Business
IDL emerges champion at CIPM Great HR Quiz 2026 on debut appearance
International Distillers Limited (IDL), one of Sri Lanka’s foremost spirits manufacturers with a distinguished legacy spanning over four decades, achieved a major milestone by winning the CIPM Great HR Quiz 2026 in their debut appearance at the competition, defeating 74 other teams of experienced HR professionals from across all industries. In addition to being the overall winners, International Distillers Limited clamed the winner in the Food, Beverage and Distillery category.
Founded in 1980 as Gilbey’s Lanka Limited, a subsidiary of the legendary Gilbey’s of London, IDL built its foundation on world-class distilling expertise and rigorous quality standards. Following its acquisition by East India Holdings (Pvt) Ltd in 2004, the company underwent strategic evolution, rebranding first as ID Lanka Limited before assuming its current identity as International Distillers Limited in 2014. Today, IDL holds the distinction of being Sri Lanka’s largest locally manufactured foreign liquor producer, crafting a diverse range of premium spirits including arrack, whisky, brandy, rum, gin, and vodka from state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities backed by multiple ISO certifications.
Organized by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka, the Great HR Quiz was first introduced in 2014 and has since become the country’s only national-level quiz dedicated entirely to human resource management. The 2026 edition marked a key turning point for the competition, with a refreshed format that made it more challenging than ever before. This year’s quiz moved away from simple knowledge-based questions and focused strongly on real-life HR situations, testing participants on decision-making, problem-solving, and strategic thinking across the entire employee life cycle.
Despite being their first time participating, International Distillers Ltd. delivered an outstanding performance. Competing against experienced teams from well-established organizations, the IDL team showed exceptional confidence, clarity, and strong teamwork, ultimately emerging as overall champions against formidable competition. The winning team consisted of Hansanie Illangakoon, Chaminda de Seram, Prasad Gunathilaka, and Ashan Maraweerahewa. Their success was driven by meticulous preparation, clear thinking under pressure, and seamless collaboration, reflecting IDL’s emphasis on continuous learning, teamwork, and practical application of HR knowledge in real-world business scenarios.
International Distillers Ltd. CEO Janek Jayasekara expressed his pride in the team’s achievement: “Winning the CIPM Great HR Quiz on our first attempt is a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about the quality and capability of our people. This victory is not just about our HR team; it reflects our organization’s culture of excellence, strategic thinking, and commitment to developing our most valuable asset: our people. Our success in this competition validates our investment in building a world-class HR function that drives business performance and creates sustainable competitive advantage.”
IDL Chief Human Resources Officer Rohitha Amarapala added: “This victory is a testament to the caliber of our HR team and their commitment to excellence. Winning the CIPM Great HR Quiz in our first attempt demonstrates the strong foundation we have built in people management practices at IDL. Our team’s ability to apply strategic HR thinking to complex real-world scenarios showcases the depth of expertise we have developed. I am proud of Hansanie, Chaminda, Prasad, and Ashan for their exceptional performance and for representing IDL with such distinction.”
The championship win reinforces International Distillers Ltd.’s position as an organization that invests strategically in developing its people and building high-performing teams. With award-winning premium arrack brands earning international recognition and a growing export presence across Europe, Australia, Japan, and North America, IDL continues to position itself as a uniquely Sri Lankan success story. This latest accolade further cements the company’s standing as an organization where proud local heritage is elevated by global best practices, continuous innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, not only in manufacturing world-class spirits but also in building world-class teams that drive organizational success in Sri Lanka’s competitive business landscape.
Business
Janashakthi Life delivers 36% revenue growth, ‘outperforming the industry’
Janashakthi Life, the flagship company of JXG (Janashakthi Group), delivered a strong first-half performance in 2026, with Gross Written Premiums (GWP) increasing by 36% year-on-year to Rs. 5.11 billion. The Company’s growth significantly outpaced the industry’s 20.8% growth during the period, reflecting continued demand for its life insurance solutions and progress in expanding its customer base and strengthening its market presence.
The Company’s balance sheet also continued to expand, with total assets increasing to Rs. 41.14 billion as at Q2 2026, compared to Rs. 40.37 billion at the end of 2025. The growth reflects the continued scale of the business and provides a stronger platform to serve an expanding policyholder base while investing in the capabilities required to support its next phase of growth.
During the first half, Janashakthi Life paid Rs. 2.24 billion in claims and benefits, reaffirming its commitment to supporting policyholders when it matters most. These payments provide essential financial support at critical moments in the lives of individuals and families, highlighting the vital role of life insurance in protecting their financial wellbeing and long-term security.
The Company remained profitable during the period, recording Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 271 million, excluding the surplus transfer for the period. With the declaration of the surplus transfer, profitability is expected to be substantially higher. Janashakthi Life remains focused on strengthening earnings quality, managing costs effectively, and translating business growth into sustained improvements in overall performance.
Annika Senanayake, Chairperson of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The performance in the first half reflects the strength of Janashakthi Life’s business and the opportunities that exist to further develop the life insurance market in Sri Lanka. We remain focused on building a business that combines sustainable growth with sound fundamentals, while making insurance more accessible to a wider segment of the population. As part of JXG, Janashakthi Life is well positioned to leverage the Group’s financial services ecosystem and continue strengthening its position in the market.”
Ravi Liyanage, Director/CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The first half delivered strong growth across key areas of the business, with GWP increasing 36% to Rs. 5.11 billion. In all key segments, namely regular business, group life business and single premium business, the Company has outperformed the industry significantly, demonstrating its market challenger behaviour. The Company is strengthening its stability, crossing LKR 41 billion in assets under management. Our focus now is on building on this momentum through stronger distribution, improved productivity and disciplined cost management, while continuing to enhance the customer experience by providing an unmatched service throughout the lifespan of the service contract.”
The first-half performance provides a strong platform for Janashakthi Life to build on its growth plans for the remainder of the year. The Company will continue to focus on expanding access to life insurance, strengthening customer relationships and developing solutions that respond to changing financial priorities.
With GWP growth significantly ahead of the industry, a growing asset base and increased claims and benefits delivered to policyholders, Janashakthi Life continues to build scale across its core operations. The Company remains focused on disciplined growth, stronger execution and improving the quality of its performance, with the objective of creating sustainable value for policyholders, shareholders and the wider business.
Further reinforcing its strong market standing, Janashakthi Life was recognised among Sri Lanka’s 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2026 by Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka and was also named among Brand Finance’s Sri Lanka 100 Most Valuable Brands. These recognitions reflect the Company’s continued focus on building a strong brand, delivering value to customers and creating a high-performing organisation. (JXG)
Business
Hunas Holdings and CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership
Major Japanese business group sees long-term potential in Hunas Holdings as the two organisations explore new opportunities for growth in Sri Lanka
Hunas Holdings PLC is entering a new phase of growth through a collaborative partnership with CCH Co., Ltd. (CCH INC.), a major Tokyo-based business group with experience across business process outsourcing (BPO), in-house services, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.
The partnership follows a period in which Hunas Holdings maintained a measured approach to new investments amid volatile market conditions, focusing on identifying the right opportunities and international relationships capable of creating sustainable long-term value.
Founded in Japan in 2008, CCH has grown into a significant and diversified business group with interests across multiple industries. Its approach combines investment with M&A, business development and operational expertise, enabling the company to play an active role in the businesses and markets it enters.
For CCH, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring this experience to Sri Lanka through Hunas Holdings, an established local group with a strong platform and long-term growth ambitions.
Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director of CCH Co., Ltd., said: “Through our discussions with Hunas Holdings, we see a company with strong foundations, local expertise and a clear ambition for growth. We believe there is meaningful potential in bringing the strengths of CCH and Hunas Holdings together. I am excited about this partnership, and particularly about some of the projects and opportunities we are already exploring together. There is much to look forward to soon”
For Hunas Holdings, the collaboration marks a renewed chapter of investment and international partnership, while for CCH, it reflects confidence in Hunas Holdings and the opportunities presented by the Sri Lankan market.
Business
Prime Minister to headline Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit session
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will deliver the keynote address at a special session on day 2 of the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, on 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.
The session will examine how Sri Lanka can use artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity and build a knowledge-driven economy. As technology reshapes industries and the nature of work, the discussion will focus on how Sri Lanka can develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive and create opportunities for future generations.
The Prime Minister will be joined by Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy; Prof. Roshan Ragel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya; and Sanjay Shah, Founder and CEO, Elevante AI, who together will add perspectives from government, academia, and industry. Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman of Hirdaramani Group and Deputy Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will moderate the session.
The discussion will look at the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, and their potential to transform industries and create new areas of economic activity. It will also consider the role of digitalisation in improving public services and supporting entrepreneurship.
Education and skills development will be another important part of the conversation, particularly as the demand for new capabilities grows alongside technological change. The panel will consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its workforce for future jobs while developing an environment that supports innovation and technology-led businesses.
The session will also look beyond technology itself to the wider conditions needed for a digital economy to grow. Policy, investment, infrastructure, education and collaboration between government, industry and academia will all have a role in determining how effectively Sri Lanka can turn technological change into economic opportunity.
Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will offer perspectives from senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts over two days of discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic direction, investment opportunities and the reforms needed to support future growth.
Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).
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