Business
Sail Lanka Yachting Group to replicate successful marine training project in North Sri Lanka
New boatyard in Velanai Upto one hundred Tamil youth to be trained One-year theory and practical courses
Sail Lanka Yachting Group and Building a Future Foundation are to replicate in the north of Sri Lanka, their successful boat-building and marine training project for youth.
Following the recent inauguration of the project in Velanai in the Jaffna district, Pierre Pringiers, Chairman of SLYG said, “Our idea is to replicate in the north of Sri Lanka, the successful ‘Building a Future Foundation’ project which we developed in south Sri Lanka to assist the local economies, following the devastating tsunami of 2004. BAFF has already created hundreds of employment opportunities for young people in the yachting industry in the south of the island, and we hope to replicate this in Jaffna. Twelve youth from the north have already followed a theoretical and practical training course of 12-months duration at the BAFF training center in southern Sri Lanka.”
The project was inaugurated with Douglas Devananda, Minister of Fisheries as Chief Guest and in the presence of several distinguished guests. It has the blessings of the Governor of the northern province, Jeevan Thiagarajah.
“We believe Jaffna has the potential to be our new hub for marine and experiential tourism. It will become our third center of operations after Mirissa and the Port City Colombo Marina, and will allow us to develop local and cross-border tourism. The 540 square metre new SLYG training centre and boatyard is situated on a 4.5 acre land in Velanai.”
The Jaffna training centre will conduct courses in the basic skills of mechanical engineering, electricity, welding, refrigeration and air-conditioning, followed by hands-on experience in dedicated boat building, and outboard and inboard engine repair and maintenance. The courses which will be conducted over one-year, will comprise a mixture of theory and practical training to enable the graduates to work in the developing boat manufacturing industry in Sri Lanka. The practical training will be in the manufacture of yachts such as the Ocean Diamond – an 80-foot floating boutique hotel, and the Ceycat – a 55-foot sailing catamaran for water-based tourism both in Sri Lanka and overseas.
“We are aiming to bring Jaffna closer to Colombo by developing cruises to connect the Port City Colombo Marina and Jaffna so that it becomes our new hub for water-based tourism and marine tourism in the north, and eventually cross-border tourism as well,” Pringiers continued. “We plan to develop ferry boats with the Ceylon Shipping Corporation to be initially used locally, followed by commercial versions and boats for cross-border sailing in the future.”
Sail Lanka Charter – a SLYG company – has for several years been offering cruises around the islands off Jaffna from October to April. These cruises are in addition to other cruises offered in the seas off the south coast, east coast and west coast of the island. Passengers have the option of snorkeling and enjoying the beauty of underwater marine life including corals; swimming in the middle of the sea; sunning on the deck and even fishing for their own meals. All this is done under the careful supervision of qualified and skilled mariners with an emphasis on safety. Many of them are youth who have received training under the BAFF programmes.
The inaugural Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025 concluded with industry leaders and regulators establishing two critical national priorities: a bold target to reduce physical cash usage and a push for consolidated regulatory oversight.
In a key decision, participants set a clear three-year goal to lower the ratio of cash in circulation to GDP from 4.5% to 3.5%. The strategy will focus on digitizing high-cash sectors like transport, utilities, and SME payments, while expanding digital access through post offices and cooperatives.
For the long-term health of the ecosystem, stakeholders agreed to lobby for the creation of a single, unified regulatory authority dedicated to fintech oversight. This aims to streamline approvals and provide clearer guidance for innovators.
“Our members needed to leave with concrete action points,” said Channa de Silva, Chairman of the Fintech Forum, Sri Lanka. The summit, designed as a series of closed-door roundtables with regulators including the Central Bank, produced actionable frameworks. “It was about defining KPIs, setting targets, and giving the industry a shared direction,” de Silva explained.
The outcomes signal a concerted shift from discussion to execution, aiming to build a more inclusive, efficient, and secure digital financial economy for Sri Lanka.
By Sanath Nanayakkare ✍️
A new force in Sri Lanka’s food industry, Kukus Group, is gaining momentum with a clear vision to deliver authentic cuisine, high hygiene standards, and affordability. Founded by young entrepreneurs Nadeera Senanayaka, Lakmini Gurusinghe, and Randila Gunasinghe, the group has successfully launched its pilot outlet and is now preparing for a significant nationwide expansion.
The inaugural in Kotte has served as a successful proof of concept. Operating for five months, this modern street-food outlet has garnered a strong customer response, confirming market demand and providing the confidence to fund the group’s ambitious growth strategy.
The inaugural in Kotte
“The positive reception has been overwhelming and has solidified our plans,” said Lakmini Gurusinghe and Randila Gunasinghe. “Our Kotte outlet is the operational model we will replicate – ensuring consistent quality, disciplined operations, and excellent service across all future locations.”
The group’s expansion strategy is built on three distinct thematic brands:
Kukus Street: Targeting young urban customers, these outlets offer a vibrant, casual dining experience with a menu of Sri Lankan rice and curry, kottu, snacks, and BBQ, with most meals priced under Rs. 1,500. Services include dine-in, takeaway, and delivery.
Kukus Beach: Planned for coastal areas, beginning in the South, this concept will feature an urban-style beach restaurant and pub designed for relaxed social dining.
Kukus Bioscope: Celebrating Sri Lanka’s cinematic heritage, this dedicated restaurant concept will create a nostalgic cultural space inspired by the golden eras of Sinhala cinema, with the first outlet slated for Colombo.
The immediate plan includes transforming the flagship Kotte location into Kukus Pub & Bar, pending regulatory approvals. The long-term vision is to develop 18 outlets nationwide: 10 Kukus Street locations, 5 Kukus Beach venues, and 3 Kukus Bioscope establishments.
“Kukus Group is more than a hospitality brand; it’s a celebration of Sri Lankan flavors and culture,” the founders concluded. “Our mission is to build trusted, recognizable brands that connect deeply with communities and offer lasting cultural value alongside authentic cuisine. We are dynamic and excited to proceed with this strategic expansion,” they said.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Fcode Labs marked its seventh anniversary by hosting its annual Awards Night 2025 at Waters Edge, celebrating team achievements and reinforcing its organizational values.
The event featured keynote addresses from Co-Founders & CEOs Buddhishan Manamperi and Tharindu Malawaraarachchi, who reflected on the company’s annual progress and future strategy. Chief Operating Officer Pamaljith Harshapriya outlined operational priorities for the next phase of growth.
Awards were presented across three key categories. Prabhanu Gunaweera and Dushan Pramod received Customer Excellence awards for partner collaboration. Performance Excellence awards were granted to Munsira Mansoor, Thusara Wanigathunga, Thushan De Silva, Adithya Narasinghe, Avantha Dissanayake, Amanda Janmaweera, Sithika Guruge, and Sandali Gunawardena. The Value-Based Behaviour awards were given to Thilina Hewagama, Udara Sembukuttiarachchi, and Kavindu Dhananjaya for exemplifying company values.
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