Business
Spectra named Best Container Depot for Import and Export at ICS Awards 2020
The country’s premier logistics company, Spectra Integrated Logistics, a joint venture between Hemas Transportation and GAC Sri Lanka, was named ‘Best Container Depot’ for both Import and Export sectors at the 27th Annual ICS Awards ceremony 2020 held recently.
This win rides on the company being recognized as Best Container Depot- Import and nominated in the Export sector in ICS Awards 2019.
The awards ceremony conducted by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS- UK) Sri Lanka recognizes top performing logistics providers in the country based on an independent survey conducted among numerous importers and exporters on the services they received for the year 2020.
As a one stop shop logistics solutions provider of warehousing, transportation, customs brokerage and container depot services, Spectra’s consistent performance in providing the best integrated logistics services to its customers has helped the company bag the Best Container Depot- Import award for the second consecutive year.
The event was held on March 26 at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo with Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena as chief guest and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) General (Retd) Daya Ratnayake as guests of honor. Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri delivering the keynote speech.
Commenting on the awards, General Manager – Inland Container Terminal at Spectra Integrated Logistics, Rohitha Jayatilake said, “We thank all our customers for their tremendous encouragement and support to keep us moving forward amidst various challenges we faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our success was made possible by the trust that our customers have placed in us and the dedication of our highly motivated and passionate team of supply chain experts. We are confident that the company will continue to grow from strength to strength with the continued support of our customers and our staff.”
Spectra’s extensive knowledge and expertise in providing some of the best integrated logistics solutions spans diverse industry sectors. The company has a fifteen-acre state-of-the-art container yard in the Muthurajawela Industrial Zone with a warehousing and distribution facility famed for being one of the largest of its kind in the country.
The company is embarking on a digital transformation journey to fully optimize its operations to cater to the evolving needs of its customers and the industry, by providing an innovative, seamless, and real-time service experience while focusing on societal and environmental values.
Spectra aims to be a gamechanger in the industry with the vision of being the leading innovative, integrated supply chain and logistics solutions partner, and fostering a culture that embraces innovation and inclusion which surpasses all other service providers in Sri Lanka.
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.
-
News6 days agoNamal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
-
Latest News5 days agoTharanga creates history with Diamond League crown in Brussels
-
News5 days agoDispute which triggered listed company director being detained at BIA resolved
-
Features4 days agoAfter the parade: What a traffic OIC’s walk-out tells us
-
Opinion7 days agoIn Memory of Dr Upatissa Pethiyagoda
-
Editorial6 days agoPower vs Equality
-
Editorial4 days agoArrests as theatre
-
Latest News6 days agoSLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by CIABOC
