Business

Nippon Paint announces winners for Asia Young Designer Awards 2020/21 International Finale

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/23

The latest instalment of Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) International Finale organized by Nippon Paint came to a successful conclusion following the announcement of Dayana Aripin and Evva Lim Fee Yah, both from Malaysia, as Asia Young Designers of the Year 2020/2021. The winners were announced across 23 finalists from 13 participating locations including Ironi Padmaperuma & Dilik Abeyakoon from Sri Lanka. The budding designers, whose empathetic instincts to envision spaces that are both innovative and sustainable grabbed the attention of the judges in the international competition this year.

“Congratulations are in order for local winners at AYDA 2021. Nippon Paint is humbled to be part of such an iconic event that serves to platform and recognize exceptional talent in disciplines of architecture & design. This year’s event was carried out entirely virtually given the prevailing circumstances. Nippon Paint has been and will continue to be a brand that is committed to empowering emerging talent in design & architecture locally as well as globally” said Nemantha Abeysinghe, General Manager, Nippon Paint Sri Lanka.

Held virtually, this year the international design competition revolved around the theme of Forward: Human-Centred Design, setting the stage for aspiring designers to create spaces that are socially conscious while being innovative and sustainable. This train of thought is a much-needed aspect to designing, especially in growing economies like Asia that sees a steady population growth. However, this growth is also tied back to rapid innovation and technological advancements in the region giving architects and designers an opportunity to design visionary cities with spaces that reflect the local culture and serve the many needs of its people as we move toward smart and sustainable infrastructures. This theme of Human-Centred Design was prominently displayed in the work of the finalists who represented their countries at the global design platform.

In the Architectural category, the Sustainable co-living community hub presented by Ironi Padmaperuma won the Nippon Paint Colour Award. A student of the City School of Architecture, Padmaperuma proposed a design to empower the tea sector of Sri Lanka by introducing a secondary industry – tourism – in order to create a ‘mixed income community’ to diversify income & empower locals.

Meanwhile Dilik Abeyakoon also from the City School of Architecture bagged the Nippon Paint Colour Award in the Interior Design Category for his journey through a zero waste to energy plant project. The waste to energy plant serves as a sustainable solution to Colombo’s municipal solid waste management system. It is a renewable energy method which converts post recycled waste into electricity.

Commenting on his achievement, Abeyakoon noted: “We are grateful to AYDA & Nippon Paint for providing local talent a global platform. AYDA is a brilliant opportunity to align our standards and thinking with international counterparts. Sri Lankans have performed exceptionally in the past years and we are truly glad to have been able to continue to winning streak this year as well notwithstanding the pandemic.”

Adding a unique experience to the AYDA journey, this year the international design competition organised by Nippon Paint took special care to include several digital interactions and virtual coaching sessions to ensure that all the participants were able to interact with recognised industry mentors and coaches. The event proceedings even included online workshops for participants to sharpen their creative storytelling skills before the virtual awards ceremony that was held live and garnered over 700 views during the event. The full recorded award ceremony, could be viewed on AYDA’s YouTube channel at:https://youtu.be/uyVuF6Q0Eng.

“The past year has shown the importance of innovation, sustainability and empathy as we continue to brave the global pandemic. This edition of AYDA therefore holds a great significance in our journey forward and I am proud to have come across great entries that were visually stunning and focused on creating innovative space and design solutions with a human touch.” said Mr. Wee Siew Kim, Group CEO of NIPSEA Group.

Keeping the flame of creativity going, AYDA by Nippon Paint has begun the journey toward its 14th edition, bringing together young designers, mentors and industry professionals under one roof. Themed Amplifying Empathy through Design, AYDA 2021/22 is open for entry submissions and will push the boundaries of ingenuity even further. Information on the 2020/21 edition of AYDA could be obtained from asiayoungdesignerawards.com.

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Business

ADB approves $100 million loan to boost skills development and jobs for youth in Sri Lanka

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million results-based loan to help Sri Lanka transform its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, equip more young people with industry-relevant skills, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The Skills Development System Transformation Program will support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts in improving the quality and relevance of skills training, strengthening links between training providers and industries, and expanding employment opportunities for youth. The program will increase women’s employment opportunities in nontraditional jobs in fields including automotive technology, engineering, information and communications technology, construction, and renewable energy.

“A skilled workforce is essential to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic transformation and competitiveness,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin. “This program will help create stronger pathways from education to employment by making training more responsive to industry needs, expanding opportunities for young people and women, and ensuring that graduates have the skills required by a modern and evolving economy.”

Though Sri Lanka’s economy is recovering, it faces skills shortages in priority sectors, high youth unemployment, and low female labor force participation. Many employers report difficulty finding workers with the skills needed in a changing economy.

Aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sector Strategic Framework 2026–2035, the nationwide program will be implemented from 2027 to 2031 and is expected to directly benefit more than 100,000 young people through improved access to quality, employment-oriented training.

Business

USD 40.84m pipeline to secure aviation fuel supplies to BIA

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Ifham Nizam

The government has cleared a USD 40.84 million and Rs. 8,548.75 million contract to build a dedicated aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), alongside a massive new fuel storage facility with a capacity of 92,000 cubic metres.

Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said the project represented a major investment in strengthening the infrastructure underpinning Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel supply and ensuring more reliable fuel availability at the country’s main international airport.

‘This project will provide the infrastructure required to strengthen the reliability and continuity of aviation fuel supplies to Bandaranaike International Airport, Karunatilaka said.

The contract has been awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited, following an international competitive procurement process in which three bids were received.

The project will see a new aviation fuel storage tank complex constructed at Muthurajawela, together with the associated infrastructure required for handling and transferring aviation fuel.

Business

CSE activity up, turnover weak at Rs. 1.4 billion

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Trading activity on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) gathered pace yesterday as global fuel prices began to show signs of easing, according to market analysts.In this context, both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index up by 67.97 points while S and P SL20 up by 8.30 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.4 billion with seven crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank 1.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 238 million and its share price traded at Rs 140, Access Engineering two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 159 million and its share price traded at Rs 79.50, LOLC one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 129 million and its share price traded at Rs 129, HNB 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 38.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 384, JKH 1.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 35 million and its share price traded at Rs 18.60, Hayleys 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22.50 million and its share price traded at Rs 225 and Richard Pieris 847,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22 million and its share price traded at Rs 25.50.

In the retail market top seven companies that have mainly contributed to the turnover were Sampath Bank Rs 114 million (813,000 shares traded), JKH Rs 100 million (5.3 million shares traded) LB Finance Rs 49 million (325,000 shares traded), HNB Finance Rs 30 million (27 million shares traded), HNB Rs 27 million (70000 shares traded), NTB Rs 25 million (82000 shares traded ) and Lanka IOC Rs 21 million (666,000 shares traded). During the day 65 million shares volumes changed hands in 10433 transactions.

The Banking and manufacturing sector counters performed well. In the banking sector Sampath Bank let the market while manufacturing sector especially JKH also significantly performed well. With the fuel revision Land IOC also a significant stock at the floor.

Meanwhile, First Capital Treasuries said that Ramesh Schaffter resigned as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from October 1, to facilitate the restructuring of the company’s board.

Yesterday the Central Bank announced the US Dollar rate as against rupee. The rupee was quoted flat at Rs 330.65/80 to the US dollar in the spot market , while bond yields dropped, dealers said.