Business
14th Cargills Village to Home
The Cargills Village to Home programme supports the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) by providing them with a platform to engage with a larger network of customers.
As a company which has continuously engaged with and invested in rural agricultural communities across Sri Lanka, Cargills launched this programme, initially in September 2020, in the aftermath of the pandemic, to provide local SMEs, who had lost access to markets, with a platform to showcase their products. In addition, Cargills leverages its vast expertise in product development, marketing, and finance to support local entrepreneurs improve their product offerings. The Cargills Bank provides financing and banking assistance to the SMEs. The programme has been able to open exports markets for certain SMEs while some have become listed suppliers at Cargills Retail outlets due to their popularity.
The 14th Cargills Village to Home was held on the 1st and 2nd of October 2022 at the Bauddaloka Mawatha Cargills Food City premises, with an interesting array of traditional Sri Lankan food and handicrafts.
Among the SMEs featured this week was young Sasindu Thathsara from Bibile, Monaragala. Sasindu is the developer of a water filtering system known as Mannussakama, aimed at providing clean drinking water at a reasonable price to those struggling to find safe drinking water. His innovation is inspired by the challenges faced by people in his hometown to find clean drinking water. Kandy handicrafts by Asanka Priyalal was also featured in this programme. Asanka markets a variety of coconut shell products, as well as Batik fabric-covered notebooks. Saman Dhammika was another entrepreneur who was part of the programme this time, marketing his household cleaning products Derma Care. His products included bathroom cleaners, hand wash, and tile cleaners. Mauli Creations marketed products such as bedsheets, tablecloths, and clothing made from batiks and handlooms. The rural township of Manikhinna Kalasirigama also participated in the 14th Cargills Village to Home programme displaying their handicrafts, made out of Hana plants. including bags, table mats, pouches, wall hangings, mats.
Earth and Fire by Dumindu had several interesting types of pottery and jewellery. Nalin Kumara’s Healyo products included natural bee honey, bottled food items made of kochchi, sesame, and garlic. UNIQ Ayurvedic cosmetic products by Naomi Perera, a young female SME, showcased various types of unique ayurvedic cosmetic items. Sugar Galaxy by Dennis Thushanthani, a business that produces cakes, sweets, and traditional Tamil food items was also present. Rusteaks Wooden Décor by Shehara Fernando showcased wooden decorations made out of scrap wood. Derani plants by Himashi Ranasighe, another young female SME, had several types of flowers and vegetable plants, seeds, and organic fertilizer. Two Cargills Lak Bojun SMEs also participated providing healthy, traditional, Sri Lankan breakfast meals for customers who visited the event.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
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.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
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.
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