Business

PickMe proposes fuel supply for passenger transportation via a digital pool

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/4

If we are to prevent the catastrophe of Colombo and other main cities becoming ghost towns, we need to put in place a transparent and accountable fuel distribution system that will use the limited fuel stocks we have efficiently.

Zulfer Jiffry, CEO of PickMe says, the time has come for smart thinking. “The digitalisation of our systems can give us an edge in overcoming the crisis we are all facing today. To have a minimal level of transport, for an emergency, for work, or even to get about our day to day living like shopping for essentials, is an absolute need. But we are coming to the point where the whole system is gradually running dry which may cause the country to come to a complete standstill. It is an urgent necessity to have a sensible form of rationing at least until the next fuel ship comes in and in doing this, also ensure that distribution of fuel does not become part of black market racketeering. While mass transport can act as a base, it is essential to have a second level of public transport, and ride hailing taxis fit the bill perfectly.”

Many reports in social and mainstream media have said that there is an active petrol and diesel blackmarket operating in Sri Lanka and this does not ensure the efficient use of our minimum stocks. To meet urgent needs and prioritise emergencies, PickMe suggests that authorities try out a pilot programme where fuel supply for transport of passengers will be done via a digital pool. When certain quotas of fuel are given to the digitally operated transport system, it won’t be just for the use of private vehicles which cannot be accessed by the public transport system. If a policy is structured by the State where three-wheelers operating in the taxi hailing ecosystem are given a certain quota through their operators, the passenger transport in the city could be rationalised in an equitable manner.

“The digital platforms would monitor the movement of their vehicles under this program to ensure the proper and transparent use of this resource. For example if we take a figure of 10,000 three wheelers with an 80,000 litre quota, they can do approximately 200,000 trips around the city, moving around 400,000 passengers in a day. We can monitor this through our software to ensure accuracy and transparency and can even be subject to an audit. The system we propose will be directly tied to the amount of mileage our tuks do, and if we find the set criteria is not met, then we would immediately take those drivers off the system. It is necessary to look at systems such as this to operate in the 4 main provinces, in order to keep the provincial GDPs on an even keel, which is a dire need right now, and transport is a very important part in achieving this,” Jiffry says.

The GDP of provinces is the index that shows whether the economy is thriving or not, therefore, an order of priority to provide fuel for these provinces is required. A breakdown of economic activities in the provinces need to be looked at, in order to literally fuel the economy with the limited stocks of petrol and diesel available.

The obvious choice to top the charts would be the western province, which has the largest share in the pie (refer Figure 1). According to a Central Bank report in December 2021, the western province contributes 38% of the national GDP and this is over one third of the overall economy of Sri Lanka. Key to the western province’s economic activity are services and industry, both of which involve heavy consumption of fuel. The report says the western province has pioneered industry activities with a contribution of 44.6 percent. In terms of services, the western province recorded the highest contribution of 39.3 percent (refer Table 1) and if the Western province is taken by itself, 61.7% of its economic activities are in the service sector (refer Figure 2).

“Given this, how we need to prioritise fuel distribution is clear. The western province has to come first overall; and if we are prioritising industry, then the central province comes second and the north-western province third. If we are prioritising services, the central and southern provinces will come second and third, respectively,” says Jiffry.

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Business

World Bank puts USD 110m into climate-resilient road rebuilding

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

A Cyclone Ditwah-damaged area in Sri Lanka.

By Ifham Nizam

The World Bank has approved USD 110 million in additional financing to rebuild around 600 kilometres of roads damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, with the investment aimed not merely at restoring connectivity but at making critical transport infrastructure more resilient to future climate shocks.

The financing comes against a much larger recovery requirement for the transport sector, estimated at USD 1.31 billion, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure challenge following one of the most destructive weather disasters to hit the country in recent years.

The World Bank said the additional financing, provided through the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window, would support road reconstruction incorporating improved drainage, landslide protection and upgraded engineering standards.

‘Cyclone Ditwah has had a devastating impact on connectivity across Sri Lanka, but rebuilding also gives us an opportunity to build back stronger, said Gevorg Sargsyan, World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The World Bank said the programme would go beyond repairing damaged roads, helping reconnect farmers with markets, communities with essential services and households with economic opportunities.

The additional financing will extend the Inclusive Connectivity and Development Project (ICDP) by three years, taking total World Bank transport investment under the operation to USD 610 million.

The World Bank’s December 2025 GRADE assessment estimated Cyclone Ditwah had caused USD 4.1 billion in direct physical damage, equivalent to around four percent of GDP. Infrastructure accounted for approximately USD 1.735 billion, or 42% of the total, with roads, bridges, railways and water systems among the heavily affected assets.

The Bank has stressed that the USD 4.1 billion estimate measures direct physical damage and does not include income or production losses or the full cost of recovery and reconstruction.

The transport sector alone suffered extensive disruption, making the rebuilding of road networks a critical component of the broader economic recovery.

The latest USD 110 million package is expected to directly benefit more than 830,000 people, while nearly two million people across eight districts are expected to benefit from improved connectivity.

The programme is also expected to support employment during reconstruction and improve market access for approximately 22,000 tea, vegetable and paddy farmers.

The World Bank’s intervention therefore combines immediate disaster recovery with a longer-term infrastructure objective: ensuring that money spent on reconstruction does not simply restore roads to their pre-disaster condition but reduces their vulnerability to the next extreme-weather event.

That approach is becoming increasingly important as climate-related disasters place additional pressure on already constrained public finances.

Rebuilding the same infrastructure repeatedly after floods, landslides and other disasters carries a significant economic cost, making resilience an increasingly important part of infrastructure investment decisions.

Business

SLIC Life offers Rs.1million free life cover to parents of children born on World Children’s Day 2026

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Senior Management of SLIC Life and officials of Castle Street Hospital for Women symbolically handing over a Free Life Cover of Rs. 1 million to a parent whose child was born on 1st of October 2026

In celebration of World Children’s Day 2026, Sri Lanka Insurance Life (SLIC Life) has once again extended a Rs. 1 million free life insurance cover to the parents of every child born on 1 October 2026, across Sri Lanka. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the initiative was implemented island-wide, covering hospitals across the country and enabling parents of newborns to benefit from this special offering.

Beyond providing financial protection, the initiative seeks to highlight the importance of planning for a family’s financial security from the very beginning of a child’s life.

“The birth of a child marks the beginning of a new journey filled with hopes, dreams and aspirations. At SLIC Life, we believe that protection should begin from the very start of that journey. Through this initiative, we aim to create greater awareness of the importance of planning ahead and the role life insurance can play in safeguarding families against life’s uncertainties. As we continue this initiative for the fifth consecutive year, we remain committed to extending meaningful protection to Sri Lankan families and contributing towards a more secure future for the next generation,” said Dr. Sameera Dharmasena, Chief Executive Officer of SLIC Life.

Launched in 2022 as part of SLIC Life’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the World Children’s Day initiative was introduced with the aim of supporting parents and strengthening financial security for families at an important stage in their lives. Over the years, the initiative has become a significant part of SLIC Life’s annual CSR calendar, reflecting the company’s broader commitment to children, families and communities.

SLIC Life’s commitment to children and education extends across several long standing CSR initiatives. The ‘Pasal Piriyatha Surakimu’ programme, launched in 2007, has benefited over 3,365 underprivileged schools through initiatives including classroom refurbishments, water facilities, libraries and learning resources. The 2026 edition of the programme is scheduled to be carried out in November, continuing SLIC Life’s efforts to enhance learning environments for children across the country. Complementing this, the ‘Suba Pathum Scholarship Programme’, which has been conducted since 2014, has now awarded 2,425 scholarships valued at Rs. 265 million to children of policyholders who demonstrate excellence in national examinations. The programme reflects SLIC Life’s continued focus on supporting educational aspirations and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Children remain at the heart of SLIC Life’s commitment to building a more secure future. Through the annual World Children’s Day initiative and its wider CSR programmes, SLIC Life continues to demonstrate that the value of insurance extends beyond financial protection, contributing to stronger and more resilient families and communities.

Business

HelpAge thanks donors for helping in carrying out free cataract surgery program

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

A surgery in progress under the aegis Helpage.

At a recent seminar HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) thanked local and foreign donors for strengthening the on-going free cataract surgeries program conducted by HelpAge Eye Hospital, Wellawatta for less- privileged elders over 55 years.

According to HelpAge Eye Hospital statistics the free cataract surgery programme was commenced in 2002 and over 55,000 surgeries have so far been performed for elderly citizens.

Head of HelpAge Eye Hospital Mahanama Wijesinghe said needy persons over 55 years of age could contact the hospital on telephone numbers 0112555759 and 0112589450 for free cataract surgeries.

‘Steps have been taken to conduct surgeries within a short duration of 30 days after attending the Eye Hospital clinic, he said.

Wijesinghe thanked all donors for their donations towards helping underprivileged citizens of the country.

HelpAge, Executive Director Dr. Harsha Bandara said HelpAge also conducts free medical and eye camps for needy elders and thanked donors for their donations towards this meritorious cause.

He requested philanthropists and donors to make their contributions for the sake of the needy.