Business
Fems AYA Celebrates the first year of its journey of eradicating period poverty
Fems Aya, the nationwide initiative of Fems, the feminine Sanitary Care brand of Hemas Consumer Brands celebrates its first anniversary of impacting lives and communities by offering awareness on menstrual health and equal access to low-cost high quality sanitary napkins.
Fems launched its purposeful initiative ‘Fems AYA’ on the International Women’s Day – March 8th, 2021, together with like-minded partners who are the Merrill J. Fernando Foundation, the Arka Initiative, Sarvodaya Women’s Movement, and Sarvodaya-Fusion. Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control graced the event as chief guest supported by media personal
Throughout the past year and right through the pandemic Fems continued to create training and education for 2500 women in local communities in rural villages to plantation workers and youth. Training programmes were conducted, both virtually and in person, with the support of the project partners.
Being a progressive corporate leader, Hemas Consumer Brands was the first corporate that decided to live its purpose within the organization by implementing an in-house free distribution of Fems AYA sanitary napkins to 6700+ employees of both genders. This internal distribution amongst their workforce helped further push the normalization of the conversation among their personal and professional settings. The product itself played the role of delivering access to an affordable and high-quality menstrual hygiene product, but the drive encouraged all team members to get involved in the all-important discussion on menstrual health and hygiene.
The lack of knowledge about menstrual health and hygiene and the social stigma attached to periods hold back most people from talking about these topics openly. Hemas Consumer Brands believes that irrespective of gender, everyone should be able to speak about menstrual health and hygiene openly while menstrual education must be a part of society, which in turn will end the stigma surrounding menstrual health. In this regard, men can play a big role by taking the message across society and normalizing this conversation.
Along with the nationwide awareness initiative, Fems introduced Fems AYA, to address the need for an affordable sanitary napkin for Sri Lankan women. Fems AYA, a high-quality cotton-feel sanitary napkin with wings is manufactured in line with international standards and helps women stay comfortable and confident. All the raw materials used in its production meet the necessary safety standards, and it comes with a soft cotton-feel sheet for the woman’s comfort and wings for maximum protection.
Fems a brand that understands the needs of every Sri Lankan woman and delivers the promise of superior comfort and protection. Fems is available nationwide and is accessible to consumers in both urban and rural areas. As one of Sri Lanka’s leading sanitary care brands, Fems has won the hearts of many Sri Lankan women over the years and is renowned for providing superior comfort, protection, and cleanliness for women to rise above.
Business
Ambeon Securities hosts exclusive investor forum on Sri Lanka’s economic and market outlook
Ambeon Securities recently hosted an exclusive investor forum, bringing together clients, investors, business leaders, and market professionals for an insightful discussion on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook and investment opportunities amidst a challenging global landscape.
The event was organized with the objective of providing investors with valuable insights to make better-informed investment decisions while further strengthening the firm’s engagement with its growing client base.
The forum featured Baqar Zaidi, Director and Chief Economist for Sri Lanka and India at Citi Research, as the keynote speaker. Sharing his perspectives on the evolving global macroeconomic environment, Mr. Zaidi discussed key themes influencing emerging and frontier markets, Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, and the opportunities lie ahead.
The keynote address was followed by an engaging panel discussion comprising Baqar Zaidi, Aravinda De Silva, respected investor, entrepreneur, and the Chairman of Arcasia Holdings. Hasitha Premaratne, Group Managing Director of Brandix and Asanka Herath, Chief Executive Officer – Unit Trusts and Head of Equities at LYNEAR Wealth Management.
Moderated by Imran Furkan, the panel explored a range of topics including Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic outlook, the future of the Colombo Stock Exchange, sectoral opportunities, capital allocation strategies, investor confidence, and the role of policy reforms in attracting investment and supporting long-term growth.
Speaking at the event, Charith Kamaladasa, Chief Executive Officer of Ambeon Securities, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to facilitate quality insights, informed perspectives, and meaningful dialogue to support their clients while building lasting relationships with them. He noted that in an environment where uncertainty has become the new normal, equipping investors with timely information and expert perspectives is essential for successful wealth creation.
The event was well attended by a distinguished gathering of institutional investors, high-net-worth investors, and business leaders. Among those present were members of the Ambeon Group Board, including Group Chairman Sujeewa Mudalige, Group CEO Dr. Sajeeva Narangoda, and Chairman of Ambeon Securities Mangala Boyagoda. Their presence, together with the participation of Ambeon Group shareholders and valued clients, enriched the discussions and contributed to a vibrant networking session, fostering meaningful dialogue and stronger connections within the investment community.
Through initiatives such as this, Ambeon Securities continues to reinforce its commitment to helping clients navigate evolving market conditions, make informed investment decisions, and achieve their long-term financial goals.
Business
Tata Group leads humanitarian education support initiative with DIMO and ChildFund
The Tata Group, in partnership with ChildFund and DIMO, has successfully implemented a humanitarian education support initiative for disaster-affected schoolchildren in Sri Lanka, reaffirming its commitment to helping communities recover from the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent floods.
Following a formal request for support from Sri Lanka, an on-ground assessment was conducted in December 2025. Recognizing the urgent need, several Tata companies joined forces to implement the response program.
As part of this initiative, the ‘Hope in a Backpack’ programme, which provides disaster-affected children with essential educational supplies, was launched by the Tata Group at Taj Samudra, Colombo, in the presence of the Chief Guest, Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya; the Guest of Honour, Hon. Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha; Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO; Chacko Thomas, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tata Sons; and Aditi Ghosh, Country Director, ChildFund.
This initiative is part of DIMO’s Social and Community Pillar, under the project theme ‘Lassana Hetak,’ which focuses on giving the future generation a helping hand towards a better future.
This collective effort was further strengthened by volunteers from Tata and DIMO, who actively mobilized on the ground to pack, distribute, and support affected communities. During the proceedings, specially invited schoolchildren received the backpacks with essential supplies as well.
Commenting on the partnership, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO, said: “DIMO is proud to collaborate on this meaningful initiative alongside the Tata Group and ChildFund as the local implementation and logistics partner. Our relationship with Tata spans more than six decades and has been built on a shared commitment to ethical business practices, trust, and creating lasting value for the communities we serve. These values have shaped our partnership over the years, extending beyond business to initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
Business
NovaNest Properties launches Rainbow Apartments in Ratmalana
NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd has officially launched Rainbow Apartments, a new residential development in Ratmalana. The announcement was made at an official launch event held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, marking the company’s latest addition to Sri Lanka’s growing apartment market.
The development is designed to cater to homebuyers seeking modern urban living, as well as investors looking for long-term value. Rainbow Apartments is located in Ratmalana, an area of increasing residential interest, and benefits from the suburb’s established social infrastructure, proximity to major transportation links, and accessibility to Colombo.
The project reflects NovaNest Properties’ commitment to delivering quality residential developments that combine contemporary design with practical living. Intended to satisfy the evolving lifestyle demands of today’s homeowners, Rainbow Apartments features thoughtfully designed living spaces supported by modern amenities. These include two infinity pools, a gym, fully functional workspaces, a mini theatre, stylish cafés, a mini-mart, and a children’s daycare. Additionally, it features a full time medical centre backed by Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Colombo, with a 24-hour ambulance service.
Commenting on the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd, Samitha Waidyasekera, said, “Today’s buyers are looking beyond square footage. In addition to providing long-term value, they want homes that are close to the places where they work, learn, and spend their time. With that shift in mind, Rainbow Apartments was created to bring together a strategic location, thoughtful design, and quality construction in a way that will continue to meet buyers’ needs for years to come. Through our promise of ‘Luxury Beyond Expectations,’ we are committed to delivering an elevated lifestyle experience that combines comfort, convenience, and modern living.
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