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Climate risks, poverty, and recovery financing in focus at CEPA policy panel

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Speakers and panelists at CEPA’s policy panel on environmental disasters and poverty, held on 26 January at the Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala.

Sri Lanka’s rising exposure to climate-related disasters and their growing implications for poverty, development planning, and fiscal sustainability were examined at a high-level policy panel organised by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development of the Open University of Sri Lanka.

The discussion, titled “Facing the Future: Environmental Disasters and Poverty in Sri Lanka,” was held on 26 January at the Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, against the backdrop of Cyclone Ditwah and a series of climate shocks that have intensified vulnerabilities as the country recovers from the 2022 economic crisis.

Addressing post-disaster recovery financing, John Keells Holdings Chairperson and CEO Krishan Balendra said the private sector’s role has been focused on mobilising funds rather than determining reconstruction priorities. He noted that fiscal discipline maintained since the economic crisis allowed the Government to finance immediate relief without emergency market borrowing. The Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, he said, has so far mobilised over Rs. 8.4 billion from private sector sources, with additional commitments expected as overseas partners complete approval processes.

Several panellists highlighted that Sri Lanka’s disaster risks are being amplified by weaknesses in development planning and institutional coordination. Prof. Jagath Munasinghe of the University of Moratuwa observed that while Sri Lanka has numerous institutions and plans, the core challenge lies in poor coordination and weak implementation frameworks. He stressed that the country has repeatedly failed to undertake advance risk and damage assessments despite decades of exposure to floods, landslides, and other disasters, limiting opportunities to genuinely “build back better.”

From an environmental economics perspective, Dr. Herath Gunathilake emphasised that climate-related disasters are scientifically linked to global climate change, even as global governance systems for climate action weaken. Given Sri Lanka’s limited capacity to influence global emissions outcomes, he argued that national policy must place greater emphasis on adaptation, resilience, and disaster preparedness, while continuing to meet international climate responsibilities.

Concerns were also raised regarding environmental regulation and enforcement. Kusala Mahalekama, Director, Strategic Environmental Assessment at the Central Environmental Authority, pointed to capacity constraints in monitoring compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions, particularly in infrastructure, irrigation, and energy projects. She underscored the importance of expanding Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) at national and regional levels to integrate disaster risk reduction into policies, plans, and programmes, allowing for better mapping of vulnerable ecosystems and communities.

Linking environmental vulnerability with long-standing development challenges, CEPA Executive Director Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne noted that Sri Lanka’s limited urbanisation and industrialisation have resulted in nearly 78.5% of the population living in rural areas, often in environmentally fragile locations such as riverbanks, coastal belts, and landslide-prone zones. He stressed that disaster mitigation should focus on reducing people’s exposure to risk through better spatial planning, urban development, and livelihood diversification, rather than attempting to prevent natural events themselves.

Delivering opening remarks, UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota highlighted the importance of nationally led assessment and recovery frameworks. She explained that different post-disaster assessment tools serve distinct purposes and should not be directly compared. Sri Lanka’s Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) led by the Disaster Management Centre and Ministry of Finance, she said, represents the most comprehensive national instrument to guide emergency financing, recovery planning, and a coordinated “Building Back Better” approach based on hazard-informed planning and stronger institutional collaboration.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Senior Advisor at CEPA and Visiting Fellow at ODI, UK. Participants agreed that without deeper integration of disaster risk reduction into development planning, climate shocks could undermine recovery gains and place renewed pressure on public finances and livelihoods.



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British Council Sri Lanka launches soft skills workshops to elevate learning and empower communication

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The British Council team answering questions on Corporate English Solutions from leading corporates about professional development skills courses

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.

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Ogilvy Group tops award tally at ‘Dragons of Sri Lanka’ 2026

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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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Anjalie Munasinghe appointed Secretary of CIPR International

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Anjalie Munasinghe, Manager, PR & Social Intelligence at Mark and Comm, appointed Secretary of CIPR International

Mark and Comm, Sri Lanka’s leading boutique public relations and communications agency, today announced that Anjalie Munasinghe, its Manager, PR & Social Intelligence, has been appointed Secretary of CIPR International, the international chapter of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Munasinghe brings more than ten years of experience in PR, account management and media monitoring across some of Sri Lanka’s leading agencies. She joined Mark and Comm most recently from AdFactors PR Sri Lanka, where she served as Consultant, Digital Reputation Management, overseeing real time media intelligence and analysis for clients. Before that she was Manager, Public Relations at MullenLowe Sri Lanka.

Her career also spans Senior Public Relations Executive at HardTalk, close to eight years as Public Relations Executive at NGage Strategic Alliance, where her clients and her early training as an AV Coordinator at Ogilvy Sri Lanka. She is a specialist in social listening, crisis communications, sentiment analysis and real time media monitoring, and continues to contribute as an expert commentary or voice to the national media.

CIPR International connects public relations practitioners across five continents and is one of the largest and most diverse sectoral groups within the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, with close to 1,000 members. Mark and Comm’s Managing Director, Thanzyl Thajudeen, also sits on the CIPR International Committee, making Munasinghe’s appointment the second held by someone from the agency and from Sri Lanka.

Taazima Kala, Chair of CIPR International, said: “Anjalie brings the kind of practitioner experience and regional insight the Committee relies on. Her work across Sri Lanka’s public relations industry, particularly in crisis communications and media intelligence, speaks for itself, and we look forward to her contribution as Secretary.”

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