Business
Creativity matters more than big budgets, says SLIM DIGIS Judge

Organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for Marketing in Sri Lanka, the final call for applications for SLIM DIGIS 2.1 will be drawing to a close on 25th November 2021. The highly anticipated SLIM DIGIS is the only awards ceremony that celebrates Sri Lankan’s best digital marketing endeavours, innovation and talent and recognizes the region’s growing influence on the global digital industry.
Over the years, Digital Marketing has become a key focus for mainstream marketers and as a platform, SLIM DIGIS aims at recognising Digital Marketing professionals by empowering every digital marketer to become a master of their own destinies with a clear-cut focus on key deliverables that need not be backed by big budgets in comparison to mainstream advertising.
According to Imal Fonseka, Jury Chair of SLIM DIGIS 2.1, a stand out entry would always have three key components: The campaign, the case and the presentation. “The campaign must break through the clutter and surprise the jury. The case of your entry must be compelling-in that, its goals, strategy, execution and results have to have a clear ‘linear relationship’. Finally, its presentation; has to be impactful. The applicant must understand that the Jury has gone through many entries, and therefore for the applicant’s presentation to grab the judges’ attention it has to stand out”. He adds that “based on past experiences, Jurors do not wish to see ‘long winded’, ‘non-linear’ submissions with ‘documentary type’ presentations”.
Both SLIM and its jury have volunteered their time to consider a fair, transparent and competent evaluation of the submissions. If applicants require further clarity on entry pre-requisites, they may reach out to SLIM via email at hesara.u@slim.lk or Gangani.l@slim.lkand they will be guided accordingly.
Unlike most other campaign awards, big budgets are not a prerequisite to standing out at the DIGIS. “There are plenty of ways to create cool social media campaigns with small budgets as opposed to conventional media campaigns”. Additionally, while it’s true that paid social is extremely effective, organic social serves as a strong foundation for any social media strategy, especially when there are creative marketers involved”. He concludes “Creativity matters more than big budgets”.
The entry process for SLIM DIGIS 2.1 is unique, as entries must be submitted in a video (mp4) format not more than 05 minutes long. Applicants must submit an entry video along with supporting annexures (data, statistics, reach etc.) in PDF format. In addition to the above, a practice that is common in other award events, but not adopted by SLIM DIGIS is the creation of a ‘shortlist’ of entries for evaluation/judging. All entries are evaluated by the panel of judges, and judging takes place when a primary round of submissions is validated and verified to ensure that all entry prerequisites are fulfilled.
There are general and special categories in SLIM DIGIS 2.1. Whilst the general categories are self-explanatory when applying for the special categories, Imal advises applicants to “read beyond the title and fully understand the descriptor”.
Business
Stealer malware leaked over 2 million bank cards

Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence estimates that 2.3 million bank cards were leaked on the dark web, based on an analysis of data-stealing malware log files from 2023-2024. On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information, with nearly 26 million devices compromised by infostealers, including more than 9 million in 2024 alone. Kaspersky released its report on the infostealer threat landscape while the technology world gathers at MWC 2025 in Barcelona.
Kaspersky experts estimate that approximately 2,300,000 bank cards have been leaked on the dark web. This conclusion is based on an analysis of the log files from data-stealing malware, dated 2023-2024, that were leaked on the dark web market. While globally the share of leaked cards is well below one percent, 95% of the observed numbers appear technically valid.
Infostealer malware is not only designed to extract financial information, but also credentials, cookies and other valuable user data, which is compiled into log files and then distributed within the dark web underground community. An infostealer can infect a device if a victim unknowingly downloads and runs a malicious file, for example one disguised as legitimate software, such as a game cheat. It can be spread through phishing links, compromised websites, malicious attachments in emails or messengers and various other methods. It targets both personal and corporate devices.
On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts found that nearly 26 million devices running Windows were infected with various types of infostealers in the past two years.
“The actual number of infected devices is even higher. Cybercriminals often leak stolen data in the form of log files months or even years after the initial infection, and compromised credentials and other information continue to surface on the dark web over time. Therefore, the more time passes, the more infections from previous years we observe. We forecast the total number of devices infected with infostealer malware in 2024 to be between 20 million and 25 million, while for 2023, the estimate ranges between 18 million and 22 million,” says Sergey Shcherbel, expert at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence.
In 2024, Redline remained the most widespread infostealer, accounting for 34% of the total number of infections.
The most significant surge in 2024 was in infections caused by Risepro, whose share of total infections increased from 1.4% in 2023 to almost 23% in 2024. “RisePro is a growing threat. It was first discovered two years ago but seems to be gaining momentum. The stealer primarily targets banking card details, passwords and cryptocurrency wallet data, and may be spreading under the guise of key generators, cracks for various software and game mods,” explains Sergey Shcherbel. Another rapidly growing stealer is Stealc, which first appeared in 2023 and increased its share from nearly 3% to 13%.
Business
ComBank’s 2023 Annual Report tops Banking sector at ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s prowess in comprehensive disclosure of sustainability-related information to stakeholders has won its 2023 Annual Report two top awards at the 2025 Sustainability Reporting Awards presented by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
The Bank was adjudged the overall runner-up and the winner in the Banking category at these awards, repeating the achievement of its 2022 Annual Report which was similarly honoured by the ACCA last year.
The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards recognise Annual Reports that clearly acknowledge and explain the economic, environmental and social impacts of the business to internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating the organisation’s policies, targets and long-term objectives towards the goal of sustainable development.
Commercial Bank’s 2023 Annual Report also won two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze at CA Sri Lanka’s ‘TAGS’ Awards 2024, excelling in the key aspects recognised by the awards programme which is dedicated to Transparency, Accountability, Governance, and Sustainability – TAGS.
The Bank won the Gold for ‘Corporate Governance Disclosure’ in the Financial Services sector, the Gold for the Best Annual Report among the private sector banks, the Silver for ‘Digitally Transformative Reporting’ across all sectors, and the overall Bronze award for Excellence in Corporate Reporting.
Business
UTE Delivers Sri Lanka’s Largest Cat D8 Tractor to NEM Construction

Caterpillar equipment dealer UTE has delivered the country’s largest Cat D8 Track-Type Tractor to NEM Construction Pvt. Ltd., marking a significant milestone in heavy machinery. This delivery strengthens the long-standing partnership between UTE and NEM Construction, which spans over 45 years. The Cat D8 is expected to boost operational efficiency in large-scale projects. As the sole authorized dealer for Caterpillar in Sri Lanka, UTE continues to provide top-tier machinery and after-sales support. The handover is particularly notable as Caterpillar celebrates its 100th anniversary. NEM Construction’s Chairman, Raja Nanayakkara, praised the Cat D8’s superior performance and UTE’s unmatched service and parts support, which have been key to the company’s long-term collaboration. This purchase highlights the continued trust in both Caterpillar and UTE’s expertise in supporting Sri Lanka’s construction industry.
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