Business
Perera and Sons donates reverse osmosis plant to Trincomalee District Base Hospital
Perera and Sons donated a reverse osmosis (RO) plant to the Dialysis Unit of the Trincomalee District Base Hospital. The reverse osmosis plant enables increased access to clean, safe drinking water, thereby reducing the incidence and spread of water borne diseases, and greatly minimizing exposure to chemical pollutants that may plague the local groundwater sources. This unit was manufactured by the expert engineers of the Sri Lanka Navy.
Established in 1940, the District Base Hospital Trincomalee currently encompasses a total of 97 doctors, 608 nurses and attendants, and 523 hospital beds including a specialized Dialysis Unit, affording care to individuals each day. The Dialysis Unit has 7 beds and treats 14 patients a day. The 5 committed doctors, headed by Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Lakshman Weerasinghe stated that it was a dream come true in his career of 3 years at the Trincomalee Hospital to receive treated water to this unit. The RO plant enables higher efficiency water treatment and will allow the hospital to generate a steady supply of uncontaminated water for both general and medical use, beneficial towards securing the health and safety of all patients and visitors. Perera and Sons stepped up to support the initial request for assistance from the Sri Lanka Navy and Dr Jagath Wickramaratne – Director of the District General Hospital. The donation showcases their long-term commitment to achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 3 – Good Health and Well-being, and 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, respectively.
Reverse Osmosis is a widely-used water treatment process which removes contamination by passing pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane isolates pollutants and allows pure water molecules to pass through, while trapping and separating the contaminated molecules. The RO process filters out all possible contaminants, thus leaving behind clean drinking water for use. The RO plant will thereby ensure communal access to clean, consumable drinking water.
Commenting on this, Kamal Jaimon – Executive Director of Perera and Sons stated, “As a responsible, widely loved household brand, it is our priority to ensure the wellbeing of our local communities. Clean water has posed a major threat to mankind across the globe and sadly we as a nation, experience its devastating effects as well. Having access to clean water is one of the most important and basic human rights, and we are happy to play a part in ensuring this access by donating the RO plant.”
Ruvini Kariyawasam – Director Corporate Affairs of Perera and Sons commented, “This showcases our commitment and determination to give back to our society, helping the community progress towards a safer and more sustainable future while securing it for generations to come. We also hope this sheds light on the important role that clean water plays in our day-to-day lives, and endorse the responsible use of water.”
Gihan Perera, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer – Perera and Sons stated, “Our CSR brand “Manumehewera” is a humanitarian venture which continues to be strengthened by care for those who truly need it. It is a journey embarked to fulfill a destiny that belongs to every human being – to truly live for one another. We will not be stopping here; we have more plans lined up to give back to the society.”
Perera and Sons, Sri Lanka’s leader in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry, featured in the Top 100 Most Loved Brands for 2020 by LMD, embarked on its journey to serve Sri Lanka with the best possible meals over a century ago. Founded on traditions and values, the Company continues to create a sustainable future by integrating social responsibility and investing into the wellbeing of communities across our island nation.
Business
SIA warns of 1,000 SME collapses, urges fair policies to protect Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The Solar Industries Association (SIA), representing over 1,000 companies and employing 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector, issued a stern warning recently regarding threats to the industry’s survival and the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. The association condemned recent regulatory instability and called for urgent policy reforms to avert economic and social crises.
The SIA categorically rejected the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) claim that rooftop solar installations caused the recent island-wide power outage, calling the accusation “baseless and misleading.”
“Public trust is eroded when accountability is misdirected,” the SIA stated. “We demand an independent, transparent investigation led by experts appointed by the Ministry or the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL). The CEB’s unilateral statements disregard the sector’s contributions and jeopardize Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition,” they said.
“While acknowledging the formation of a tariff determination committee, the SIA criticized its narrow focus on financial parameters, ignoring the sector’s socioeconomic value. Rooftop solar empowers businesses and households with energy independence, reduces grid strain, and supports climate goals. However, proposed volatile tariff structures risk destabilizing over 100,000 installations—primarily owned by middle-class families—and deter future investment,” they noted.
“A rigid, equation-based tariff system is unsustainable,” the association warned. “Sri Lanka needs a stable policy framework to attract long-term investments. For instance, retirees could invest EPF savings into solar projects, securing income while advancing national energy targets. Without urgent action, 1,000 SMEs and 40,000 jobs face collapse, with dire consequences for employment, energy security, and economic stability,” they pointed out.
SIA urged policymakers to establish an independent committee to investigate the power outage fairly, expand the tariff committee’s mandate to include socioeconomic and environmental benefits and implement predictable policies to safeguard SMEs, households, and investor confidence.
“Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads,” the SIA emphasized. “Protecting rooftop solar isn’t just about energy—it’s about livelihoods, economic resilience, and a sustainable future. We urge stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize both people and progress,: they emphasized.
Starting its promotional work for 2025, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) added another feather into its cap of endorsements, by being recognized as the most innovative Tourism Board promotion in Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) . In parallel to that, several other sub events were held. The OTM was held in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—India, from 30th January to 01st February 2025.Before OTM, the Global Village – Global Exchange & Trade Exhibition was held at the Surat International Exhibition & Convention Centre , Sarsana, Surat (Gujarat – India , from 25th to 27th January 2025. This travel fair was organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
Sri Lanka participated in both OTM and South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), held from 19th – 21st Feb 2025, in New Delhi, India . This was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to promote it’s potential as a unique travel destination, especially for the Indian counterparts, as SLTPB has identified India as the number one source market for Sri Lanka, tourism bringing the largest number of tourist arrivals to the destination.
SLT-MOBITEL has entered into a strategic partnership with Rush Lanka Group to provide exclusive SLT-MOBITEL Fibre connectivity solutions to their portfolio of luxury apartment developments in Colombo and the suburbs, enhancing the digital experience of all residents.
The agreement was signed between Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer of Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Group headquarters. Representatives from both companies also attended the ceremony.
Under the partnership, SLT-MOBITEL will serve as the exclusive digital service provider for five prestigious Rush Lanka developments including Street Rush Residencies and Rush Court 4 in Mt. Lavinia, Rush Tower 2, Rush Metropolis in Dehiwala, and Rush Court 5 in Colombo 14. The collaboration ensures residents will enjoy superior fibre connectivity speeds, enabling seamless digital experiences in modern smart homes. The partnership with the Rush Lanka Group aligns with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to offer ultra-fast, reliable connectivity solutions to residential developments. Delivering exclusive fibre connectivity to luxury apartments, SLT-MOBITEL ensures residents have access to world-class digital services that complement the living experience promised by Rush Lanka Group.
Powered by advanced fibre technology, SLT-MOBITEL network will provide the residences with seamless performance across digital activities. The SLT-MOBITEL Fibre backbone ensures lag-free experiences whether tenants are gaming online, attending virtual classes, working remotely, or streaming high-definition entertainment. SLT-MOBITEL Fibre will transform the lifestyles of all apartment users bringing greater convenience and superior quality of life.
Rush Lanka Group, established in 1992, is a property developer specializing in luxury and semi-luxury apartments.
Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
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