Business
SLT-MOBITEL concludes second phase of bus library project
Continuing with their focus of uplifting the country’s educational landscape by way of encouraging more readers and bringing books closer to the country’s youth, SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT and Telecommunications Services Provider in partnership with Manusath Derana completed the second phase of an ongoing CSR project which is aimed at transforming decommissioned SLTB buses into fully fledged libraries.
The launch event of the second phase took place recently at the Prime Minister’s office, where five SLTB buses were ceremonially released to rural schools in the presence of Prime Minister- Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister of Transport-Gamini Lokuge, State Minister of Transport-Dilum Amunugama, Minister of trade, Marketing Development & Consumer Affairs- Bandula Gunawardane and other dignitaries from SLTB and Mr. Rohan Fernando- chairman of SLT Group, Kiththi Perera- CEO of SLT, Chandika Vitharana, -Acting CEO of Mobitel, Prabhath Dahanayake- CMO of SLT, Shashika Senarath- CMO of Mobitel and several other officers from SLT and Mobitel were present at the event. The National Library of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) were also part of this momentous initiative. Officials from the relevant government level segments were also present at the ceremony.
SLT-MOBITEL embarked on this national level CSR program with the prime objective of supporting and empowering rural schools by providing quality access to information technology and knowledge. The country’s students and young children are the future of tomorrow and thus, empowering them towards enhancing their literacy and inculcating into them the habit of reading and educating themselves was a factor that SLT-MOBITEL strongly believed in. Therefore, providing students, especially from rural areas of the country with access to reading materials through the entities of e-learning and m-learning platforms as well as a fully-equipped mobile library through this concept.
The Bus Library Project will renovate 25 SLTB buses and transform them into modern, fully-equipped mobile libraries which would provide students with reading facilities, access to Wi-Fi connectivity and other relevant support systems which would give curious children with the opportunity to connect them with the world of limitless information.
These Bus libraries will also act as mobile learning centres which will also equip students with access to revolutionary educational insights and resources. Following the success of the second phase, more decommissioned SLTB buses will also be remodelled and the program will oversee the release of a total of 25 library buses by the second week of March, including the five that were unveiled at the second phase.
In a significant move for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, NKAR, a stalwart in the industry for over 45 years, has announced a partnership with Holiday Max, Australia’s largest tour operator. Based in Perth, Holiday Max has ventured into Sri Lanka for the first time, marking a promising expansion for both entities.
This collaboration aligns with NKAR’s strategic vision to enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers. Nilmin Nanayakkara, Chairman and Managing Director of NKAR says, “Our policy has always been to promote Sri Lanka to new markets by attracting new operators, rather than competing through price undercutting or making unrealistic promises.” This statement encapsulates NKAR’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth by focusing on quality over cost.
By prioritsing service excellence and maintaining high health and safety standards, NKAR aims to elevate the overall travel experience for visitors. This approach not only positions Sri Lanka as a premium destination but also attracts reputable operators like Holiday Max, who are drawn to the island’s unique experiences and NKAR’s dedication to quality service.
The partnership represents a remarkable opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s diverse offerings to Australian travelers, potentially opening new avenues for tourism growth. As NKAR continues to innovate and adapt, this collaboration is set to bolster Sri Lanka’s standing as a sought-after travel destination, steering the industry away from aggressive price competition towards sustainable growth through authentic experiences.
By focusing on attracting new operators and markets, NKAR is paving the way for a revitalised tourism landscape in Sri Lanka, one that values quality, safety, and the unique charm of the island. NKAR is recognised as one of the top five destination management companies in Sri Lanka. The company recently won 3 major awards at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
LOLC Finance secured five Gold Awards and one Merit Award at the LankaPay Technovation Awards 2025, including the prestigious Overall Excellence in Digital Payments Gold Award for the sixth consecutive year.
The company dominated both bank and NBFI categories, winning Best Digital Strategy Gold Award, proving its superiority over traditional banks in digital finance.
Awards won were as follows.
Gold Awards:
Best Digital Payment Strategy (Banks & NBFI)
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks & NBFI)
Excellence in Customer Convenience (NBFI)
Financial Inclusivity (NBFI)
Overall Excellence in Digital Payments (NBFI)
Merit Award: Most Popular Digital Payment Product (iPay)
CEO Krishan Thilakaratne emphasized digitalization as core to LOLC Finance’s operations, enabling seamless, 24/7 financial access through platforms like LOLC Real Time and iPay.
Chairman Conrad Dias highlighted the audited, performance-based recognition and iPay’s mission to solve real-world financial challenges with cutting-edge tech.
iPay & JustPay innovations were Recognized for leading digital payment adoption with 1M+ downloads, 1.8M monthly transactions, and 65% JustPay market share, featuring biometric security and AI fraud detection.
Financial Inclusivity was recognized for Bridging gaps via multi-lingual services, cashless processes, and rural outreach programs.
Customer Convenience was recognized for real-time solutions (SLIPS, CEFTS) eliminating branch visits for payments and transfers.
Tree House International, located in Dehiwala, has been recognised as the Most Evidence-Based Special Needs School of the Year at BWIO Awards. The only international school in Sri Lanka dedicated exclusively to children with special needs, 75% of its students relocate from abroad for its high-quality, result-driven education.
Last semester, 100% of students transitioned to mainstream or vocational training.
The school is led by Dr. Anton James, a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist with over 20 years of global experience.
His evidence-based approach earned the highest honour from the British Psychological Society, and he was elected a Chartered Scientist. Co-directed by Chrystal Honsaker, an expert with 15 years of international special needs experience, the school also offers an accredited British curriculum alternative to GCSEs.
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