By Hiran H Senewiratne

New Zealand has expressed interest in promoting local export crops production by acquiring and managing efficiently large extents of land in Sri Lanka, which at present are not productive.

“A scheme to establish dairy farms in the North and East, which New Zealand helped to draw-up a few years back but was subsequently abandoned, serves to highlight the need to resume such programs, High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka, David Pine, said at a Pathfinder Foundation forum comprising industry experts and representatives of local media institutions held at the Colombo Club, Taj Samudra last Thursday.

High Commissioner Pine said there is already cooperation in the dairy and agricultural sectors. New Zealand is willing to provide further assistance regarding food safety and phytosanitary (health of plants) standards.

New Zealand further aims to help Sri Lanka in knowledge- sharing and technology transfer in capacity building, climate resilience and increasing support in the education sector by establishing educational institutions, besides facilitating student exchange programs.

At present the bilateral trade balance is in favour of New Zealand, that is, Sri Lanka imports more than US $ 252 million while Sri Lanka exports only US $ 41 million to New Zealand.

HC Pine said that both countries should have close economic relations to harness the true growth potential of both countries.

The HC reiterated that an increased population of South Asian heritage immigrants living in New Zealand and existing dynamics in the geopolitical space had stimulated interest in the region.

HC Pine added: “The response to the imbalance in bilateral trade is to focus on the overall trade balance, as the bilateral trade balance becomes irrelevant in the context of global value chains.

“In addition to tourism and trade, governance, parliamentary exchanges and social relationships are also important in the bilateral context.

“The importance of the visit of the ‘Women in Peace’ delegation needs stressing, as is the need to focus on increasing opportunities for Track II dialogue.

“In terms of future prospects in promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination among New Zealanders, the aim is to engage and mobilize the diaspora, improve connectivity and extend support for niche areas, including sports, as a connector of two sport-loving nations.

“New Zealand is resolute in paying close attention to the South Asian region and Sri Lanka, in particular, on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”

The Pathfinder Foundation has previously hosted similar roundtable discussions with the Heads of Mission of France, Australia and the UK. At the event diplomat and chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation Bernard Gunathilake presided.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah celebrated International Women’s Day on 08 March with a heartfelt celebration honoring the invaluable contributions of its female colleagues. The day was filled with gratitude and festivities including a cake-cutting ceremony and conversations that highlighted the resort’s efforts to encourage female participation.

Despite women constituting well over half of the country’s population, their representation in the hospitality sector is below 10 percent which is disproportionately low when compared to the women making up over half of the entire hospitality workforce globally.

This disparity is often attributed to social stigmas, safety concerns, and traditional gender roles that discourage women from pursuing careers in hospitality. Addressing these challenges, Sun Siyam Pasikudah has implemented targeted initiatives to create a more inclusive environment.

The resort actively recruits women from local communities, offers comprehensive training, and provides a supportive and safe working environment. By doing so, the resort not only enhances the professional growth of its female employees but also contributes to the socio-economic development of the Eastern region.

“At Sun Siyam Pasikudah, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our success. We value the unique perspectives and talents our female team members bring, enriching guest experiences and strengthening community ties. Committed to equal opportunities, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been recognised as the Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka in 2025 by Global Finance, honouring the bank with this title on the international stage for the third consecutive year.

Announcing the latest winners of this prestigious accolade, Global Finance said they are banks and financial services providers that best serve SMEs’ specialised needs, and that the magazine’s editors selected the World’s Best SME Banks 2025 based on objective and subjective factors.

Recognised alongside Commercial Bank as the Best SME Banks in their respective countries were institutions of the calibre of Bank of America – USA; Lloyds Bank – UK; Commerzbank – Germany; Credit Agricole – France; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group – Japan; DBS – Singapore; HSBC – Hong Kong; HDFC – India; and Dutch-Bangla Bank – Bangladesh.