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Cargills successfully conducts its 10th ‘Village to Home’ programme supporting local SMEs

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Chief Guest, Director General - Development and Finance : Ministry of Finance Ms Geetha Wimalaweera with Yamuna Kumari from Cargills Village to Home Team

The 10th programme of Cargills ‘Village to Home’ was successfully conducted on the 26th and 27th of February at the Kadawatha-3 Cargills FoodCity premises. The 10th programme had an exciting array of products on offer ranging from Ayurvedic beauty products, coconut oil & coconut-based products, aloe vera jelly & desserts, sugar cane-based products, coir & reed (pan) products to soft toys etc.

The products on offer as well as the event were received well by the customers. The recently introduced Lanka QR payment facility was also available for consumers to make cashless payments, providing added convenience. The National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), the Small Enterprises Development Division (SED), the Ministry of Cane, Brass, Clay, Furniture, and Rural Industry Promotion, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce have assisted Cargills in the selection of SMEs.

The pandemic has caused many challenges to the agricultural and SME communities across Sri Lanka. Among the challenges was a lack of market access. In this context, the Cargills ‘Village to Home’ programme was launched with the intention of addressing this issue and supporting the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs by providing them with a platform to engage with a larger network of customers.

The programme is a monthly trade fair at Cargills FoodCity premises, which commenced in the latter part of 2020, for selected SMEs with demarcated stalls to sell their products directly to customers. Cargills bears all expenses related to this programme, including the cost of stalls, utility, marketing. To date, over 90 SMEs have taken part in the programme.

In addition to a marketplace and an added source of income, Cargills also provides technical support to the SMEs in terms of packaging, labelling and quality assurance, while the Cargills Bank provides financing through low-cost loan schemes. SMEs also stand an opportunity to get their products listed at Cargills while the programme has also been able to open markets beyond Sri Lanka for some SMEs. Cargills is committed to assisting entrepreneurs to contribute towards national development.

Cargills has been supporting the agricultural and SME communities of Sri Lanka for over 20 years since the company established its farmer outgrower network in 1999. The Cargills community development programme features both dairy and agricultural farmers as well the local SMEs at the heart of it.



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Sri Lanka Tourism makes a strong impression at CMT 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany

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Sri Lanka Tourism marked its presence at CMT 2026, held in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the largest consumer travel fairs in Europe. The Sri Lanka Stand accommodated representatives from the local tourism industry, providing a valuable platform to connect directly with the German travel community, particularly travellers with long-haul travel intentions.

Sri Lanka’s participation at CMT 2026 enabled direct engagement with consumers and helped stimulate interest in exploring the country’s diverse and year-round travel experiences. This presence addressed a long-standing need for Sri Lanka Tourism to participate in major consumer-focused travel platforms, effectively taking destination promotion directly to the travellers’ doorstep.

A wide range of travel packages, customised itineraries, accommodation options, and experiential offerings were presented to interested German consumers by Sri Lankan DMCs, under the umbrella of Sri Lanka Tourism. The platform also allowed potential travellers to clarify concerns and queries related to planning travel to Sri Lanka through direct, face-to-face interactions with industry professionals.

These direct engagements enabled Sri Lankan industry participants to gain valuable insights into emerging travel interests, changing consumer behaviour, and evolving customer expectations in the German market. The face-to-face discussions with end consumers strengthened the industry’s understanding of demand trends and product requirements.

Strategically, Sri Lanka Tourism’s focus on B2C promotions serves as a catalyst for strengthening B2B platforms, ensuring that final decision-makers—the travellers—are actively engaged alongside trade partners. This alignment enhances the overall effectiveness of trade collaborations. Well-designed consumer promotion activities, including giveaways, contests, experiential engagements, and cultural performances, created emotional connections with visitors, improved destination recall, and reinforced Sri Lanka’s positioning as a compelling long-haul destination. (Sri Lanka Tourism)

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Adora raises the bar for hospital-backed aesthetic care in Wattala

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Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara on advanced non surgical treatments

Hemas Hospitals has strengthened its regional healthcare positioning with the launch of Adora Cosmetic Centre at Hemas Hospital Wattala, introducing a hospital-backed, clinically governed model of aesthetic medicine at a time when South Asia’s cosmetic sector is expanding faster than regulation.

Unlike standalone cosmetic clinics, Adora is fully integrated into the Hemas Hospital ecosystem, embedding aesthetic services within hospital-grade infrastructure, multidisciplinary medical support and internationally aligned clinical governance.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Lakith Peiris, Managing Director of Hemas Hospitals & Labs, said the centre represents a deliberate shift in strategy.

“Adora is not about cosmetic enhancement alone. It is built on protocols, trained clinicians and governance. As healthcare providers scale across the region, safety and medical credibility must remain non-negotiable,” he told The Island Financial Review.

The centre is positioned as a health-class facility, combining advanced aesthetic technologies with evidence-based medical pathways. This approach addresses growing regional concerns over unregulated cosmetic practices, offering patients reassurance through professional oversight and ethical medical standards.

Prabhan Gunawardena, Director General Manager of Hemas Hospital Wattala, said the initiative reflects both clinical responsibility and business foresight.

“The cosmetic industry is evolving rapidly across South Asia. Adora demonstrates how innovation can be scaled responsibly when anchored in medical expertise and hospital governance,” he said.

Detailing the centre’s scope, Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara, Medical Officer – Adora Cosmetic Centre, said treatments are designed to address medical and aesthetic concerns through personalised, evidence-based care.

She told The Island Financial Review:”We offer advanced non-surgical treatments for concerns such as hyperpigmentation, acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, collagen loss, enlarged pores, rosacea, UV damage, excessive sweating, warts and moles. Every procedure is clinically assessed and delivered within a hospital-backed framework to ensure safe and sustainable outcomes.”

Clinical governance remains central to operations, reinforced by Dr. Malith Atapattu, Director – Medical Services and Quality, who highlighted the importance of protocol-driven care in a sector often challenged by inconsistent standards.

As Sri Lanka positions itself as a regional healthcare and medical tourism destination, hospital-led aesthetic centres such as Adora signal a broader industry shift—where growth is aligned with governance, trust and long-term sustainability.

For Hemas Hospitals, Adora represents a calculated entry into a high-growth segment without compromising medical integrity. For the region, it underscores a clear message: the future of aesthetic care lies in hospital-backed, clinically governed models—not cosmetic shortcuts.

By Ifham Nizam

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John Keells Consumer Foods Sector dominates SLIM National Sales Awards 2025 with landmark wins

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The John Keells Consumer Foods Sector (JKCF) has reinforced its standing as a powerhouse in Sri Lanka’s FMCG industry with an exceptional performance at the SLIM National Sales Awards 2025, securing an impressive total of 27 awards. This remarkable achievement reflects the sector’s unwavering commitment to building high-performing teams, nurturing sales excellence, and driving sustained growth across its diverse business verticals.

Representing the iconic brands of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), Keells Food Products PLC (KFP), and Colombo Ice Company (CICL), JKCF has long been recognized for its rich legacy of innovation and leadership in beverages, frozen confectionery, and processed foods. Its long-standing focus on people capability and performance culture continues to fuel industry-leading achievements, with the latest recognition at SLIM NSA 2025 marking one of the largest collective wins by a single organization in the event’s history.

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