By Hiran H.Senewiratne

A local company which had come up with an innovative project to recycle shredded/discarded currency notes, has obtained clearance from international patent rights bodies to go ahead with the enterprise even as multiple inquiries pour in from EU countries to buy the product for a considerable payment.

‘When this innovation was offered to the Sri Lankan authorities they paid neither attention nor inquired after this eco-friendly currency disposable method. But it is now slated to start up as an international level business and some EU countries are offering billions of dollars, for the enterprise, Ceylon Eco Friendly Products (Pvt) Ltd chief Udaya Gunaratne said.

Gunaratne added: ‘The new method is registered under the international patent system, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with the file reference PCT/IB2023/057500. The International Searching Authority, which is the Korean Patent Office, has issued the International Search Report with A grade. More importantly, in the Written Opinion it has identified this invention as novel, inventive and industrially applicable.

‘Disposing of old currency is a major environmental problem the whole world faces. When the old currency is burnt it emits obnoxious fumes into the air and if it is buried the soil gets polluted. My innovative old currency disposable method is done by using fruits and vegetables.

‘We have developed a method and technique to use discarded currency notes to produce a strengthened material and a few vegetables and fruits, such as bottled gourd, sweet melon and lime are used in the process. We use a substance made out of these fruits to melt the shredded currency. We believe that fruit farmers of this country will benefit from my project as we can purchase fruits from them.

‘About 200 million grown trees are cut down yearly for paper- making. In other words, 24 grown trees are required to prepare 1 ton of paper. Currency notes are printed using high quality papers. More than 100 million tons of discarded currency notes are destroyed by Central Banks around the world. Discarded currency notes are burnt, or destroyed using various methods while small amounts are reused as raw material.

‘My project would save thousands of trees from being felled, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment. The estimated quantity of discarded currency notes worldwide amounts to multiple millions of tons, which could be used to manufacture the strengthened material in question. The latter could be used for the manufacture of particle high rise buildings, vehicle bonnets, upholstery and in many other industries.

‘The recycled currency notes have various usages, including manufacturing of stationery, packaging materials, souvenir items and even serve as a substitute for wooden planks.

‘I am planning to approach the authorities of a few countries to get his project going. I am confident that I will be able to go international, now that I have got patent rights. It is possible to get 60 tons of shredded currency notes per day, while 20 tons could be secured from Indonesia per day. If I was supported by the Sri Lankan authorities I would have been able to bring in $ 1.2million per month. Sri Lanka would not have to go through the painstaking debt restructuring process if such projects went ahead as the funds earned would have solved the forex issue.

‘I am also planning to launch another ambitious project to come up with an innovative kind of train ticket which could be printed locally. Vegetable seeds could be included in the manufacturing of these tickets. When added to the soil, these tickets yield plants of use.

‘Such projects would help the Sri Lankan people to cut down on their expenditure for essential food crops. More importantly, Sri Lanka would be able to cut down on its import expenditure and correct its balance of payment disequilibrium to a great extent. However, it is still left to be seen whether the country would make use of entrepreneurs such as us.’

LB Finance PLC has proudly secured the merit award at the inaugural Digital Trust Awards Night 2024, held at The Monarch Imperial in Thalawathugoda. The award was given in the “Technology Resilient Company of the Year” category, marking a significant milestone in LB Finance’s history. This recognition celebrates the company’s exceptional commitment to cybersecurity, digital innovation, and the promotion of digital trust.

The Digital Trust Awards Night was organized by ISACA Sri Lanka, a local chapter of the global association of IS security and governance professionals. ISACA Sri Lanka aims to promote and elevate the visibility of the IS audit, control, and security profession throughout the area by sponsoring local educational seminars and workshops.

ISACA is a worldwide association that focuses on assurance, security, and governance, providing globally recognized certifications such as CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), and CGEIT (Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT). The association is comprised of individual members who are often the sole practitioners of information systems auditing, security, and/or governance in their companies.

The event brought together distinguished guests and leading professionals from various industries to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to secure and trustworthy digital practices. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, the importance of robust digital trust has never been more pressing.

vivo V30 Series Captures the Thrill of the 2024 European Cup™ Opening Ceremony as Official Smartphone

The UEFA European Football Championship 2024 (UEFA EURO 2024™) opened on June 14th, 2024, at the Munich Football Arena in Germany, amidst the anticipation of fans worldwide. As one of the most watched football tournaments globally, it brings together top teams from across Europe and attracts millions of football lovers around the world. vivo again returns to the international football arena as the official partner of the UEFA EURO 2024™ following the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

vivo aims to enhance the spectator experience at UEFA EURO 2024™ by leveraging its industry-leading technologies, latest flagship portrait products, and rich experience in international sporting event collaborations. As the official partner of the UEFA EURO 2024™, the vivo V30 series will showcase its advanced imaging capabilities, allowing users to capture professional-quality portraits and exciting moments both on and off the field.

vivo V30 series: Capture WOW moments on the field with studio-level portrait photography

The new vivo V30 series elevates portrait photography with the latest Aura Light Portrait while delivering smooth performance, a bright display, and long battery life. Empowered by its exclusive technology, the soft light can intelligently calibrate its color temperature based on ambient environmental hues and modulate its brightness according to proximity. This innovation harmonises color tones with the surrounding environment, ensuring the creation of stunning portraits even in challenging lighting conditions.

The Synergy of Sport and Technology: Sharing the Joy of Humanity

The UEFA EURO 2024™ is not only a globally recognized sporting event but also a bridge for vivo to convey its “The Joy of Humanity” brand message to the global audience and connect with football fans around the world.

vivo has always been committed to delivering the authentic spirit of humanity and sport to global fans and audiences. As a leading smartphone brand, vivo keeps pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging through continuous research and innovation, strategic partnerships, and product development. With the unparalleled imaging capabilities of the vivo V30 series, football lovers and photographers will bring more possibilities for effortlessly capturing the beauty of sports at the UEFA EURO 2024™.

“Our partnership with UEFA EURO 2024™ allows us to enhance the user experience by enabling everyone to enjoy the beautiful game and capture their most cherished memories,” said Yongduan Zhou, General Manager of the Overseas Product Department. “The exciting game brings people all around the world together, and with the V30 Series, we want to fuel that passion by enabling users to become storytellers of this unforgettable journey. We’ll continue to develop the cutting-edge technologies that advance mobile photography and ensure that everyone can be a storyteller of their own experiences, with one single tap.”