Business
Convocation ceremony for 2nd batch of JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman Graduates concludes successfully
JAT Holdings PLC, the market leader for wood coatings in Sri Lanka, recently witnessed its 2nd batch of carpenters and woodcraftsmen successfully complete the JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman programme, receiving National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ), in partnership with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA). The JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman programme, initiated in 2021, reflects JAT Holdings’ commitment to uplifting the wood coatings industry by providing recognition, financial stability, and professional training to painters and carpenters. This long-term initiative is designed to enhance industry standards and empower individual woodcraftsmen who demonstrate exceptional skill, but have not had the opportunity to pursue formal certification.
Accordingly, the 2nd JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman Convocation Ceremony was held on the 16th of June 2023 at the JAT Holdings Auditorium. The Ceremony witnessed the graduation of 113 woodcraftsmen, who received NVQ Level 3 Certification from NAITA, in Wood Craftsmanship (Furniture Finishing). The event was graced by distinguished figures from the industry, National Bodies, NAITA and the Management of JAT Holdings PLC. The Chief Guest at the event was none other than, S.H.Harischandra,Vice Chairman, NAITA, whose presence lent an air of honour and prestige to the occasion. With the 2nd Convocation now complete, JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman has provided NVQ Level 3 certification to over 250 candidates.
Keynote addresses were delivered on the occasion of the 2nd JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman Convocation Ceremony by Dr Udena Wickramasinghe – Chairman of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, HS Harischandra – Vice Chairman of NAITA, and Wasantha Gunaratne – Director Sales and Technical at JAT Holdings PLC. Also of noteworthy presence at the event were the Chairman of NAITA, . W Ruchika Amerasekara, and Founder and Managing Director of JAT Holdings PLC,Aelian Gunawardana.
JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abiman is an ongoing programme that is implemented in two stages. Phase 1 of the programme involves the innovative JAT Loyalty Programme, which was rolled out in 2019. Diverging from conventional loyalty programs, JAT Loyalty allows customers (woodcraftsmen who are choose JAT products) to convert loyalty points into a monetary benefit through exclusive JAT branded debit cards, issued in partnership with Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, whilst also enjoying other privileges with JAT. This unique financial empowerment initiative has provided painters with increased financial stability, opportunities for savings and investment, and long-term financial independence for woodcraftsmen.
Reflecting on the success of JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman, Chief Guest, Mr. S.H.Harischandra,Vice Chairman, NAITA expressed, “The collaboration between JAT Holdings and NAITA has been truly transformative for the wood coatings industry. By providing uncertified skilled individuals with the opportunity to obtain official recognition and certification, we are not only elevating their career prospects but also enhancing the overall status of the industry. This partnership has been instrumental in promoting lifelong learning, skills development, and even international job opportunities for the graduates, enabling foreign earning and investments to the country, along with knowledge and skills growth.”
“JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman stands as the pinnacle achievement in the realm of painters, serving as the highest qualification one can aspire to in wood coatings and finishes. With a trailblazing spirit, JAT pioneered the art of wood coatings in Sri Lanka, revolutionizing industries and transforming the very fabric of craftsmanship. Embarking on this transformative journey in 1999, JAT undertook a mission to uplift the skills of painters through dedicated technical training programs. Over the years, these initiatives have empowered countless painters, nurturing their talents and honing their expertise. Today, the culmination of these tireless efforts is epitomized by the JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman program, an esteemed testament to their unmatched skills, recognized both locally and internationally. This prestigious accolade represents the zenith of their craftsmanship, a symbol of excellence in the world of wood coatings and finishes.” expressed Mr. Wasantha Gunaratne, Director Sales and Technical, JAT Holdings
The JAT Pintharoo Shilpee Abhiman programme aligns with several United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Furthermore, by engineering water-based solutions and implementing key technical improvements, brought about by the Group’s R&D Centre, into its products, JAT Holdings PLC is actively contributing towards industry- and national-level sustainability efforts, whilst positively impacting livelihood development and education within its communities.
JAT Holdings PLC is the market leader in wood coatings and brushes in Sri Lanka, with a dominant presence in the paints, and luxury home and office furnishing sectors. With two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, located in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, supported by an advanced Research and Development Centre in Sri Lanka, JAT Holdings continues to fuel innovation, solidifying its position as a key player and emerging conglomerate in the region. Recognized for its financial stability, even in times of adversity, JAT Holdings PLC has been awarded a National Long-Term Rating of ‘AA(lka)’ by Fitch Ratings, whilst also being prestigiously ranked as the No. 1 Most Awarded Entity in the Diversified Sector by LMD. JAT Holdings’ commitment to its employees and workplace excellence has also been recognized through its certification as a Great Place to Work, making it an employer of choice.
Sri Lanka’s national economic discourse takes center stage today as the country’s premier private-sector body, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, hosts the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.
Convening on October 12 and 13, the two-day summit brings together an influential gathering of senior policymakers, international financiers, multilateral development partners, and private-sector captains to chart the island’s next phase of macroeconomic growth.
Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” this year’s forum marks a critical inflection point in the nation’s post-crisis trajectory.
As Sri Lanka shifts its emphasis from immediate financial stabilization toward sustainable, long-term expansion, the summit aims to address the structural imperatives necessary to secure high-impact foreign direct investment (FDI), deepen regional trade integration, and unlock emerging sectors of economic activity.
The core agenda over the two days focuses on building resilience across volatile global market cycles while executing targeted policy reforms. Key working sessions will examine:
Regional Value Chains & Trade Integration: Leveraging Sri Lanka’s strategic Indian Ocean geography to capture higher-value export flows and commercial linkages.
Energy & Infrastructure Transformation: Accelerating renewable energy integration and modernizing national utility policy.
Digital Economy & Public Modernization: Deploying digital technologies across public administration and financial services to enhance operational efficiency and transparency.
Sectoral Priorities: Modernizing healthcare infrastructure and agricultural value-addition to build a robust domestic economic base.
A defining feature of this year’s summit is the strong convergence between state policy and global commercial expertise. Keynote addresses and panel discussions will feature prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and T. Krishnakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd.
They will be joined by senior delegations and policy experts from major global institutions, including:
= The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
= The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
= Standard Chartered Bank
= Zydus Lifesciences
The active participation of the country’s highest executive and legislative leadership across both days underscores a clear policy commitment to private-sector-led growth. By establishing a direct, high-level platform for dialogue between investors and policymakers, the Ceylon Chamber’s summit seeks to refine regulatory frameworks, improve the ease of doing business, and establish a clear, predictable environment for capital formation in the years ahead.
Microsoft and several other technology firms have been barred by the White House from hiring skilled international workers on a permanent basis through a widely used visa programme.
US Vice-President JD Vance on Thursday accused Microsoft alongside other firms of committing fraud through the use of the H-1B visa programme and a related process for workers from abroad to become permanent US residents.
Vance claimed that Microsoft, one of the most valuable companies in the US, has been effectively replacing American workers with “foreign indentured servants.”
Microsoft said most of the H-1B visas filed over the last financial year were for existing workers, who are paid the same as local staff.
“No company in the US has abused this system more than Microsoft,” Vance said.
He also made similar accusations about Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.
The US government will not process any new or pending Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) applications from Microsoft or the seven other companies, Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said during the same conference.
Sonderling said companies like Microsoft, as well as US universities, have turned into “visa mills” that were “flooding” the US with foreign workers.
The BBC has contacted all of the companies for comment.
The total number of H-1B visas, a precursor to anyone seeking to go through the PERM process, is capped at 85,000 per year.
A spokeswoman for Microsoft noted to the BBC that “the vast majority of Microsoft employees in the United States are Americans.” The company employs more than 200,000 people worldwide.
In response to emerging climate risks, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has launched a proactive initiative through its Development Credit Department, to equip Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector against the potential impacts of the 2026 El Niño climate pattern.
Seeking to move the industry from reactive loss management to early climate preparedness, the Bank partnered with leading state universities to execute a two-part educational and technological intervention in September 2026.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture. Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology reported an 80% probability of El Niño conditions emerging between June and August 2026, with effects expected to persist through November and beyond. As highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), El Niño acts as a risk multiplier for rural livelihoods, food production, and water supply.
To mitigate these threats, the Bank’s initiative creates a collaborative network uniting academic institutions, agricultural extension services, technology providers, farming communities, and the financial sector. The awareness programme on El-Niño and its impact on agriculture was supported by 12 Commercial Bank branches, and engaged with more than 1,100 farmers at 15 diverse locations, including Vattapalai, Muththajankaddu, Palampas, Oddusuddan, Siyambalanduwa, Lindula, Neluwa, Kalawana, Pannala, Madampe, Mannar, Vavuniya and Kumalamunai.
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva and North-Western provinces and in Anuradhapura and Mannar districts.
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