Sri Lanka’s renowned specialty tea brand “Singharaja Wiry Tips,” produced by Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, has won two major accolades at the prestigious “The Leafies International Tea Awards” held recently at Fortnum and Mason in the United Kingdom.

The award-winning low-grown Ceylon tea secured the titles of “Best Ceylon Black Tea” and the overall “Best of All Black Teas,” emerging as the top black tea entered at the international competition.

With these latest honours, “Singharaja Wiry Tips” has now earned its 43rd and 44th international awards, further strengthening its reputation as one of the world’s most highly awarded black teas.

Classified as FBOPF EX SP (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Extra Special), the tea is named after its distinctive golden-tipped wiry leaves and unique flavour profile derived from the ecosystem surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singharaja Rainforest, which borders the Lumbini plantation.

Lumbini Tea Valley’s latest innovation, “Lumbini Screw Buds,” also received high commendation at this year’s competition, highlighting the company’s continued excellence in producing premium Ceylon teas.

Chairman and Managing Director Chaminda Jayawardena, who accepted the awards in London, credited the achievement to the dedication of the Lumbini workforce and the support of nearly 1,800 tea farmers supplying high-quality green leaf harvested using the traditional “two leaves and a bud” method.

by SK Samaranayake

AIA Insurance Lanka marked its annual Company Conference and awards ceremony in Colombo recently, celebrating employee performance under the theme ‘Rising to the Top.’

Held at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, the event brought together staff from across the organisation for an evening of recognition, reflection and entertainment, underscoring the insurer’s emphasis on growth and internal excellence.

The ceremony was formally inaugurated with a curtain raiser unveiling the theme ‘Rising to the Top,’ symbolising the company’s focus on continuous improvement and upward mobility.

Addressing the gathering, Director and Chief Executive Officer Chathuri Munaweera outlined the company’s strategic direction, business performance and future ambitions, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening market position and workforce capability.

The awards segment honoured both individual and team achievements across multiple categories. Nine employees received the CEO’s Special Awards for exceptional contributions, while 217 winners were recognised under the AIA Essentials Team Awards for collaboration and collective performance.

Elite sales performance was acknowledged through Top of the Table (TOT) and Court of the Table (COT) honours, followed by recognition for Financial Planning Executives who achieved Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) status.

Organisers said the awards reflected a culture of shared success and sustained professional excellence within the organisation.

The evening concluded with stage performances by employees and guest artists, adding a celebratory note to the event as AIA Insurance Lanka reaffirmed its focus on performance-driven growth.

Now available for pre-order via www.dialog.lk

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, has announced the launch of Dialog Air Fibre powered by 5G, marking a significant step in its commitment to delivering next-generation digital experiences. This latest innovation marks yet another industry first by Dialog, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to customers across the country.

Dialog Air Fibre is a pioneering Wi-Fi technology, introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka, operating on Dialog’s advanced 5G network to deliver high-speed internet without the need for physical cables. Purpose-built for modern lifestyles, the service offers a seamless plug-and-play experience through a compact, limited mobility Indoor Device Unit (IDU), enabling effortless setup and immediate connectivity.

With significantly enhanced performance, Dialog Air Fibre delivers ultra-fast Wi-Fi connectivity, offering a substantial improvement over typical 4G experiences. The solution ensures uninterrupted connectivity even during power outages, supported by a built-in battery providing up to six hours of continuous usage. Also engineered to support multiple devices simultaneously without compromising speed, Dialog Air Fibre offers low latency compared to 4G, ensuring smooth streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and remote working experiences.

Additionally, Air Fibre goes beyond traditional connectivity by bringing together high-speed internet, entertainment, and digital lifestyle services into a single solution. Bundled with 104 TV channels via Dialog Play, alongside free content and attractive entertainment subscriptions, it delivers a seamless and enriched experience for the entire household, representing the next evolution of home entertainment in Sri Lanka.

Commenting, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “Dialog Air Fibre represents a meaningful step forward in our mission to democratise access to high-quality connectivity across Sri Lanka. By combining innovation with practicality, we are enabling customers to enjoy reliable, high-speed 5G broadband through a convenient plug-and-play Wi-Fi solution, without traditional constraints. This launch reflects our continued commitment to investing in future-ready technologies and delivering inclusive digital experiences that support the evolving needs of individuals, homes, and businesses.”

To mark the launch, customers can enjoy exclusive benefits when pre-ordering Dialog Air Fibre, including a LKR 2,500 discount on the initial connection fee. Pre-orders can be placed by visiting dialog.lk or any Dialog Experience Centre islandwide.

Through the introduction of Air Fibre, Dialog continues to strengthen its leadership in innovation by redefining Wi-Fi experiences and empowering customers with flexible, high-performance internet solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern households across Sri Lanka.