Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, reaffirms its commitment to preserving national heritage by sponsoring the Gangaramaya Navam Maha Perahera for the fourteenth consecutive year, supporting a revered religious celebration while advancing cultural patronage, community stewardship, and corporate responsibility that strengthens shared values and continuity across Sri Lanka.

The annual Gangaramaya Navam Maha Perahera, one of Sri Lanka’s most significant religious and cultural expressions, was held on 31st January and 1st February, drawing thousands of devotees and visitors to the historic Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. As a long-term patron, Dialog’s continued sponsorship enables the seamless conduct of this eminent Perahera while reinforcing its role as a leading corporate advocate of Sri Lankan culture and heritage.

Beyond the Gangaramaya Navam Maha Perahera, Dialog has been a long-term patron of many significant national events including the Kandy Esala Perahara, Kelaniya Duruthu Festival, Katharagama Esala Perahara and Gatabaru Esala Perahara. These efforts align with the company’s broader heritage preservation initiatives, which include constructing the vestibule for the Dimbulagala Aranya Senasanaya, launching a website and directory of Amarapura Maha Nikaya Temples, and restoring the Anuradhapura Maha Vihara Sannipatha Shalawa.

Sri Lanka’s renowned open-air art fair, Kala Pola, is set to bring alive the streets of Colombo with colour, creativity, and conversation as Kala Pola returns for its 33rd edition on Sunday, 8th February, along Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path), Colombo 07.

Conceptualised and introduced by The George Keyt Foundation in 1993, and sponsored and co-presented by the John Keells Group through an unbroken patronage since 1994, Kala Pola has grown into a cultural landmark that continues to reshape how visual art is showcased and experienced in Sri Lanka. Remaining true to its founding philosophy, the event is proudly uncurated, providing participating artists and sculptors with the opportunity to showcase their talent, connect with art enthusiasts, learn from and network with other artists, and expand their clientele.

Kala Pola displays a broad variety of forms and styles, ranging from intricate sculptures, humorous caricatures, and abstract paintings to modern and traditional Sri Lankan art. Attracting art lovers, collectors, connoisseurs, and students from all parts of the country and tourists from various parts of the world, the event creates a vibrant, welcoming, and wholesome atmosphere spurred by music, camaraderie, art discussions, children’s art workshops, and an array of cultural performances.

As a longstanding and iconic visual art flagship amidst Sri Lanka’s vibrant calendar of arts and cultural events, Kala Pola continues to stand as a unique open-air platform for visual expression. By bringing together both established and emerging artists in an inclusive, uncurated setting in the heart of Colombo, the event fosters meaningful connections between creators and audiences, offering accessibility, diversity, discourse and a shared appreciation for art among a wide cross-section of the public, while spurring the creative economy of the country. Nations Trust Bank (NTB) also supports Kala Pola as its official banking partner.

Arts falls within the focus area of Social Health and Cohesion which is one of the four focus areas of John Keells Foundation (JKF) – the CSR entity of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate in the Colombo Stock Exchange operating over 80+ companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. With a history of over 150 years, John Keells Group provides employment to over 18,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for 20 Years by LMD Magazine. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a Participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of “Empowering the Nation for tomorrow” through JKF.

Sri Lanka’s solar power industry says it is facing collapse because its large power plants are being repeatedly and unnecessarily shut down by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

The Grid Connected Solar Power Association (GCSPA) issued a strong warning in Colombo recently, stating that the CEB’s actions are illegal, cause huge financial losses, and threaten the country’s renewable energy goals.

For the last nine months, every weekend, the CEB has been switching off major solar power plants across the country. According to Eng. Prabath Wickramasinghe, President of the GCSPA, this directly breaks the “Must Run” contracts the plants have with the CEB. These contracts promise that solar power will always be accepted into the national grid.

“The financial damage is severe. Total losses are close to Rs. 2 billion, and the monthly income of solar power companies has dropped by 15%. This practice, called curtailment, is crippling the local industry that provides 3,300 MW of clean electricity”, he said.

Wickramasinghe pointed out a major contradiction saying that when solar power is shut off, the CEB continues to burn expensive diesel to generate electricity.

“Furthermore, a solution to store solar power – Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) – was approved by the Cabinet has been stalled due to CEB inaction. These batteries would save solar energy for later use and stop the need for cuts. Making matters worse, a proposed new National Electricity Policy could be the final blow. This policy plans to scrap the protective Feed-in Tariff system, which guarantees a price for solar power. It would also deny compensation for the power cuts and demand payments only in rupees for loans taken in foreign currency, causing exchange rate risks. This could bankrupt the local entrepreneurs who invested in solar power,” Wickramasinghe said.

“It goes against government policy and could cause a banking crisis when these businesses cannot pay their loans,” he added.

The GCSPA made the following urgent requests to the government, at the press conference.

* Immediately start the battery storage (BESS) system with clear guidelines.

* Stop the illegal weekend power cuts and pay for the losses already caused.

* Keep the Feed-in Tariff system to protect investors.

The association stated that the coming weeks are critical for Sri Lanka’s solar power future, which now hangs in the balance due to these actions.

By Sanath Nanayakkare