Business

A tribute to a friend and guide: Malin Goonetilleke (1946–2026)

Published

2 months ago

2026/08/16

Malin Goonetilleke

Malin and I were born exactly 30 days apart in 1946. Our lives became intertwined from the very beginning. We entered Trinity College’s Grade 1 Primary class together in 1951, under the care of the now-famous Ruth Keyt, wife of the great “43 Group” artist George Keyt. The Keyts were also my neighbours, in what was then called Hermitage Road in Kandy.

We held each other’s hands as we entered Trinity — metaphorically speaking — and, in many ways, we continued to hold hands throughout our lives, right up until 5 August 2026.

The Friend Who Guided My Path

Malin’s path eventually took him into tea planting, a profession in which he excelled and, more importantly, a life which he genuinely loved.

It was Malin who, when we were around 15, first put the idea into my head that the path we should jointly follow was Chartered Accountancy. He explained to me, with the confidence of a young man who already knew the ways of the world, that it was “one of the highest-paying professions”.

Then, to my astonishment, around the time of his 18th birthday, he announced that he had been offered a billet in tea planting — and had accepted it!

I continued along the path towards Accountancy, whilst Malin took to tea planting like a duck to water, as did several of our Trinity contemporaries at the time.

Yet I have always remembered that it was Malin who first guided me towards my profession. I will forever be grateful for that advice, given so casually by a 15-year-old friend, but which had such a profound influence on the course of my life. I have remembered it — and valued it — every day since.

A Friendship That Endured

We spent many weekends together at the various estates to which Malin was posted over the years. Whenever he came to Colombo, we would meet as well. Distance and circumstance never diminished our friendship.

He subsequently had the opportunity to work in Malaysia and was away for several years. But before leaving, he married his childhood sweetheart, Charmalene, whom he had first courted at the tender age of 15.

Her dear mother, apparently unimpressed by such youthful romance, told him to “grow up and come back!”

And grow up he did. He returned, and they were married in his 23rd year, in 1969. My fiancée, Mali, and I had the great privilege of being part of that special occasion — Mali as bridesmaid and I as best man.

His Greatest Legacy — His Family

Malin and Charmalene were blessed with two extraordinary children, Chemali and Himesh, both of whom have excelled in their respective fields and carved out their own distinctive places in their professions.

Together, they gave Malin and Charmalene five grandchildren — Sarith, Ramith, Kanya, Hariel and Kyelle — who were, quite simply, the cynosure of Malin’s eyes.

It was evident to all who knew him that his family was at the very heart of his life. His pride in his children and grandchildren was unmistakable, and his love for them was one of the defining characteristics of the man we knew.

A Friend Remembered by Many

As I began writing this appreciation of my dear friend, I found myself reading through the many messages of friendship, affection and camaraderie shared in the various groups to which we belonged.

What struck me most was how remarkably consistent they were. Different people, different experiences and different stages of Malin’s life — yet the same affection, respect and admiration for the same man.

Their words echoed my own sentiments so closely that I decided, without seeking their individual approval, to incorporate the essence of their thoughts into this appreciation.

I felt it was the right thing to do.

Because Malin was never merely my friend.

He was a friend to many, a trusted companion, a loyal colleague, a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather — and, above all, a thoroughly good human being.

For me personally, however, he will always be the boy who held my hand when we entered Trinity in 1951, the young friend who unknowingly set me on the path to my profession, and the lifelong companion with whom I shared more than seven decades of friendship.

We entered Trinity holding hands.

We walked through life together.

And, in spirit, I shall continue to hold his hand forever.

Goodbye, dear Malin.

Thank you for the friendship, the memories, the guidance and the laughter.

You will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Nimal S Cooke

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Business

Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 b debenture issue oversubscribed

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

B D A Perera, Chairman and Naleen Edirisinghe Director/CEO of Pan Asia Bank

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC’s Senior Listed Rated Unsecured Redeemable Debenture issue of up to Rs. 5 billion was oversubscribed following its opening reflecting strong investor interest.

The debentures, with a par value of Rs. 100 each, will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The three-year debentures offer an interest rate of 12.75% interest payable annually, while the five-year debentures offer 13.50% interest payable annually.

The issue has been assigned a BBB+ (Stable) rating by Lanka Rating Agency.

The debenture issue was managed by the Investment Banking Unit of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, with SSP Corporate Services (Private) Limited serving as the Registrar to the Issue.

The Bank said the strong investor response demonstrates continued confidence in Pan Asia Bank and its approach to creating long-term value for its stakeholders.

Pan Asia Bank, which positions itself as ‘The Truly Sri Lankan Bank’, continues to strengthen its role in supporting the financial requirements of individuals and businesses while contributing to the development of Sri Lanka’s economy.

Business

SLIIT International and Liverpool John Moores University inaugurate dedicated international learning facility

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

Andrew Patrick

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), United Kingdom, recently inaugurated SLIIT International in Collaboration with LJMU, a dedicated international learning facility located at No. 17, Dickmans Road, Colombo 04, marking a significant milestone in a partnership spanning more than a decade and reinforcing their commitment to providing Sri Lankan students with access to internationally recognised UK higher education qualifications.

The Grand Opening Ceremony was attended by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, alongside senior representatives from SLIIT, Liverpool John Moores University, the British Council, academia, industry and other stakeholders, marking the next chapter of the longstanding SLIIT–LJMU collaboration. The new facility is particularly significant as Sri Lanka’s first academic facility dedicated exclusively to the delivery of LJMU degree programmes, reflecting the strength, maturity and long-term commitment of the partnership.

Over the past decade, the SLIIT–LJMU partnership has established a growing network of more than 1,500 alumni, while providing Sri Lankan students with opportunities to gain internationally recognised UK qualifications locally. The new dedicated facility has been designed to provide a world-class learning environment exclusively for LJMU programmes, supporting future programme expansion, strengthening the student experience and creating opportunities for deeper academic collaboration, innovation, research and student engagement.

Commenting on the milestone, Prof. Lalith Gamage – Vice-Chancellor, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SLIIT, stated, “The launch of SLIIT International in Collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University represents an important new chapter in our longstanding partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. Our vision is to provide Sri Lankan students with a world-class education and student experience right here in Sri Lanka, while equipping them with the global outlook, critical thinking, professional capabilities and career readiness required to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. This dedicated facility strengthens the student experience while providing a strong foundation for the continued growth of our collaboration with LJMU.”

Prof. Timothy Nichol, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Society and Culture, Liverpool John Moores University, said, “The opening of Sri Lanka’s first facility dedicated exclusively to LJMU degree programmes represents a significant milestone for the University and our partnership with SLIIT. It reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to delivering a high-quality LJMU educational experience in Sri Lanka. The new facility also creates exciting opportunities for deeper academic collaboration, innovation, research and student engagement as we look towards the next phase of our partnership.”

A key highlight of the Grand Opening Ceremony was the panel discussion titled “Beyond Borders: The Role of British Higher Education in Developing Globally Competitive Graduates.” The discussion examined the growth of international educational opportunities in Sri Lanka, the future expansion of UK degree programmes, maintaining the quality and integrity of UK qualifications, developing future-ready graduates with global competencies, and the role of international higher education in strengthening graduate employability. The panel brought together Prof. Lalith Gamage; Prof. Timothy Nichol; Mr. Sajeewa Meepage, Representative of the British Council; and Dr. Harsha Cabral, Board Member of SLIIT.

The panelists further emphasized on emerging trends in areas including law, business, psychology and artificial intelligence, as well as the contribution of UK higher education to Sri Lanka through internationally recognised qualifications that uphold global academic standards.

The discussion explored the history and future of the SLIIT–LJMU partnership, the strategic significance of the new SLIIT International facility, academic quality, graduate employability and the long-term growth of LJMU programmes in Sri Lanka.

The ceremony also featured a special address by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, followed by an address by Mrs. Clare Sears, Country Director, British Council Sri Lanka. The evening also included the ceremonial exchange of the partnership document between SLIIT International and Liverpool John Moores University, symbolising the continued commitment of both institutions to strengthening their collaboration and expanding international educational opportunities for Sri Lankan students.

Business

Dijital Team and WinSYS City University launch two-year partnership

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

Ziyam Abdeen, Chairman of WinSYS, and Peter Ward, Managing Director of Dijital Team, at the signing ceremony for the two-year partnership

Dijital Team has signed a two-year partnership with Winsys City University, strengthening the skills and capabilities of its team members to support Managed Service Providers and IT service providers while elevating tech talent to immediate industry-readiness. With a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently, the partnership was formally launched on 9 September 2026 at Dijital Team’s office premises, Colombo.

Combining Dijital Teams’ international employer network and understanding of the capability requirements of MSPs and IT service providers across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom with Winsys City University’s training heritage of 21 years, the joint programmes create legitimate classroom-to-international-career pathways, offering structured learning and certification avenues that support deeper capability across cloud, cybersecurity, automation, AI and emerging technologies.