Business
LAN and Ladies’ College partner for the school’s ‘Building Future Leaders’ program
The Lankan Angel Network (LAN) recently partnered with Ladies’ College, Colombo for the school’s innovative “Building Future Leaders” program. This is Sri Lanka’s first structured initiative to bring in corporate leaders, business professionals, and partners from various industry and corporate bodies, to share their experience and impart important skills which will enable the future success of these secondary school students who are at a pivotal point in their lives.
Initiated and driven by Ladies’ College Colombo, with LAN providing access to its network and expertise; “Building Future Leaders” highlights the importance of a holistic education and life skills, along with business networking, to better educate students about the new horizons available to them in terms of career opportunities within both traditional and non-traditional fields.
LAN, in collaboration with its distinguished partners Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM), Great Places to Work (GPTW), AICPA & CIMA, additionally delivered mentoring and professional support, including offering up some highly sought after speakers, for this program.
“Shaping our future is best achieved by giving our young students every opportunity to redefine their lives by equipping them to make passionate and unique contributions that rely on creativity, courage, confidence and integrity,” opined Ms. Deepika Dassanaike, Principal of Ladies’ College Colombo. She also noted; “The ‘Building Future Leaders’ program at Ladies’ College is proving to be invaluable since it not only encourages our students to ruminate on their true potential, but it also enlightens them to a number of futuristic career paths.
Beyond that, our students have also been emboldened as a result of the program bringing in a variety of inspiring and highly successful Sri Lankan leaders from multiple fields. We are not just helping them prepare for a bright and constructive future ahead, but also equipping them with both professional and entrepreneurial skills; making their overall education prior to leaving school a truly holistic, all-encompassing experience.”
Professor Malik Ranasinghe, Chairperson of People Development Committee of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce commenting on the program said, “We are passionate about building an employable pool of future talent in Sri Lanka and we are positive that this change must start in an early stage and hence this program was initiated”.
Positive feedback about the program piloted at Ladies’ College Colombo has given LAN and its partners the confidence to explore deploying this holistic career development program at other secondary schools. Attempts to further integrate programs like these into the national school curriculums, at earlier levels, will help build the foundations of leadership into Sri Lankan society. It is also hoped that such programs will prove critical for children to experience first-hand the many different varieties of career opportunities available to them, paving the way for a brighter future. And by pushing for its adoption within the national educational system in the near future, these initiatives will help ensure that no child is left behind due to a lack of opportunity.
Commenting on the “Building Future Leaders” program, LAN Chairperson & Axiata Digital Labs Chief Peoples Officer Ms. Chandi Dharmaratne emphasized the program’s focus on holistic education, as well as its offered invaluable exposure to industry experts and leaders. “We celebrate the success of the Building Future Leaders program at Ladies College Colombo, spearheaded by Professor Malik Ranasinghe – Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Lankan Angel Network. This initiative has provided students with the unique opportunity to explore various industries, professions, competencies, and skills, allowing them to make informed decisions about their future pursuits. Through interactive sessions and expert-led discussions, the program has equipped students with valuable insights and networking opportunities, empowering them to confidently embark on their chosen paths.”
Ms. Dharmaratne further highlighted the program’s focus on networking and fostering connections, empowering students to become well-informed about industry requirements. And she also added that by developing essential skills and competencies necessary to overcome entry barriers in their chosen fields, the program has laid a strong foundation for students’ professional journeys with a bright promise for their future.
A platform for angel and private investors who invest in high-growth early-stage Sri Lankan ventures with the goal of creating an impact by reducing inequality, LAN, in addition to being led by a woman, features four other female board members and patrons, which is significantly more than in other Sri Lankan corporates. Supporting trailblazing programs such as the “Building Future Leaders” series, at Ladies’ College Colombo, strongly aligns with LAN’s own ongoing commitment to empowering Sri Lanka’s Women Entrepreneurs.
“It was truly a privilege and honour to work with Ms. Chandi Dharmaratne who, upon our invitation, has brought to this program a vision, as well as the involvement of a high calibre of professionals, that have inspired our girls,” said Ms. Taanya Tranchell, Career Guidance Counsellor at Ladies’ College Colombo.
Additionally, she commented; “I am also deeply grateful to Ms. Thinushka Gunasekara who came onboard to support this project and worked hard to give our students this opportunity. At a time when young people have to really work hard to find their way in the world, the knowledge and exposure the ‘Building Future Leaders’ program gave them is definitely a huge boost to their future! I hope many more schools will introduce this program as a catalyst to enriching their students with key life skills and knowledge before releasing them into the world!”
Cargills Food and Beverage Ltd. through its brands KIST and Knuckles, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Clean Ocean Force Lanka (COF) to adopt Crow Island Beach for one year, reinforcing its commitment to long-term coastal conservation in Sri Lanka.
This pioneering initiative is designed to protect and preserve the coastal environment through several key measures, including the removal of plastic and other pollutants from the beach and surrounding coastal area. As part of the adoption programme, the beach will be maintained daily with the support of dedicated beach caretakers, while also supporting their livelihoods by providing meaningful income opportunities.
Marking the partnership and in celebration of World Recycling Day, a coastal clean-up programme was conducted at Crow Island Beach to remove plastic and other manmade pollutants. Volunteers from Cargills, Clean Ocean Force Lanka, the Interact Club of Colombo, the Colombo Municipal Council and the Women’s Force of COF Negombo (Sri Vimukthi Association) participated in the clean-up with support from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the Sri Lanka Police Environmental Division and the Ministry of Local Government and Environment as well as the Crow Island Beach Park Society.
Jerome Fernando, Chairman & Co-founder of Clean Ocean Force Lanka said that, “Marine & Coast Conservation demands a unified front. Our unique Public-Private-People Partnership model is the cornerstone of our mission, and today, we are thrilled to welcome Cargills (Ceylon) PLC as a vital partner in this journey adopting the Crow Island Beach for the next one year. This collaboration will not only amplify our efforts to eliminate plastic and manmade pollutants from our beaches, but also reinforce our commitment to empowering marginalized communities through sustainable livelihood opportunities. Cargills’ deep-rooted dedication to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing perfectly aligns with our vision.”
Jagath Gunasekara, General Manager of MEPA added, “The Marine Environment Protection Authority consistently promotes active private sector engagement in marine and coastal conservation, as well as pollution control initiatives. This approach aligns closely with our Beach Caretaker Programme. We are pleased to collaborate with Cargills (Ceylon) PLC in the adoption of Crow Island Beach through our long-standing partnership with Clean Ocean Force Lanka.”
During the event, Knuckles also launched Sri Lanka’s first tethered bottle cap, introducing a packaging innovation aimed at improving plastic waste management and supporting recycling efforts. The tethered cap is designed to remain attached to the bottle after opening, reducing the likelihood of caps being discarded separately. Bottle caps are among the most commonly littered plastic items globally and frequently enter landfills and waterways due to their small size and low collection rates.
Speaking on the initiative, Arjuna Kumarasinghe, Managing Director of Cargills Food & Beverage Ltd., said, “Cargills has always believed in taking responsibility for the communities and environments around us. By adopting Crow Island Beach, we’re able to work closely with our partners and local volunteers to protect this part of our coastline. Launching the tethered bottle cap is another way we’re addressing plastic waste and making recycling easier for everyone.”
The Central Bank is keeping its overnight policy rates unchanged, adopting a cautious stance amid uncertainty over the inflationary impact of energy prices due to the Middle East crisis.
‘We maintained the overnight policy rate at 7.75 percent, considering low inflation and a restrained approach on the fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
The Governor made these remarks yesterday at a press briefing held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo to announce the monthly monetary policy stance.
Dr Weerasinghe added: ‘Inflation is now expected to reach the Central Bank’s target of 5 percent in the second quarter of 2026, after Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by about 35 percent this month.
‘However, spillovers from the ongoing conflict could weigh on domestic economic activity in the period ahead should the conflict be prolonged.
‘The rates were steady since last May as the nation recovers from a 2022 financial crisis driven by a severe dollar shortage.
‘Supported by a US$ 2.9 billion programme with the IMF, Sri Lanka posted a strong economic recovery last year, growing by 5 percent and now targeting growth between 4 percent and 5 per cent in 2026.
‘What stands out is that they see space for inflation to rise because of energy prices but still stay contained.
‘From now to June, underlying economic momentum has the space to keep pace despite the disruption because domestic liquidity and credit has been quite substantial as well.
‘An IMF team will arrive in Colombo on Friday for the combined fifth and sixth reviews of the bailout.
‘Furthermore, Gross Official Reserves increased to US$ 7.3 billion at end February 2026 and the Central Bank purchased a substantial amount of foreign exchange from the market in the first two months of the year.
‘However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses risks to Sri Lanka’s external sector outlook, particularly through energy, tourism, trade and remittance flows, although the overall magnitude of the impact remains uncertain.
‘While the Sri Lanka rupee remained relatively stable in early 2026, some depreciation pressures were observed following the onset of the Middle East conflict, similar to the exchange rates of regional peers.
‘Meanwhile, the Monetary Policy Board remains prepared to implement appropriate policy measures to ensure that inflation stabilizes around the target, while supporting the economy to reach its potential.’
By Hiran H Senewiratne
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has announced the latest upgrade to its smart entertainment lineup with the Dialog Play Mini, featuring seamless access to global streaming platforms including Netflix, Apple TV and YouTube, alongside the Dialog Play entertainment ecosystem for a unified viewing experience. Previously known as the ViU Mini, the device has now been reintroduced as the Dialog Play Mini, reflecting the evolution of Dialog’s digital entertainment platform under the Dialog Play brand.
The Dialog Play Mini transforms any television into a smart 4K entertainment hub by enabling hybrid multi-platform streaming across leading global and local content platforms, delivering a smoother, more intuitive viewing experience. Whether enjoying Netflix originals, Apple TV exclusives, or local favorites, households can now experience world-class entertainment in one compact device.
The Dialog Play Mini brings a streamlined, user-friendly experience to any home setup. Its single numeric-keypad remote controls both the TV and the device, offering simplicity and convenience for everyday viewing. With multiple connectivity options including Wi-Fi, hotspot, LAN, or wingle, the device ensures uninterrupted entertainment even in areas without smart TVs or advanced broadband setups.
Bridging the gap between entry-level set-top boxes and premium Android TV devices, the Dialog Play Mini offers a plug-and-play smart experience. Supported by Dialog’s nationwide service network, local warranty, and after-sales care, it delivers a reliable, feature-rich entertainment experience for Sri Lankan homes.
“With Dialog Play Mini, entertainment becomes more directly accessible for every Sri Lankan home – with or without a Smart TV,” said Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC. “By bringing Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, and Dialog Play together in one compact 4K-ready device, we’re redefining home entertainment through simplicity, innovation, and the power of connectivity.”
The Dialog Play Mini is now available at Dialog Experience Centers and authorized retailers islandwide. To purchase online, please visit
https://dialog.lk/dialog-play-mini
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