Business
Arpico Insurance appoints industry veteran Kelum Senanayake as CEO – Makes history as the first Chief Executive in the Sri Lankan Insurance industry to be an MDRT achiever
One of Sri Lanka’s most innovative and respected insurance companies, Arpico Insurance PLC, has appointed industry veteran Mr. Kelum Senanayake as their Chief Executive Officer from 1st March 2021. Senanayaka brings to the table a wealth of experience & exposure spanning almost forty years, from both local as well as international Insurance industries.
Mr. Senanayake started his career in 1982 at Mercantile Credit, which was the principal agent for the National Insurance Corporation prior to privatization. Thereafter he joined Union Assurance and rose to the rank of Assistant General Manager where he served until 2009, after which he joined Eagle Insurance as General Manager – Life Operations. In 2013 he was promoted to Director – Operations, where he was put in charge of an extensive repertoire of functions & responsibilities including Operations, Life Underwriting, Life Servicing, Claims, Product Development, Re-Insurance, Branch Operations, Corporate Solutions Distribution, Contact Centers and Logistics.
A product of Ananda College Colombo, Mr. Senanayake holds a Diploma in Business Management from Worldview Institute & a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Sydney, Australia. He makes history becoming the first and only CEO in the Sri Lankan Insurance industry to hold the coveted Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) statusearned in an impressive 133 days.
Commenting on the new posting, Group Chairman of Richard Peiris & Company PLC Dr. Sena Yaddehige added, “I am delighted to have Kelum coming on board as the CEO of Arpico Insurance. With a distinguished career spanning over several decades and his proven track record of ethics, excellence and innovation in the industry, I am confident that he will take the Company to the next level while remaining committed to our core values of trust and stability”.
In addition to being a management professional, Mr. Senanayaka is a respected trainer who has trained over 5,000 Insurance professionals in his career and received training in the UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia & South Africa. Commenting on his new endeavor, Mr. Senanayaka said: “I consider it an honor to be part of the Arpico Group which has an impeccable reputation for being one of the foremost home-grown businesses. With my experience & expertise gained through the years, I hope to leverage the Group’s equity & strength to benefit the Company and to take it to a new elevation of excellence. I also plan to address the concerns and facilitate the goals of all stakeholders at large by adopting a customer-centric approach and also by empowering and looking after our most important asset – our people.”
Arpico Insurance PLC was incorporated in 2011 and is a regulated Insurance Company under the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. The renowned insurance provider presently offers a range of products such as Endowment, Health Insurance, Term Assurance, Education, Investment, Retirement, Group Assurance and Loan Protection amongst others and takes pride in being the only Life Insurance company that remains committed in providing Insurance for the living.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.
The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.
In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.
Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.
For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.
Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.
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