Business
British Council rallies youth to protect world’s oceans
By Ifham Nizam
To mark World Oceans Day, British Council (BC) demonstrated its commitment to empower and support the country’s youth to address climate change and to share their experience of action taken to protect the oceans.
In the first Interactive session at the BC, youth were given the opportunity to explore, engage and be empowered to protect the ocean for climate resilience through a knowledge- sharing and networking session with representatives from two national agencies, NARA (National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency) and MEPA (Marine Environment Protection Authority). The forum was moderated by Sudarsha de Silva (Co-founder, Co-Founder Earthlanka Youth Network.
Questions from youth were focused on how national agencies can work together instead of working in isolation for coastal and marine conservation.
Ms Kishara Bandaranayake, Senior Scientist, NARA and Nilantha Piyadasa, Manager Operations, (MEPA) highlighted the importance of technical collaboration and described how they are working together with civil society organisations and youth networks.
In response to the current situation with regard to the Xpress Pearl disaster, they mentioned that there’s an ongoing court case and data collection and cleaning process in affected areas. Answering a follow-up question from the youth, on the Port City Development Project, the agencies answers included explanations on how they are by conducting surveys and assessments together regarding ocean pollution and related issues.
Elaborating on pollution categories, Piyadasa described the types of hazards, other than oil-linked ones, which can cause marine pollution. Matters related to the legal policy framework and gaps in signing MARPOL Annex 6 were raised by youth and he mentioned the establishment of a national working group to resolve these issues. In response to NARA’s role on managing depleting fish stocks, Bandaranayke explained how their research work has been focused on providing recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the living resources.
Manuja Hendawitharana, a participant, highlighted how he managed to win an Erasmus Mundus Masters scholarship to Europe to get much needed hands-on experience in advanced coral reef modelling techniques and connected with international experts in the field: the survival of coral reefs are crucial, as they harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally and directly support over 500 million people worldwide, mostly in poor countries.
Sarani Ranaweera explained how she managed secure grants and funding to engage in marine conservation as a non-science student. She explained how her actions address women’s empowerment and gender equality and stressed the importance of following your passion to help the community and environment outside the classroom. She also elaborated on the challenges she faced and how she overcame them, when she first started working in this area.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Business
IceWarp expands into Sri Lanka, fostering European innovation in collaboration with FentonsIT
IceWarp, a global leader in business communication solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge platform in Sri Lanka, bringing European expertise in email and collaboration solutions to support the country’s evolving business landscape.
This expansion is driven by a strategic partnership with Fentons Information Technology (FIT), the Information Technology arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
The grand launch event held at The Kingsbury Colombo on 4th April, 2025, was graced by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC.
The presence of Adam Paclt, Global CEO of IceWarp, and Pramod Sharda, CEO for India and the Middle East of IceWarp, along with their global team, highlighted the significance of this expansion. Industry experts, government officials, corporate leaders, and CIOs from the banking, financial services and insurance sectors were in attendance as well, reflecting strong local interest in IceWarp’s European expertise.
With this launch, Sri Lankan businesses now have access to an affordable, scalable and secure alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. IceWarp’s advanced Collaboration Suite integrates a wide range of tools into a single, unified platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity. Offering flexible hybrid deployment options and cost-efficient solution, IceWarp enables organisations to optimise their operations without compromising security or functionality.
Ceylon Energy and HJT China have successfully completed the Mahiyangana-Kappalthurei 33kV power distribution lines and the Uhana Gantry as part of Sri Lanka’s Supporting Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project (SESRIP). Funded by the Asian Development Bank ($42 million), SESRIP aims to expand energy access in underserved regions, including conflict-affected areas and provinces like Uva and North Central.
The project’s infrastructure spans over 270 km of 33kV lines, 13 switching gantries, and 2,372 km of low-voltage extensions.
The projects connect 35,000+ households and improve reliability for 493,000+ consumers; integrates renewables to reduce losses.
The projects’ notable components include: Mahiyangana-Bibila Line: 36 km with 147 steel towers and Kappalthurei-Sixth Mile Post Line: 14 km with 58 towers.
Ceylon Energy Chairman Madushanka Fernando hailed it as a ‘new beginning of a brighter era’, emphasising the project’s role in uplifting rural communities and driving sustainable development.
The initiative underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive, reliable energy and climate resilience.
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