculture, apparel, FMCG, finance and insurance, hospitality, education, mobility, and sustainability sectors. The agency’s boutique model emphasizes strategic counsel and agile execution, delivering integrated communications solutions.

Mark and Comm’s global reach is amplified through strategic international affiliations. The agency is a member of the GlobalCom PR Network, joining over 80 independent PR agencies operating across more than 100 countries worldwide. Additionally, the agency maintains non-exclusive affiliations with two leading global PR agencies, and is a corporate member of the PRCA APAC, with Thajudeen serving on the PRCA APAC Board and CIPR International Committee.

Mark and Comm was also recently appointed as exclusive reseller and distributor for Hootsuite and Talkwalker platforms across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, bringing enterprise-level social listening, media monitoring, and social media management solutions to these rapidly digitizing markets, positioning the agency at the forefront of digital intelligence solutions in the region.

The agency has been instrumental in elevating PR and media industry standards across Sri Lanka, including pro-bono partnerships as strategic communications partner for Women in Tech Sri Lanka and ZeroPlastic Movement.

“This award energizes us to push boundaries further,” added Chamanie Nanayakkara, director and head of advocacy at Mark and Comm. “We’re focused on taking Mark and Comm to the global stage while continuing to serve our clients with strategic excellence and contributing positively to society through purpose-driven partnerships.”

Top-performing CEAT Kelani dealers were rewarded with all-expenses-paid tours to Singapore and Thailand recently, as Sri Lanka’s leading tyre brand celebrated exceptional sales achievements with a fusion of business recognition and world-class leisure under its 2025 “Travel with CEAT” rewards programme.

The tours were part of a three-tier incentive scheme designed to honour outstanding achievement at an eight-month sales campaign that challenged CEAT dealers to surpass ambitious growth targets in the Truck, Light Truck and Radial tyre categories. Participants who met and exceeded threshold volumes, calculated above their previous six-month average performance, earned their place in one of three coveted rewards tiers.

Those in the top tier will embark on an exclusive tour to Switzerland, while the second and third tiers have already experienced memorable visits to Singapore and Thailand, blending relaxation, adventure and cultural discovery with well-deserved recognition of their professional success.

The five-day Singapore tour, comprised a four-day voyage aboard the Genting Dream – one of Asia’s most luxurious cruise liners – and a day exploring the cosmopolitan city. Dealers experienced the height of ocean-going leisure on board a ship that boasts 18 decks, over 35 restaurants and bars, live entertainment at the Zodiac Theatre, and family attractions such as pools, waterslides and beach club parties. The highlight of the itinerary was a stop at Phuket Island in Thailand, where participants disembarked to explore the island’s beaches, markets and cuisine.

The Thailand leg of the programme treated the group to a four-day stay in Pattaya and Bangkok, featuring a cruise dinner along the Chao Phraya River aboard the Chao Phraya Princess. Against the glittering backdrop of Bangkok’s skyline and landmarks such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, guests dined on Thai and international cuisine accompanied by live music and cultural performances. The itinerary also included a day trip to Coral Island (Koh Larn), a haven of white sands and turquoise waters ideal for swimming, water sports and relaxation. Participants stayed at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, renowned for its luxury and hospitality, and enjoyed shopping in Bangkok’s vibrant retail districts.