Business

Eye-openers on reading and education disseminated at BCIS

Published

2 years ago

2024/11/12

Dr. Madhubhashini Disanayake Ratnayake (L) / Dr. Preethi Liyanage (R)

Intellectual curiosity is the key to knowledge and wisdom and without an undying thirst for reading, which triggers such an urge, these invaluable personal assets could never be acquired. This thought provoking message was conveyed to nearly a hundred local primary and secondary students who were visitors to the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Colombo on October 25th by Senior Lecturer, Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Madhubashini Disanayake Ratnayake.

Dr. Disanayake Ratnayake was speaking on the subject: ‘The Role of Reading in Shaping Futures in an Interconnected World.’

The event was launched, in view of National Reading Month, by the BCIS, which is celebrating the 50th year of its founding this year. Besides imparting to the students the value of the reading habit, the BCIS also intended to introduce the students to its well-equipped library, which is an invaluable resource base for those desirous of seeking a well-rounded education. For those in pursuit of cutting-edge knowledge in particularly International Relations, the BCIS Library is a veritable ‘must-go-to’ institution.

The relevant programs were conducted by the BCIS staff under the guidance of the institution’s Executive Director, Ms. Priyanthi Fernando.

The students were taken on a tour of the BCIS Library and other knowledge resources of the institution with the aim of stimulating in them the reading habit and a zest for knowledge-seeking. Such projects couldn’t have come at a better time than the present when local education at school level in particular is mainly examination-oriented.

The following are some key ‘take-away’ points, Dr. Madhubashini presented to her young audience: ‘Although exams are important, they are by no means the end-all and be-all of education. Being well-read, on the other hand, opens the door to in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge which will lead to the intellectual self-sufficiency of any individual, young or old.

‘Acquiring knowledge through continuous reading is, accordingly, a life-long process. It leads to knowledge empowerment even in one’s old age and the acquiring of ‘paper qualifications’ is not essential at the end of this process.

‘It is important to read whenever there is a possibility to do so. Reading even half a page of a literary work per day that proves enjoyable will serve the cause of one’s literacy. This points to the importance of time-management.

‘Acquiring membership of the country’s important libraries, including the National Library and its branches, will prove a great fillip in this process of educational empowerment.’

President, Sri Lanka Library Association and Librarian /Registrar, CFPS Law School, Dr. Preethi Liyanage, who also addressed the students was equally emphatic about the need for enthusiastic and continuous reading. The branches of the National Library which are spread far and wide in Sri Lanka are a boon that should be tapped effectively he pointed out.

Dr. Liyanage stressed the following: ‘Acquiring membership of the town branch of the National Library is a most inexpensive process. The annual fee that should be paid by a student is very nominal and it is not compulsory that a student be a resident of the Colombo District to be a member of the ‘Colombo Public Library’ any longer. Anyone from anywhere in the island is eligible to be a member of the ‘parent library’.

‘Literacy and knowledge is not a matter of acquiring high-sounding formal qualifications. Literary greats of Sri Lanka of yesteryear, such as Martin Wickremesinghe and G.B. Senanayake, could not boast of long primary and secondary school careers. However, they were avid readers who made good use of the country’s libraries. Their knowledge and literary greatness derived entirely from their undying reading habit.

‘Next time you wish to give someone a present, don’t give him or her a cake or sweetmeats which only invite illness. Present them with a valuable book instead.’

Lynn Ockersz

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Business

“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/21

Priyan

The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).

The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.

The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.

The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.

President’s Media Division)

Business

Charting a worker-centered AI future: Colombo hosts landmark ITF conference

Published

21 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

The ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Artificial intelligence and automation present serious challenges for workers – such as job consequences seen in docks and rail systems – and emphasises that workers cannot simply stop technological progress. By gathering young trade unionists in Sri Lanka, the ITF aims to establish key principles for engaging with technology, ensuring workers have a strong voice at the bargaining table, and encouraging constructive social dialogue with corporations and governments.

These compelling words from ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton underscored the urgent reality facing modern labor as rapid technological advancements sweep across global industries.

Confronting this shifting landscape head-on, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in partnership with the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka (NUSS), convened a ground-breaking conference on artificial intelligence in Colombo from September 15–17.

As the ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka, the landmark event marked a critical milestone in balancing technological innovation with worker-centered safeguards.

Representing over 16.6 million transport workers worldwide, the ITF designed the gathering to tackle the multifaceted impacts of AI on safety, operations, workforce development, and governance. Rather than resisting progress, the conference focused on proactive engagement, establishing guiding principles to protect workers’ rights and privacy both at sea and on land.

Key discussions centred on sharing best practices for upskilling and reskilling transport personnel, ensuring that human oversight remains central to AI-driven logistics, routing, and maintenance.

Reflecting on the historic nature of the event, Boa Athu, CEO of National Union of Seafarers Asia Pacific, noted that the conference represented a monumental moment as AI emerges as a permanent fixture of contemporary life.

Highlighting NUSS’s pride in hosting the event in Colombo, Athu emphasised that AI offers transformative potential when guided by strong social dialogue, equitable access to training, and robust governance safeguards.

Ultimately, the Colombo conference demonstrated that the future of transport must be shaped by those who keep the world moving. By uniting international labour leaders, affiliates, port operators, and regulators, the event laid a vital foundation for inclusive policy frameworks that champion fair labour standards, securing a powerful voice for workers in an automated tomorrow.

Business

Bridging the digital divide: Sri Lanka’s airport licence challenge

Published

21 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

As tourism surges from digitally advanced markets like India, modern independent travelers arriving at BIA find themselves caught in a mismatch between cloudstored credentials and local paper-based transport protocols.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

As Sri Lanka experiences a surge in visitors from its largest tourist market, India, a modern administrative hurdle has emerged at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

While nations like India and Pakistan have successfully transitioned to fully digital driving licences and cashless ecosystems, Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic counter still requires a physical card to issue temporary local permits, The Island Financial Review learns.

This mismatch creates significant friction for independent travelers who rely entirely on smartphones and cloud-stored credentials. Tourists turned away at the airport – and sometimes redirected to the Werahera office in vain – find themselves unable to legally rent and drive vehicles. Consequently, this policy gap harms local car rental operators, causes tourist frustration, and deprives the government of valuable permit revenue.

The situation highlights a distinct irony: Sri Lankan motorists easily travel abroad using International Driving Permits that are readily accepted in India and Pakistan, yet local infrastructure cannot reciprocate due to outdated verification systems.

Recognizing the problem, Department of Motor Traffic officials have noted that upgrades and new equipment are currently in the works to integrate foreign digital platforms.

For a nation aggressively pursuing a national digitalisation drive, rapidly modernising these transport protocols is essential to keeping pace with global travelers and unlocking the full potential of its tourism economy.