Business

EFC inspires inclusion to forge a more inclusive workplace for women

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/20

Women’s labour force participation in Sri Lanka has been declining over time. ILO has estimated that investing in policies and services to support workers with family responsibilities could generate a considerable number of jobs here at home, the bulk of which would go to women. These observations were made by the ILO Country Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Joni Simpson at a forum initiated by the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) recently to mark the International Women’s Day.

Delivering her keynote address at the EFC event under the banner- ‘Inspire Inclusion to forge a more inclusive workplace for women’, ILO Country Director further noted that the EFC, is well placed to promote and introduce policies and initiatives to ensure inclusivity and gender equality in the workplace.

“The EFC views upholding equity, diversity and inclusion at the workplace as one of the priorities whilst recognizing the need for creating respectful workplaces free of discrimination for all employees. It is with this in mind that the EFC organized an event of this nature to create awareness among enterprises and to share best practices adopted by our members, for others to emulate same,” Deputy Director General, EFC, Adhil Khasim remarked.

The panel discussion which followed brought three leading corporate figures on board- Gayani de Alwis, Sandra de Zoysa and Isuru Gunasekera who shared best practices adopted by their respective companies in realising an inclusive workplace. The session was moderated by EFC’s Senior Industrial Relations Advisor, Sonali de Silva.

Vice Chairperson of Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka and Founding Chairperson and Advisor- WiLAT Sri Lanka, Gayani de Alwis, among her observations, elaborated on the need to capture and retain the skills of Sri Lankan women and upskill them in the already shrinking women work force and to be more vocal about opportunities available for women in non-traditional sectors.

De Alwis also made a case for changing social dynamics to which the workplace needs to be adapted. “Today migration is rampant and a lot of women need to juggle their careers while looking after ageing parents. Our policies and laws should be flexible to cater to these changing dynamics.” She also cited the need for better access to career guidance.

Group Chief Customer Officer- Dialog Axiata PLC and Director- Dialog Business Services, Sandra de Zoysa remarked that the potential for women in the digital world is enormous and the industry should be supportive of a younger generation whose expectations are different to generations before them. “We need to be constantly reminding ourselves of how we could support a gig economy and how we should cater to cross-discipline engagement which the young generation prefers.”

Noting that these are exciting times for women to be in the workforce, De Zoysa who is a pioneer woman in the country’s mobile industry noted that injecting creativity to the workplace and enabling flexible work arrangements for continuous education is vital. She also cited the recent conversations about wellness, particularly the mental health of women employees which is critical to forge not only a productive workforce but also a happy home.

Chief People Officer and Head of Group Sustainability, Enterprise Risk Management & Group Inititaives and Executive Vice President John Keells Holdings PLC, Isuru Gunasekera threw light on the best practices at his company which promote an inclusive workplace for women. He cited ‘gender clarity’, ‘shedding unconscious biases’, ‘mentoring programmes’ and ‘equal parenting’ as some of these good practices which other companies could emulate. Elaboraring on the equal parenting initiative which is considered a ‘game-changer’ which grants 100 days of maternity/paternity leave, Gunasekera remarked that it strives to champion the father’s role in child care which is often undermined.

All panelists drove home the message that reskilling the workforce to meet the emerging job demands is critical, so that the country will have the ‘right narration’ by 2030.

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Business

‘Notable drop in SL’s 2025 tourism sector earnings compared to those of 2018’

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Chandana Amaradasa addressing the meeting while Rotary Club Colombo South President Kumar Sithambaram looks on.

The revenue that was earned from the tourism sector in 2025 was US $ 3.2 billion, which is a significant drop compared to the 2018 figure , which is US$ 4.3 billion, a top tourism sector specialist said.

‘Comparatively there is a revenue deficit of US $ 1.2 billion, which we cannot be satisfied with at any cost, ‘Island Leisure Lanka’ founder chairman Chandana Amaradasa said.

Amaradasa made these observations at a Rotary Club joint meeting organised by Rotary Club Colombo South, featuring also the Rotary Clubs of Kolonnawa and Sri Jayawardenapura, at the Kingsbury Hotel on Tuesday.

Amaradasa added: ‘To develop the tourism sector the government has to do many things which previous governments comprehensively failed to take up.

‘The revenue that comes from the local tourism sector is four to five percent of the GDP, while in Dubai it is more than 45 percent of the GDP.

‘At present the country has 51000 rooms, out of which not more than 10000 rooms are at the four to five star level. Of that number 6000 rooms are located in Colombo, which is a major issue for tourism promotion in tourism potential areas.

‘Sri Lanka should focus on high quality standards in tourism and also develop the East Coast with the necessary infrastructure; especially having an international airport is absolutely necessary.

‘Colombo could be developed as a MICE tourism hub in the region. But not having an international level conference/convention hall is a another bottle neck in promoting that market as well.’

By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️

Business

A Record Year for Marketing That Works: SLIM Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2025 crosses 300+ entries

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) announces a defining milestone for the country’s marketing, advertising, and creative sectors, as Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2025 records the highest number of entries in its history, crossing 300+ submissions. The unprecedented response reflects a stronger, more confident industry, one that is increasingly committed not only to bold creativity, but to creativity that can prove its value through measurable business and brand outcomes.

Now in its 17th year in Sri Lanka, the Effie Awards remain the most recognised benchmark for marketing effectiveness, honouring campaigns that bring together creative excellence, strategic discipline, and results. As the industry evolves, the Effies have become a space where the agency community, brand teams, media and creative partners are collectively challenged to raise the bar, moving beyond attention and awards, toward work that drives growth, shapes behaviour, and delivers real impact.

The record volume of entries this year also signals a healthy shift in the market: more brands and agencies are willing to be evaluated against rigorous effectiveness criteria, and to put forward work that demonstrates clear thinking, strong execution, and proof of performance. SLIM notes that this momentum highlights the expanding role of marketing and advertising in Sri Lanka, not simply as communication, but as a strategic driver of competitiveness and value creation.

SLIM confirms that the judging process will commence soon, guided by the established Effie evaluation framework that assesses entries on insight, strategy, execution, and measurable outcomes. The Grand Finale is scheduled for end-February 2026, where Sri Lanka’s most effective marketing work will be recognised on a national platform.

For inquiries, entries, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the SLIM Events Division: +94 70 326 6988 | +94 70 192 2623.

Business

The Unit Trust industry closes 2025 with Rs. 587 Bn assets under management

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

The Unit Trust industry of Sri Lanka reported a 7.8% year-over-year growth of its assets under management (AUM) to Rs. 587 Bn by the end of 2025. During the year, the AUM reached a high of Rs. 613 Bn, indicating continued interest in the asset category. These assets are currently managed across 86 funds by 16 management companies.

While fixed-income funds accounted for the largest share of AUM, equity-related funds saw strong inflows, increasing by Rs. 30 Bn in 2025 compared to just Rs. 2 Bn for fixed-income funds. This reflects improved investor sentiment, with a clear shift from a capital preservation mindset toward long-term capital growth.

The year also saw a move from ultra-safe short-term instruments to medium-term growth, with strong inflows into open-ended income funds, open-ended equity index/sector funds, and balanced funds, accompanied by a decline in inflows to money-market funds. Additionally, open-ended growth funds (equity) recorded a 79% year-over-year increase, signalling a rising risk appetite among investors.

Commenting on the full-year industry performance, Secretary of the Unit Trust Association of Sri Lanka (UTASL) and Director/CEO of Senfin Asset Management Jeevan Sukumaran noted: “Post-economic crisis, the unit trust industry has been on a strong upward trend with the AUM surpassing Rs. 600 Bn last year.

‘’The steady growth of the unit trust industry in 2025 is a strong indication of increasing investor confidence in professionally managed and well-regulated investment products. Beyond the growth in fund flows, we have also seen encouraging progress in expanding the investor base — not only in terms of unit holder numbers, but also in the broadening of investor demographics — reflecting a gradual shift towards long-term, market-linked investing.”