Business

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka opens in a newly designed public venue

Published

5 years ago

2021/12/2

Sri Lanka’s first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art will be shifting its location to Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 03

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka moves location to be more accessible to the general public

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka), the country’s first public museum committed to the display, research, collection and conservation of modern and contemporary art moved to Crescat Boulevard in November 2021. The move to its new location meets its objective of being more accessible to the general public, schools and tourists. The MMCA Sri Lanka was launched in 2019 as a not-for-profit organisation and receives local and international funding. Its first exhibition attracted over 3500 visitors. In addition to hosting 37 school and university groups from across the country. The museum hosted 165 free public events, 11 kids workshops, and 12 trilingual talks by artists, educators and curators during the course of the exhibition.

Speaking of the location change, Ajit Gunewardene, Chair of the MMCA Sri Lanka Committee said, “the MMCA Sri Lanka’s decision to move to Crescat Boulevard was a strategic one. As a museum in the making, it adds huge value to Colombo’s development post-pandemic. Crescat provides an easily accessible, non-intimidating setting that is a good fit for MMCA Sri Lanka.”

Nayana Mawilmada, Sector Head of the Property Group of John Keells Holdings speaking about the partnership said, “we are delighted to host MMCA Sri Lanka at the newly revamped Crescat Mall. With its central and easily accessible location, Crescat will offer MMCA Sri Lanka an opportunity to showcase the country’s contemporary art to a wide audience. It brings an essential cultural attraction to enhance Colombo’s tourism offering and we believe that visitors to the mall will enjoy using the multifactorial activities now offered. With its thought-provoking exhibits and programming for children and adults, we are happy to partner with the museum in showcasing the rich history and social discourses of our society.”

Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka, said, “MMCA Sri Lanka is not the first museum to be located in a shopping mall––there is a history of art spaces being located inside retail environments, especially across Asia, in countries like Japan, India and China. Our new location provides us with countless opportunities to reach audiences who would not otherwise venture into museums of modern and contemporary art. We encourage people to follow us over social media because we have plenty of events that can’t be missed lined up over the next six months. Our goal is to once again create a unique, museum-quality experience that not only raises awareness about the country’s modern and contemporary art but also raises the profile of the city of Colombo itself.”

Crescat Boulevard is located at the heart of Colombo 03, with easy access points from Galle Road and Sri Uttarananda Mawatha. MMCA Sri Lanka is due to open its second exhibition in February 2022, in a 3,800sq. ft space on the second floor of Crescat Boulevard.

MMCA Sri Lanka is founded upon the values of learning and discovery and is committed to artists past and present, living and working across the country and internationally. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka.

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Business

Ceylinco Life agent among three global finalists for award

Published

21 hours ago

2026/09/27

Thilina Walpola

Ceylinco Life’s Ambalantota branch agent AIP Manjula

Ceylinco Life’s Ambalantota branch agent AIP Manjula has been named one of three global finalists for the prestigious Insurance Agent of the Year award at the 11th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards (ATLAA) 2026.

The recognition places a Sri Lankan insurance professional among the finalists in a regional field spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Ceylinco Life said the achievement reflected the calibre and customer-focused approach of its agency force, while recognising Manjula’s professionalism and commitment to policyholders.

The award evaluates insurance agents on criteria extending beyond sales performance, including ethical conduct, client service, policy persistency, digital adoption, innovative practices and contributions to the insurance industry and community.

The awards are organised by Asia Advisers Network and Asia Insurance Review, with LIMRA as co-organiser. An independent judging and balloting process is monitored by KPMG as the official scrutineer. The judging panel comprises senior insurance executives, association presidents and industry experts from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Business

CEAT Kelani retains AA+ rating for sixth year

Published

21 hours ago

2026/09/27

Thilina Walpola

CEAT Kelani Holdings (CKH) has retained its National Long-Term Rating of ‘AA+(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting the company’s financial resilience and leading position in Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre market.

The ‘AA+(lka)’ rating, the second-highest on Fitch’s national scale, indicates a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.

Fitch said CKH’s established market leadership and resilient financial profile remained key strengths, while noting its exposure to price-sensitive, cyclical and highly competitive markets.

The Stable Outlook reflects expectations that the company will maintain its market position despite rising input costs and increasing competition from imported tyres, while preserving adequate credit metrics during periods of weaker earnings and higher investment.

Fitch expects CKH’s established brand, extensive dealer network and adaptive pricing strategies to support its market position. Planned production facility upgrades are also expected to improve product quality, particularly in the radial tyre segment.

The rating agency expects near-term pressure on margins from higher raw material and energy costs but said the company’s low leverage and sound liquidity would provide a cushion.

CKH Chairman Chanaka De Silva said the rating reinforced the company’s focus on disciplined financial management, operational adaptability and long-term investment.

Business

Commercial Bank leads nationwide aquatic clean-up drive

Published

21 hours ago

2026/09/27

Thilina Walpola

Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank and some of the Bank’s staff participating in the coastal cleanup programme

Commercial Bank of Ceylon mobilised employees, customers, volunteers and community members for a nationwide coastal and aquatic clean-up campaign across 20 locations on September 19 to mark International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026.

Conducted under the bank’s sustainability platform, themed ‘Forward Together for a Cleaner Future’, the initiative covered 16 coastal locations and four inland waterways, bringing together stakeholders for a coordinated environmental conservation effort.

The flagship programme was held at Mount Lavinia Beach, with additional activities at Wellawatte and Galle Face beaches. Similar initiatives were conducted by the bank’s regional offices at locations including Kalutara, Negombo, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Jaffna, Galle, Dondra, Tangalle and along the Mahaweli River.

Employees, management, Future Force volunteers, customers and their families participated alongside the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, government and local authorities, environmental organisations and community members.

The bank said the initiative reflected its commitment to water stewardship after adopting Sustainable Development Goal 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation — as a priority goal in 2025.