Business
Building a Shared Future: IDL Together with East India Holdings Commits to Northern Economic Revival
The East India Holdings, parent company of International Distillers Limited, announced its partnership with The Management Club to support the Northern Economic Summit 2026, scheduled for January in Jaffna.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Cinnamon Grand on October 29, Janek Jayasekara, Chief Executive Officer of International Distillers Limited, outlined the conglomerate’s vision for the North, emphasizing that the initiative transcends conventional corporate sponsorship to reflect a deeper commitment to balanced national progress.
The company’s engagement with the Northern Province carries particular significance given the personal connections of its leadership. Chairman and Managing Director Ravimohan Tissanayagam hails from the historic Tissanayagam-Barr Kumarakulasinghe family, whose roots trace back to Jaffna. This heritage, combined with his conviction that national prosperity must be built on equitable regional development, underpins the Group’s involvement in the initiative.
The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust, established by Tissanayagam in memory of his late wife, carries forward a distinguished lineage. Rukmini Tissanayagam was a great-granddaughter of both Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, two towering figures in Sri Lankan history renowned for their intellectual contributions and public service. Today, the Trust continues this legacy through programs promoting education, empowerment, and community development across Sri Lanka.
Jayasekara characterized the Northern Province as standing at an exciting juncture, a region defined by resilience and renewal, rich in heritage, talent, and untapped potential. With a robust educational foundation, dynamic youth population, and significant infrastructure improvements including the KKS Port, Palaly Airport, and Yarl IT Hub, the region is positioned to emerge as a hub for trade, technology, and enterprise.
East India Holdings has identified substantial opportunities for public-private partnerships that could generate employment, empower young people, and support local entrepreneurs, particularly women-led businesses and small and medium enterprises. The company stressed the importance of pursuing development while safeguarding the region’s cultural identity and environmental resources, ensuring growth remains both inclusive and sustainable.
Jayasekara framed the Northern Economic Summit as more than a business event, describing it as “a call to action” to unite vision with responsibility and connect local capabilities with global markets. Critically, the address emphasized that development in the North should not be viewed as a regional concern but as a national imperative.
“The private sector has a vital role to play in shaping Sri Lanka’s future, not only through investment and innovation but also through empathy and meaningful engagement with the communities that sustain us,” Jayasekara stated, articulating a philosophy that places social responsibility alongside commercial objectives.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
In a major boost to bilateral economic ties, the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) and the Indo–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in real estate, infrastructure, and urban development.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for both institutions to drive collaborative initiatives, including business delegations, high-level conferences, workshops, B2B matchmaking sessions, and technical site visits. Designed to bridge businesses, government institutions, and project stakeholders across the Palk Strait, the partnership aims to unlock new avenues for cross-border joint ventures and technology transfers.
A focal point of this newly minted partnership is the facilitation of an upcoming trade delegation from the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) of India. Comprising major Indian players in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, the visiting delegation will engage in targeted business meetings, workshops, and inspection tours of prominent construction projects in Sri Lanka.
Under the terms of the MoU, CCISL will serve as the principal host coordinator in Sri Lanka. In close consultation with ISCCI, the apex construction body will curate itineraries, identify viable projects for engagement, and facilitate high-level dialogues with key government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry leaders.
With both nations prioritizing sustainable urban growth, modern construction technologies, and infrastructure expansion, industry leaders view the partnership as a timely catalyst for economic rejuvenation. The collaboration is anticipated to accelerate market access, knowledge exchange, and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s burgeoning property and development sectors.
To ensure the success of the upcoming NAREDCO delegation, CCISL has issued an urgent appeal to statutory authorities and relevant project owners to come forward with viable investment proposals. Stakeholders holding projects seeking foreign investment or technical partnerships are invited to submit comprehensive details to the Secretary General and CEO of CCISL via email at secyces@gmail.com.
Both chambers emphasize that translating this foundational agreement into tangible partnerships and robust capital flows will significantly strengthen bilateral connectivity between the construction and real estate sectors of India and Sri Lanka.
Hettich, the globally renowned German manufacturer of furniture fittings and architectural hardware known for its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and magical interior solutions across the world celebrated a significant milestone in Sri Lanka, marking 10 years of presence in the country with its inaugural Partner Meet in Colombo.
The landmark event brought together Hettich’s key partners, stakeholders and industry leaders to celebrate a decade of growth, collaboration and shared success, while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Sri Lankan market.
Over the past decade, Hettich has strengthened its presence in Sri Lanka through its focus on German engineering, innovation, quality and functionality, contributing to the creation of contemporary and intelligently designed living and working spaces across the country.
The gala evening was graced by a distinguished delegation of senior leaders, including Dr. Andreas Hettich, Chairman, Hettich Group Advisory Board; S. K. Poddar, Chairman, Hettich India & Adventz Group; Mr. Akshay Poddar, Director, Hettich India; Andre Eckholt, Managing Director, Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa; Rahul Thakkar, Director – Sales, Hettich India & SAARC; and Dinusha Bhaskaran, Managing Director, Vallibel One PLC.
GS Evo Motors Limited, the authorized distributor of JMEV electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, has officially launched the JMEV EWIND, a next-generation compact electric SUV. The vehicle is designed to offer strong performance, intelligent technology, premium comfort, and high safety standards, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s growing electric mobility sector.
The EWIND features a sleek, aerodynamic exterior with penetrating LED daytime running lights, trapezoidal chain-inspired LED tail lamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a bold silhouette. Inside, it offers a spacious cabin with a panoramic moonroof and retractable curtain, an ultra-thin suspended instrument panel, a D-shaped multifunction steering wheel, multi-colour ambient lighting, premium finishes, and electrically adjustable front seats.
The SUV is available in single-motor front-wheel drive configurations, producing up to 108 kW and 210 Nm, with 0–100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds.
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