The Ministry of Education officially recognised LOLC Holdings PLC for its flagship humanitarian initiative, Divi Saviya, at a special ceremony held on 27th February 2026 in Battaramulla. The event marked the second time the Ministry has acknowledged the programme’s contribution to the nation’s education sector.

Group Managing Director/CEO Kapila Jayawardena presented a project update to Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, highlighting the rapid restoration of 200 schools under Phase 02 of ‘Obai, Mamai, Ape Ratai’. The schools were repaired and handed over within just 45 days, enabling students displaced by Cyclone Ditwah to safely resume learning.

Phase 02 follows a needs assessment that identified 200 damaged schools and 4,000 displaced families. Implemented with Divisional Secretariats and Disaster Management Centres, the Rs. 500 million programme has delivered Family Super Packs and school renovations across six districts.

Kapila Jayawardena stated, “It was a privilege to share these outcomes with the Prime Minister. This recognition reflects how private sector collaboration can complement government efforts during national challenges.” Plans are underway to fully rebuild select schools destroyed by the cyclone.

Nestlé Professional, the B2B arm of Nestlé Lanka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association to collaborate in organizing the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat and Nestle Golden Chef’s Hat Junior Competition 2026. This islandwide culinary competition aims to identify, nurture, and develop emerging culinary talent within Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry, reinforcing Nestlé Professional’s commitment to supporting the growth of the hospitality sector and the next generation of chefs.

The Chefs Guild of Lanka will support the Professional category of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2026, facilitating eight regional competitions across the island. These regional rounds will provide a competitive platform for professional chefs to showcase their culinary expertise while helping them to develop their culinary skills further.

In parallel, Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and Chefs Guild of Lanka, will organize the Junior Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2026, aimed at nurturing students within Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector. The regional rounds of the junior competition will be conducted across prominent hotel schools island‑wide, creating a structured platform to identify, mentor, and inspire the young students who aspire of becoming the top chefs in the country and world-wide.

Bernie Stefan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka commented, “For 120 years, Nestlé has been enriching Sri Lankan lives by unlocking the power of food and beverages to enhance quality of life. This commitment has also been demonstrated in our endeavour to strengthen Sri Lanka’s foodservice ecosystem. The Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2026 and Junior Competition is a platform that brings together industry expertise, education, and opportunity – empowering both professional chefs and hospitality students to reach their full potential.

SriLankan Airlines aligning its response to evolving developments

The military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran have sent shockwaves through global aviation networks, particularly across the Gulf region – a key air transit corridor linking Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the wake of the attacks and swift Iranian retaliation, eight countries including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates have either fully or partially closed their airspace. Major international hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have been heavily affected, leading to the suspension or cancellation of flights and the grounding of aircraft on a scale not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air traffic analytics show tens of thousands of flights delayed, thousands cancelled, and hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded or diverted as airlines avoid conflict zones and reroute around restricted skies. Closure of airspace over the Gulf has particularly disrupted east-west routes that normally go through Iranian and Iraqi flight information regions, forcing detours via longer, costlier corridors.

Authorities and carriers alike have emphasised that safety is the top priority amid heightened military risk and uncertainty over how long the closures will persist.

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, has been directly affected by these disruptions linked to the Gulf crisis:

The airline cancelled at least 30 flights to and from Middle Eastern destinations – including Riyadh, Kuwait, Dammam, Dubai and Doha — citing airspace closures and safety concerns as the reason.

The cancellations were implemented explicitly “in the interest of passenger and crew safety and operational security,” according to the airline’s statements.

SriLankan has been advising affected passengers to contact customer service or travel agents for rebooking, refunds or assistance as required.

Additional adjustments include flight rerouting and monitoring of dynamic changes in airspace status. Some flights are reported to be diverted via alternate routes, such as via Saudi Arabian airspace, to avoid the closed regions.

The carrier stressed that schedules will be reviewed continually and that services will resume “once conditions permit safe operations.”

by Sanath Nanayakkare