Business
SL’s embassy in Viet Nam promotes religious and cultural diplomacy
In the spirit of implementing the objectives of Temple-to-Temple Diplomacy initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam, Ha Noi in coordination with Most Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero, Secretary General All Island Buddha sasana Council organized an approximately 50 member Vietnamese Buddhist delegation to Sri Lanka. The delegation would be visiting Sri Lanka to commemorate National Vesak Day in Matale in Sri Lanka. The 50-member delegation left to Sri Lanka last week and Ambassador Dr. Mendis and M. Premathilake, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy were present at the airport to wish them a fruitful and productive visit to Sri Lanka.
The Vietnamese Buddhist delegation has also visited the most sacred pilgrim destinations in Sri Lanka including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Dambulla and Kandy. The delegation was facilitated and coordinated by the Embassy of Viet Nam in Colombo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs, Central Cultural Fund (CCF) and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in Sri Lanka in close cooperation with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi.
Venerable Thich Hanh Bich, Editor in Chief of Buddhism and Life Newspaper, Standing Member of the Cultural Committee of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee and the Deputy Head of Information and Communications Division of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha led the five member Viet Nam Buddhist Journalist delegation, who have extended coverage to pilgrim tourism, religious issues and functions and of course National Vesak Day of 2024 in Sri Lanka. It is of firm conviction of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ha Noi that this high-level visit as well as a number of previous visits by Vietnamese religious dignitaries and tourists would markedly boost and enhance tourism from Viet Nam to Sri Lanka.
It may further be stated that in 2023, over 13 million Vietnamese nationals have travelled overseas mostly to ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea and to other countries. Given this vast potential for promotion of tourism, particularly religious and cultural tourism, if Sri Lanka could capture a mere 0.5%, it would translate to around 65,000 Vietnamese nationals who would be traveling to Sri Lanka, thus elevating and aggrandizing the sphere of tourism in Sri Lanka. This particular visit coinciding Vesak Ceremony in Sri Lanka would be extended wide and extensive media coverage in Viet Nam, which would enable Vietnamese nationals to be cognizant of the natural beauty and attributes including fauna and flora as well as significant religious locations in Sri Lanka.
This visit marks one of the significant milestones in recent Sri Lanka – Viet Nam Buddhist and Cultural Relations since the inception of Temple-to-Temple Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka. Ambassador Dr. A Saj U Mendis and Mahesh Premathilake Minister Counsellor in cooperation with the Secretary General of All Island Buddhasasana Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Cultural Fund and the Embassy of Viet Nam in Colombo coordinated and facilitated this iconic Viet Nam pilgrims visit to Sri Lanka.
(Sri Lankan embassy in Ha Noi)
Business
IceWarp expands into Sri Lanka, fostering European innovation in collaboration with FentonsIT
IceWarp, a global leader in business communication solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge platform in Sri Lanka, bringing European expertise in email and collaboration solutions to support the country’s evolving business landscape.
This expansion is driven by a strategic partnership with Fentons Information Technology (FIT), the Information Technology arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
The grand launch event held at The Kingsbury Colombo on 4th April, 2025, was graced by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC.
The presence of Adam Paclt, Global CEO of IceWarp, and Pramod Sharda, CEO for India and the Middle East of IceWarp, along with their global team, highlighted the significance of this expansion. Industry experts, government officials, corporate leaders, and CIOs from the banking, financial services and insurance sectors were in attendance as well, reflecting strong local interest in IceWarp’s European expertise.
With this launch, Sri Lankan businesses now have access to an affordable, scalable and secure alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. IceWarp’s advanced Collaboration Suite integrates a wide range of tools into a single, unified platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity. Offering flexible hybrid deployment options and cost-efficient solution, IceWarp enables organisations to optimise their operations without compromising security or functionality.
Ceylon Energy and HJT China have successfully completed the Mahiyangana-Kappalthurei 33kV power distribution lines and the Uhana Gantry as part of Sri Lanka’s Supporting Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project (SESRIP). Funded by the Asian Development Bank ($42 million), SESRIP aims to expand energy access in underserved regions, including conflict-affected areas and provinces like Uva and North Central.
The project’s infrastructure spans over 270 km of 33kV lines, 13 switching gantries, and 2,372 km of low-voltage extensions.
The projects connect 35,000+ households and improve reliability for 493,000+ consumers; integrates renewables to reduce losses.
The projects’ notable components include: Mahiyangana-Bibila Line: 36 km with 147 steel towers and Kappalthurei-Sixth Mile Post Line: 14 km with 58 towers.
Ceylon Energy Chairman Madushanka Fernando hailed it as a ‘new beginning of a brighter era’, emphasising the project’s role in uplifting rural communities and driving sustainable development.
The initiative underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive, reliable energy and climate resilience.
Eventistry Sports, a trailblazer in innovative sporting events, has unveiled the Sri Lanka Padel League (SLPL), the nation’s first franchise-based padel tournament, set to debut in June 2025. This groundbreaking league promises to redefine Sri Lanka’s sports landscape by creating a dynamic national platform for athletes while fostering unity among fans, brands, and communities.
The SLPL will showcase six franchise teams, each embodying the spirit of iconic Sri Lankan locales: the Colombo Chargers, Yala Rangers, Hikkaduwa Riders, Ella Hawks, Arugambay Vipers, and Trinco Warriors. These teams will not only ignite regional pride but also unite the country through a shared passion for padel—a fast-paced racquet sport merging tennis and squash, played on enclosed courts.
“The SLPL is more than a league; it’s a movement,” declared Karin Wijeratne, Director of Eventistry Sports. “By blending franchise sports with Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, we’re creating a platform where players gain national recognition, fans rally behind their hometown heroes, and brands engage with communities in meaningful ways.”
The league’s launch on June 21–23, 2025, at Colombo’s Padel House courts (CR&FC) will kick off with three days of high-octane matches, preceded by a star-studded player auction on May 16th at The Vault, Colombo City Centre. Local talent—both professional and intermediate—will be drafted by franchise owners, with international registrations now open to elevate the competition’s global appeal.
Please log in to: www.slpadelleague.com and social media: @SriLankaPadelLeague (Facebook & Instagram) for more information.
The sun will be directly overhead Colombo, Awissawella, Talawakelle, Dimbula, Galakumbura and Dambagalla at about 12:12 noon today [07]
Heavy rainfall of above 100 mm is likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva and North-central provinces and in Ampara district
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