Business

‘One-man soft power engine’ who builds bridges between communities

Published

1 year ago

2025/06/11

Nisther Annis: ‘Bridge-builder’

In the competitive world of global tourism, few private citizens have made a national impact quite like Nisther Annis. A Sri Lankan entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the UK’s travel industry, Annis transformed not only the way Britons experienced Sri Lanka, but how they understood it. Over the span of four decades, he became a one-man soft power engine—deploying business strategy, diaspora networks, and cultural insight to elevate Sri Lanka’s global brand.

“I always believed Sri Lanka could offer more than just beaches, Annis told The Island Financial Review.

He added: “We had culture, faith, family, food, and hospitality. All we needed was the right narrative—and a business model to deliver it.”

Annis’s strategic instincts were inherited. He is the eldest son of S. M. Annis, the most senior official in the country’s Public Works Department, whose infrastructure projects defined Sri Lanka’s physical landscape post-independence. “My father laid roads and built bridges, Annis says. “I like to think I did the same—just across countries and communities.”

Founding Annis Travels & Tours in London in 1980, he went on to become the first Sri Lankan to be inducted as a Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Travel and Tourism. This recognition helped him build credibility among major international airlines, leading to long-term partnerships with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, PIA, and SriLankan Airlines.

But Annis was never interested in tourism for tourism’s sake. He saw the industry as a lever to reposition Sri Lanka economically. One of his most successful ventures was integrating Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages with Colombo stopovers. “I worked with Saudi Airlines and SriLankan Airlines to design a seamless route,” he explains. “Suddenly, Colombo became more than a transit—it became a destination.”

These carefully engineered stopovers translated into millions in revenue across Sri Lanka’s hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets—without government subsidy.

In a similar vein, he tapped into medical tourism, connecting Sri Lanka’s growing private hospital network with South Asian patients in the UK. “There was a gap, he notes. “Private hospitals in Colombo had the skill and pricing advantage. I connected them to patients who were paying five times more for the same care in the UK.”

Annis also pioneered high-spend niche tourism segments. Recognizing the growing appeal of destination weddings, he organized the UK’s first Sri Lankan wedding fair. “We created a pipeline of couples bringing not just themselves but 100 guests, each spending dollars in Sri Lanka. That’s how you create ripple effects.”

He emphasizes that his approach has always combined commerce with emotion. “Every Sri Lankan abroad wants to be useful to their country. My job was to turn that feeling into structured economic activity.”

A master of cultural branding, Annis understood the symbolic power of cricket. After Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory, he organized a high-profile gala dinner at London Hilton Kensington, bringing the team together with the business community and diplomats. “That night, we weren’t a small island. We were a world champion,” he says. “People saw us differently.”

Following the 2004 tsunami, Annis co-founded the Al Ihsaan Trust UK, which continues to fund orphan support, women’s programs and free clinics in Sri Lanka. “We didn’t just send donations. We sent business plans, he says. “It was about dignity, not dependency.”

Among Annis’s boldest ideas is a direct cruise line between Sri Lanka and the UK—connecting Colombo, the Gulf and Europe. The project, while delayed due to regional security issues, remains part of his long-term vision. “Maritime tourism is underutilized, he argues. “One cruise ship can bring in the equivalent of four planeloads of tourists—many of them high-spending.”

By Ifham Nizam

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Business

Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 b debenture issue oversubscribed

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

B D A Perera, Chairman and Naleen Edirisinghe Director/CEO of Pan Asia Bank

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC’s Senior Listed Rated Unsecured Redeemable Debenture issue of up to Rs. 5 billion was oversubscribed following its opening reflecting strong investor interest.

The debentures, with a par value of Rs. 100 each, will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The three-year debentures offer an interest rate of 12.75% interest payable annually, while the five-year debentures offer 13.50% interest payable annually.

The issue has been assigned a BBB+ (Stable) rating by Lanka Rating Agency.

The debenture issue was managed by the Investment Banking Unit of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, with SSP Corporate Services (Private) Limited serving as the Registrar to the Issue.

The Bank said the strong investor response demonstrates continued confidence in Pan Asia Bank and its approach to creating long-term value for its stakeholders.

Pan Asia Bank, which positions itself as ‘The Truly Sri Lankan Bank’, continues to strengthen its role in supporting the financial requirements of individuals and businesses while contributing to the development of Sri Lanka’s economy.

Business

SLIIT International and Liverpool John Moores University inaugurate dedicated international learning facility

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

Andrew Patrick

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), United Kingdom, recently inaugurated SLIIT International in Collaboration with LJMU, a dedicated international learning facility located at No. 17, Dickmans Road, Colombo 04, marking a significant milestone in a partnership spanning more than a decade and reinforcing their commitment to providing Sri Lankan students with access to internationally recognised UK higher education qualifications.

The Grand Opening Ceremony was attended by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, alongside senior representatives from SLIIT, Liverpool John Moores University, the British Council, academia, industry and other stakeholders, marking the next chapter of the longstanding SLIIT–LJMU collaboration. The new facility is particularly significant as Sri Lanka’s first academic facility dedicated exclusively to the delivery of LJMU degree programmes, reflecting the strength, maturity and long-term commitment of the partnership.

Over the past decade, the SLIIT–LJMU partnership has established a growing network of more than 1,500 alumni, while providing Sri Lankan students with opportunities to gain internationally recognised UK qualifications locally. The new dedicated facility has been designed to provide a world-class learning environment exclusively for LJMU programmes, supporting future programme expansion, strengthening the student experience and creating opportunities for deeper academic collaboration, innovation, research and student engagement.

Commenting on the milestone, Prof. Lalith Gamage – Vice-Chancellor, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SLIIT, stated, “The launch of SLIIT International in Collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University represents an important new chapter in our longstanding partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. Our vision is to provide Sri Lankan students with a world-class education and student experience right here in Sri Lanka, while equipping them with the global outlook, critical thinking, professional capabilities and career readiness required to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. This dedicated facility strengthens the student experience while providing a strong foundation for the continued growth of our collaboration with LJMU.”

Prof. Timothy Nichol, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Society and Culture, Liverpool John Moores University, said, “The opening of Sri Lanka’s first facility dedicated exclusively to LJMU degree programmes represents a significant milestone for the University and our partnership with SLIIT. It reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to delivering a high-quality LJMU educational experience in Sri Lanka. The new facility also creates exciting opportunities for deeper academic collaboration, innovation, research and student engagement as we look towards the next phase of our partnership.”

A key highlight of the Grand Opening Ceremony was the panel discussion titled “Beyond Borders: The Role of British Higher Education in Developing Globally Competitive Graduates.” The discussion examined the growth of international educational opportunities in Sri Lanka, the future expansion of UK degree programmes, maintaining the quality and integrity of UK qualifications, developing future-ready graduates with global competencies, and the role of international higher education in strengthening graduate employability. The panel brought together Prof. Lalith Gamage; Prof. Timothy Nichol; Mr. Sajeewa Meepage, Representative of the British Council; and Dr. Harsha Cabral, Board Member of SLIIT.

The panelists further emphasized on emerging trends in areas including law, business, psychology and artificial intelligence, as well as the contribution of UK higher education to Sri Lanka through internationally recognised qualifications that uphold global academic standards.

The discussion explored the history and future of the SLIIT–LJMU partnership, the strategic significance of the new SLIIT International facility, academic quality, graduate employability and the long-term growth of LJMU programmes in Sri Lanka.

The ceremony also featured a special address by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, followed by an address by Mrs. Clare Sears, Country Director, British Council Sri Lanka. The evening also included the ceremonial exchange of the partnership document between SLIIT International and Liverpool John Moores University, symbolising the continued commitment of both institutions to strengthening their collaboration and expanding international educational opportunities for Sri Lankan students.

Business

Dijital Team and WinSYS City University launch two-year partnership

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/3

Thilina Walpola

Ziyam Abdeen, Chairman of WinSYS, and Peter Ward, Managing Director of Dijital Team, at the signing ceremony for the two-year partnership

Dijital Team has signed a two-year partnership with Winsys City University, strengthening the skills and capabilities of its team members to support Managed Service Providers and IT service providers while elevating tech talent to immediate industry-readiness. With a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently, the partnership was formally launched on 9 September 2026 at Dijital Team’s office premises, Colombo.

Combining Dijital Teams’ international employer network and understanding of the capability requirements of MSPs and IT service providers across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom with Winsys City University’s training heritage of 21 years, the joint programmes create legitimate classroom-to-international-career pathways, offering structured learning and certification avenues that support deeper capability across cloud, cybersecurity, automation, AI and emerging technologies.