Business
Huawei to Build a Smart Talent Ecosystem in South Asia
Huawei plans to develop fifty thousand ICT talents in South Asia in the next five years. The strategy will include various programs like building ICT academies, different ICT and startup competitions, online course enrollment, fresh employee recruitment, etc. The announcement has come in an event titled ‘Building a Smart Talent Ecosystem, In South Asia, For south Asia’ held at its representative office of South Asia.
The event has been attended by journalists and Huawei officials from Huawei South Asia countries. Yuying Karl, Bangladesh Country Director, South Asia Public Relations Department, shared the insight and plan at the event.
Recently Huawei has formed its South Asia representative office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, involving Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh itself. This segment will be a sub-region of Huawei Asia Pacific region. The main purpose of establishing this sub-region is to support the region with more attention and create better value for the customers, partners, ecosystem, as well as society with the inspiration ‘In South Asia, For South Asia’.
Among all key strategies, Huawei has always emphasized talent development since it believes in local empowerment and collaborative success. With that focus, Huawei has developed more than 6,000 ICT talents last year in South Asia. And now this company has the plan to develop 50,000 new ICT talents by next five year.
Seeds For The Future is Huawei’s flagship program for undergraduate students that being organized for last several years in the countries of Huawei South Asia. Apart from that, Huawei organizes ICT Incubator from startups facilitating them with seed money, technology, and guidance support. It also organizes special programs for women in the ICT field.
Huawei has also developed Huawei South Asia Academy, connecting stakeholders like government technical officers, telco operators, academicians, CSE/EEE students, and overall ecosystem partners. The worldwide business case scenarios of the latest ICT innovations, engineering courses, solutions, and so on that Huawei has got with its significant investment in research and development for more than 30 years will be showcased here.
ICT Academies are being built with different engineering universities in South Asia so that students can enroll for their desired programs and achieve globally accepted certificates.
Yuying shared, “Three things have been very important to Huawei. Supporting the industry with cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, sustainable development, and Cultivating ICT talents. Huawei is one of the leading companies that invested significantly in research and development. That helps us to provide best technology to the ecosystem partners so that we can grow together. Besides, countries have adopted digital strategy recently will largely depend on skilled youth. Huawei, as a responsible partner of ICT development has fixed solid plan for talent development.”
He added, “By the end of 2022, we established Huawei ICT Academies with more than 2,200 universities across the globe. Through this program, we train an average of more than 200,000 students each year.
At the event, Yuying also informed that in 2022, Huawei generated USD 93.5 billion in revenue and USD 5.2 billion (approx.) in net profits. Huawei continues to strengthen its investment in R&D, with an annual expenditure of USD 23.5 billion in 2022, representing 25.1% of the company’s annual revenue and bringing its total R&D expenditure over the past ten years to more than USD 142.3 billion.
Business
Low-floor buses launched to boost accessible public transport for differently-abled
A new low-floor bus service that gives priority to persons with disabilities and special needs was launched last Tuesday (21) from the Makumbura Multimodal Center (MMC).
The service was inaugurated under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake.
Accordingly, ten specially designed low-floor buses have been introduced into the transport service today. These buses are specially designed so that wheelchair users, visually impaired passengers and also expectant women can board the bus with ease, the Transport Ministry said.
Each bus has 30 passenger seats and separate seating areas have been allocated for passengers using wheelchairs.
The pilot project operates on routes from Makumbura to Colombo Fort and from Makumbura to Kadawatha. These routes also cover major hospitals including the Colombo National Hospital and the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital.
Speaking at the event, Subject Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that while these buses prioritize the differently-abled community, they will also provide a comfortable and reliable transport service for all passengers.
He also noted that 122 low-floor buses are planned to be introduced into service before the end of this year, and that in the future the service will be expanded to areas such as Kandy, Batticaloa, Matara and Jaffna.
Business
Nestlé Lanka Announces Change in Leadership
Nestlé Lanka Limited has announced the appointment of Manav Sahni as its Chairman and Managing Director effective 01 May 2026. He will be succeeding Bernie Stefan, who will be transitioning to a new global role within the Nestlé Group. Bernie Stefan led Nestlé’s Sri Lankan operations through a particularly challenging time since 2023 – and has successfully guided the company through a strategic turnaround, positioning it on a axis for sustainable growth.
Speaking on his tenure at Nestlé Lanka, Bernie commented “Leading Nestlé Lanka has been a deeply meaningful chapter in my Nestlé journey. I am grateful to have worked alongside an amazing and resilient team that continues to make a difference for Sri Lankans across the country. On a personal note, it was an amazing opportunity to live on this beautiful island and experience firsthand the openness, warmth and kindness of its people, which has been the highlight of my Nestlé career to date. As Nestlé Lanka marks 120 years of enriching Sri Lankan lives, it is especially humbling to reflect on the role we have played in building on this legacy – positively touching individuals and families, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing our sustainability commitments. I am thankful to my colleagues, partners and stakeholders for their collaboration and trust, and to the wider business community, including through my role as a Board Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, for the opportunity to reinforce Nestlé’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship. I leave very confident in the strength of the team and the journey that lies ahead.”
Manav Sahni brings with him over 18 years of experience in the FMCG & Telecom sector. Prior to taking on the role as Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka Limited, he has been heading Nestlé’s Dairy business for the South Asia Region, where he expertly managed a highly diverse portfolio, driving sustainable business transformation.
“I am thrilled to take on the role of Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka at such a pivotal moment in its journey. Nestlé has been part of Sri Lankan households for generations, and I am excited to work with the team to continue delighting consumers with tasty and nutritious products, while strengthening the positive impact we create through our brands and initiatives.”
Business
Majestic Cineplex Returns Bigger Better and More Immersive
Ceylon Theatres will unveil the newly revamped Majestic Cineplex on the 29th of April 2026, beginning a new chapter for one of Sri Lanka’s best known cinema destinations. Located at Majestic City Colombo, Majestic Cineplex returns with major technology upgrades, enhanced comfort, and a range of premium viewing options, reinforcing Ceylon Theatres’ long standing reputation for raising the bar in cinema entertainment experiences in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the upgraded Cineplex will be completely open to the public from 29th April 2026 onwards.
For generations of moviegoers, Majestic Cineplex has been a landmark venue in Colombo, and its latest transformation brings together the nostalgia of a familiar name with the excitement of a modern cinema experience. Leading the new screen line up is Majestic Platinum, which introduces Sri Lanka’s first and only digital LED cinema screen. Designed to deliver sharper visuals, deeper contrast, richer colour, and outstanding clarity, the auditorium features a 3D 4K Tricorne LED Cinema Screen together with Dolby Atmos surround sound. Majestic Platinum offers 226 seats, including 18 VIP recliner seats for those chasing a premium cinema experience.
The cineplex also features three additional theatres, each designed to offer a high quality movie experience. Majestic Superior includes Barco 2K projection, 3D capability, and 7.1 surround sound, with seating for 150 patrons. Majestic Ultra features the same advanced projection and audio systems with 149 seats. Majestic Gold offers a more private luxury setting with Barco 2K projection, 3D capability, DTSX surround sound, and 30 leather recliner seats, ideal for those looking for the most premium and exclusive experience.
Patrons can also enjoy an upgraded café experience with freshly prepared and ready to eat food available for purchase at the counter, along with convenience of being served to your seat. The new café experience, together with the upgraded theatres make for a more relaxed, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience for everyone.
Discussing the relaunch, Ganga Rathuvithana, General Manager Operations at Ceylon Theatres said, “Majestic Cineplex has always been a special part of Colombo’s cinema culture, and we are proud to welcome audiences back with an experience that reflects the future of movie entertainment. We have always believed in investing in the best available technology, from introducing Sri Lanka’s first 3D cinema to now launching the country’s first digital LED cinema screen. Our revamped Majestic Cineplex is designed to give movie lovers something truly special.”
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