News
Former chairman of CAASL appointed Chairman of Hilton Hotel
Former chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) Upul Dharmadasa, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC, which operates the Hilton Hotel, Colombo.
Dharamadasa is a graduate of the Ceylon Hotels School, who ended up operating the online largest Sri Lankan overseas hotel booking search engine named UTravel, based in Los Angeles.
He is also a former member of the hospitality sector of Sri Lanka and served at Hotel Intercontinental, Holiday inn, and Oberoi, and was Head of the Food and Beverages on board Lanka Kalyani, the cadet training ship of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation before migrating to the United States joining his wife, Barbara Dharmadasa. There, he completed Nutrition and Food Service Professional Training at the University of North Dakota, USA and worked as an in-house hospital dietician before starting his Upuls Travel Service.
After several decades, Dharmadasa returned home in the year 2020 to take over the position at the CAASL, where he was notably empathetic towards the staff at all levels and was often seen at their weddings, funerals, and other social functions, and the entire staff became one family who pulled the tug in one direction. His concern extended to the staff at all levels, including the minor staff of Abans Company who carried out the janitorial services, he considered to be the silent contributors to the organization’s success and as a result, the two strong unions operating at the time he assumed duties were dissolved by its members in the belief that Dharmadasa, as Chairman, with the assistance of the Board, was taking care of their legitimate concerns.
Former Monitoring Member of Parliament for the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin Vass Gunawardena was arrested yesterday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations of earning illegal assets worth Rs. 243.8 million.
The ex-parliamentarian was arrested when he arrived at the CIABOC (09) to give a statement regarding alleged accumulation of assets through allegedly illegal means.
He was remanded until 24 March by the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Asanga S Bodaragama.
Twenty two of the Iranian naval personnel receiving treatment at the Karapitiya National Hospital were discharged from hospital on Saturday (7), hospital Director S.D.U.M. Ranga said.
Thirty two Iranian Navy personnel who were injured in an attack on a vessel belonging to the Iranian Navy had been admitted to the Karapitiya National Hospital.
The Hospital Director said 22 of the injured sailors had recovered and were discharged, while 10 others were still receiving treatment.
He also said that one critically injured sailor had been transferred to a ward.
The post-mortem examinations of the 84 deceased sailors have been completed, and the bodies have been placed inside two refrigerated containers within the hospital premises, he added.
The Sri Lanka Bonsai Association (SLBA) will host its annual bonsai exhibition, “Reflections 2026 – Living Images,” on March 13 and 14 at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, the orgnizers announced.
They promised “a serene visual journey into the living art of bonsai, showcasing meticulously trained miniature trees created by their members.”
The event will include live bonsai demonstrations for enthusiasts and beginners alike. A demonstration is scheduled for 3 pm on March 14 followed by another at 11 am on March 15.
“This will give visitors an opportunity to observe techniques, ask questions, and gain practical insight into this ancient art form. They will also be able to purchase bonsai pots and related materials,” the organizers said.
Bonsai is believed to have originated in China over a thousand years ago before being refined and popularized in Japan and then spreading to the rest of the world. The art involves cultivating and shaping trees in containers to reflect the beauty, balance, and spirit of nature in miniature form.
More than horticulture, bonsai is considered a meditative practice that blends patience, aesthetics, and a deep respect for natural growth.
The Sri Lanka Bonsai Association founded in 1989 has played a pioneering role in promoting and developing bonsai art in Sri Lanka. Since its inception, SLBA has brought together enthusiasts from across the island.
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