Business
AI-driven productivity is the future, declare experts at CIPM HR Conference
The future of productivity is not just digital—it is decisively AI-driven. This was the resounding message from a panel of top industry leaders at the “Discover the Future of Productivity Through Digital Transformation” session, a cornerstone event of the International HR Conference organised by CIPM Sri Lanka on June 3 at the Monarch Imperial.
The discussion, which delved into the complexities and opportunities of navigating digital transformation, brought together a formidable panel of experts. It featured Conrad Dias, Director of LOLC Holdings and Chairman of LOLC Finance; Romesh Ranawana, Group Chief Analytics and AI Officer at Dialog Axiata; and Prasanth Nair, Chief HR Officer of Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals. The insightful session was expertly moderated by Oshana Dias, Chief People Officer at Fortude.
The Digital Imperative: No Longer an Option
Kicking off the discussion, Conrad Dias made a powerful case for the urgency of digital adoption. “Whether you’re a country or an organisation, digital is not optional anymore. It’s a national imperative,” he asserted. To underscore his point, he cited compelling data from the World Economic Forum, revealing that digitally mature organisations outperform their peers by a staggering 45% in revenue growth.
However, Dias was quick to caution against a one-size-fits-all approach. “Transformation must be contextual,” he warned. “LOLC operates in sectors from finance to plantations to leisure—each with different levels of digital adoption. You have to understand your digital maturity first. Otherwise, you’re just ticking boxes.”
He highlighted how even seemingly traditional sectors like plantations are reaping massive benefits from digitisation. “We’re the world’s largest tea producer under Browns. The next generation doesn’t want to work the way their parents did—so we need to bring technology to the field. Mechanisation, digitisation—it’s not just an option. It’s a must.”
Dias also dismantled the pervasive myth of high implementation costs being a barrier. “Technology has been both democratised and demonetised,” he explained. “AI tools that once cost thousands of dollars are now available at $20 a month. If someone tells you capex is a barrier today, that’s outdated thinking.” He championed a “fail fast” culture, encouraging businesses to experiment, learn from their mistakes quickly, and pivot without fear.
The Rise of the Personal AI Partner
Romesh Ranawana framed the current AI boom as the second great technological revolution in workplace productivity, comparable only to the personal computing wave of the late 20th century. “We’re entering a phase where every employee is expected to work with AI—not just use it as a tool, but to partner with it,” he said.
Ranawana identified four key domains where AI is already making a measurable impact:
Personal productivity: Assisting with everything from managing schedules to summarising complex reports.
Work-specific tasks: Powering sophisticated functions like customer analytics and automated proposal generation.
Team collaboration: Breaking down organisational silos and enhancing cross-departmental coordination.
Enterprise efficiency: Optimising large-scale operations and enabling data-driven strategic decision-making.
‘He offered a stark analogy to illustrate the challenge of adoption. “Imagine giving someone a $100,000 piano who doesn’t know how to play. That’s what many companies are doing with AI,” he cautioned. “The tool is powerful, but without training and the right culture, it’s underused—or misused.” Ranawana stressed that, just as they did with the rise of computers, HR professionals must once again lead the charge in fostering digital and AI literacy.’
Business
AIA delivers strong first half results in 2026; double-digit growth across key financial metrics
The Board of AIA Group Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the Group’s financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated:
New business performance and embedded value
Value of new business (VONB) of US$3,212 million, up 10 per cent overall and 14 per cent excluding Thailand(1)
Record high annualised operating ROEV of 18.0 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent in full year 2025
EV Equity of US$83.4 billion, up 6 per cent per share over the first half on an actual exchange rate basis
IFRS earnings
Operating profit after tax (OPAT) of US$4,163 million, up 13 per cent per share
AIA now expects to exceed OPAT per share CAGR target of 9 to 11 per cent from 2023 to 2026(2)
Record high annualised operating ROE of 17.5 per cent, up from 15.5 per cent in full year 2025
Cash generation and capital returns
Underlying free surplus generation (UFSG) of US$3,935 million, increased by 10 per cent per share
Net free surplus generation (net FSG) of US$2,758 million, up 12 per cent per share
US$3.6 billion returned to shareholders in the first half through dividend and share buy-back
Interim dividend increased by 10 per cent to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share
Lee Yuan Siong, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, said:
“AIA has delivered another strong performance in the first half of 2026, with double-digit growth across our key financial metrics, while continuing to return substantial capital to shareholders. VONB reached a record high of US$3.2 billion with growth across all distribution channels, and all reportable segments excluding Thailand. The Group has achieved 17 per cent CAGR since the first half of 2023(3), demonstrating consistently strong demand for AIA’s professional advice and differentiated products.
“At the core of our unrivalled distribution platform is our market-leading Premier Agency. I am delighted that AIA has once again been ranked the number one Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) multinational company globally. We have held this position for a record 12 consecutive years and we have more than double the number of MDRT members of our nearest competitor. In the first half of 2026, our Premier Agency achieved strong VONB growth of 11 per cent excluding Thailand(1). Our extensive network of strategic distribution partners further expands our market reach and generated an 18 per cent increase in VONB, supported by very strong performance in both the bancassurance and independent financial adviser (IFA) and broker channels.
“Strong new business, together with disciplined management of our in-force portfolio, has supported sustained growth in recurring earnings with OPAT per share up by 13 per cent in the first half. As a result, we expect to exceed our 9 to 11 per cent OPAT per share CAGR target for 2023 to 2026(2). UFSG, the Group’s core measure of operating cash generation, increased by 10 per cent per share. After allowing for new business investment, net FSG increased by 12 per cent per share. In accordance with our prudent, sustainable and progressive dividend policy, the Board has declared a 10 per cent increase in the interim dividend to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share. These achievements demonstrate that our financial strategy is working as intended.
“Asia remains the most compelling growth opportunity for life and health insurance. Powerful structural tailwinds across the region continue to create substantial demand for our professional advice and differentiated products and underpin the exceptional long-term prospects for AIA’s business. I am confident that AIA’s disciplined execution of our strategic priorities will continue to deliver long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”
Business
British Council Sri Lanka launches soft skills workshops to elevate learning and empower communication
The British Council Sri Lanka has launched Corporate English Solutions (CES), tailored to the Sri Lankan corporate and education ecosystem, aimed at helping organisations strengthen workplace communication and professional development.
The launch event took place recently at the NH Collection, Colombo 3, gathering corporate partners, clients and education stakeholders throughout the country.
CES extends the British Council’s long-standing work in English language education and teacher training into a dedicated offering for the corporate sector. The launch introduced two new components to the British Council’s presence in Sri Lanka such as public workshops and teacher training programmes, open to learners and educators beyond the organisation’s existing corporate and academic partners. Guests at the event were shown a short video introducing Corporate English Solutions before the formal proceedings began.
Talal Meer, British Council Regional Business Development Director, South Asia, welcomed guests and introduced the British Council’s team in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, Meer set out the scope of the CES launch, covering the introduction of public workshops in Sri Lanka, the rollout of teacher training programmes, and an overview of the CES product portfolio. Meer’s role covers educational partnerships in the South Asia region, and his address framed the Sri Lanka launch within the British Council’s broader regional strategy.
Business
Ogilvy Group tops award tally at ‘Dragons of Sri Lanka’ 2026
Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka delivered a standout performance at the recently concluded Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026 Awards, securing a total of nine awards comprising two Gold Dragons, one Silver Dragon and six Black Dragons, among the festival’s highest overall award tallies. Gold Dragon wins for Phoenix Ogilvy and Ogilvy Digital, together with the seven additional recognitions across multiple categories, highlighted Ogilvy’s ability to combine creativity, strategic thinking and commercial effectiveness to deliver business results.
Organised by the 4As Sri Lanka, the third edition of Dragons of Sri Lanka shortlisted more than 50 agencies and corporates, making it one of the country’s most competitive marketing communications awards. These local awards, along with the chapters in Malaysia and Pakistan are part of the Dragons of Asia platform, one of the region’s leading programmes for marketing communications effectiveness, with entries being judged on strategy, originality, execution and measurable results.
Ogilvy Digital accounted for eight awards in total, including a Gold Dragon in the Business & Trade Marketing category, and a Silver Dragon in the Innovative Idea or Concept category. The Agency additionally received six Black Dragons across the categories of Innovative Idea or Concept, Business & Trade Marketing, Content Creation, Small Budget, Event or Experiential, and Brand Trial or Sales Generation.
Commenting on the achievement, Sajith Weerasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy Digital, said, “These recognitions reflect the breadth of capabilities we’ve built across strategy, creative, content, experience design, technology and performance marketing. The fact that the work was recognised across so many different disciplines demonstrates our ability to apply creativity to a wide range of business challenges and objectives. We’re proud that this achievement spans multiple clients, categories and types of work, reflecting both the versatility of our people and our commitment to delivering results.”
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