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.

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.

Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), commemorated its 35th anniversary by ringing the market opening bell at the Colombo Stock Exchange last week, marking three and a half decades of supporting the growth and development of Sri Lanka’s capital market infrastructure.

The ceremony brought together members of the CDS and CSE Boards, and former leaders of the institution to celebrate CDS’s journey since its establishment in 1991 as South Asia’s first Central Securities Depository and the seventh of its kind globally.

Delivering the welcome remarks, Head of CDS, Nadeera Athukorale, remarked “For thirty-five years, the story of CDS has been one of continuous commitment, continuous improvement, and continuous dedication – powering trust, enabling progress, and shaping the future. Generations of employees have carried that torch forward.”

Chief Market Operations Officer of CSE Chandrakanth Jayasinghe remarked upon the anniversary and the role of CDS in Sri Lanka’s capital market stating, “Thirty-five years of achievement have positioned CDS as a cornerstone of market infrastructure, enabling seamless post-trade operations and supporting long-term market development.”

Chairman of CDS, Ray Abeywardena, in his keynote address, reflected on the bold leap forward represented by the establishment of CDS and the transition to a scripless system, while highlighting the institution’s enduring role in Sri Lanka’s capital market infrastructure. Emphasizing the significance of CDS, he stated, “CDS is considered the backbone of the CSE and provides an invaluable service. It is far more than a mere technology platform; it is an institution of trust and integrity. It safeguards the integrity of ownership and commands the highest levels of trust and confidence of all stakeholders. It also ensures efficiency, strong governance, transparency, accountability and resilience throughout its 35 years of unwavering service.”