Sri Lanka this week finds itself at the centre of a deepening global ocean crisis, as leading scientists, policymakers and conservationists gather in Colombo for Sharks International 2026—a high-profile summit unfolding against mounting evidence that the world is rapidly losing control of its marine ecosystems.

The conference, now underway at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, marks the first time the prestigious forum has been hosted in Sri Lanka. But beneath the diplomatic language and scientific exchanges lies a far more urgent reality: the collapse of shark and ray populations is no longer a distant environmental concern—it is an unfolding economic and food security emergency.

More than 100 million sharks and rays are being wiped out globally each year, largely due to overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In Sri Lanka, the situation is particularly acute. Of the 105 species recorded in local waters, nearly 70 are now threatened with extinction, a statistic that scientists warn should set off alarm bells far beyond conservation circles.

Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody did not mince words when addressing the gathering, framing the issue not just as an ecological tragedy but as a looming economic shock.

“This is not just about saving species. It is about protecting the foundation of our fisheries, our food systems, and the livelihoods of thousands of Sri Lankans. If shark and ray populations collapse, the consequences will ripple through the entire marine economy,” he said.

Sharks and rays sit at the top of the ocean food chain. Their disappearance disrupts the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, triggering cascading effects that can decimate commercially valuable fish stocks. For a country like Sri Lanka—where coastal communities depend heavily on fisheries—this is not an abstract threat but a direct challenge to economic stability.

Yet despite years of warnings, critics argue that global action has been dangerously slow, fragmented, and often undermined by competing commercial interests.

By Ifham Nizam

SriLankan Airlines led with two wins in the Airline Award category for South Asia, securing both Best Overall Passenger Experience and Most Improved Airline at the PAX International Readership Awards 2026 held recently in Hamburg, Germany. The awards celebrate the industry’s best and brightest, with winners determined by votes from PAX’s global readership.

The Best Overall Passenger Experience – South Asia award recognises an airline that delivers an exceptional onboard experience to passengers across multiple service areas, including meal service, inflight entertainment and seating. At SriLankan Airlines, this entails meticulous planning at every stage of the passenger journey, supported by collaboration among multiple teams and continuous monitoring and refinement.

Maria Sathasivam, Manager Product Development of SriLankan Airlines, commented on the achievement, stating, “we are incredibly honoured to receive yet another independent endorsement of the service we deliver. Every interaction matters to us, and we are committed to consistently meeting and exceeding passenger expectations, and it is truly rewarding to see these efforts recognised.”

SriLankan Airlines continues to enhance the end-to-end travel experience, from booking through to arrival. Ongoing digital upgrades, including improvements to the airline’s website and app, are designed to deliver a more intuitive and seamless customer experience, supported by AI-driven features and expanded ancillary offerings. At its hub, the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, the airline has also expanded self-check-in and bag drop facilities for added convenience.

In recognition of its outstanding performance and continued leadership in the banking sector, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has once again been adjudged the ‘Best Bank in Sri Lanka’ by the US-based Global Finance magazine, marking the 24th occasion the Bank has received this prestigious accolade.

The accolade comes as part of Global Finance’s ‘World’s Best Banks 2026’ awards, which recognise top-performing banks in more than 150 countries, territories and districts across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Commercial Bank stands alongside some of the world’s most prominent banking institutions, including CBA (Australia), ICBC (China), Bank of China (Hong Kong), ANZ (New Zealand), DBS (Singapore), MUFG (Japan), State Bank of India (India), City Bank (Bangladesh), Hana Bank (South Korea) and Techcom Bank (Vietnam), all of which were adjudged the best banks in their respective countries.