Business
SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka joins ‘Karuna.lk’ powered by Dialog Foundation
The largest non-profit in the world dedicated to the care of children without parental care and other vulnerable children, SOS Children’s Villages recently joined Karuna.lk, Sri Lanka’s first cause-verified crowdfunding platform launched by Dialog Foundation together with Principal Moderator – Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and Independent Auditor – PwC Sri Lanka. Donors can channel their generosity towards SOS Sri Lanka by donating to support children without parental care, provide nutritious meals and other similar initiatives.
In an effort to bring together like-minded people who want to take action and help fellow Sri Lankans in-need against the backdrop of the economic crisis, Karuna.lk aims to empower and enrich Sri Lankan lives through social stewardship backed by a trusted and secure fundraising engine operating at the highest level of governance. Individuals, non-profits and organisations can conveniently register their cause/charity on Karuna.lk and donations can seamlessly be made to the verified causes/charities across a multitude of social causes listed on the platform through a variety of payment options, including Debit/Credit Cards (Master & Visa), eZ Cash, Dialog add-to-bill, Star Points or online bank transfers.
As one of the first charities to onboard to the platform, Divakar Ratnadurai, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka stated “The risk of more children becoming parentless or not having the necessary nutrition to sustain themselves is becoming one of the fastest growing by-products of the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. As much as we are doing everything to reach out to more children in need and provide humanitarian assistance in terms of food and shelter, there is still room to do more. We’re extremely grateful to Dialog for initiating the Karuna.lk platform and bringing the much-needed attention to this national crisis as part of its continued efforts to ensure that no child is left behind”.
Supun Weerasinghe, Director/Group Chief Executive on behalf of Dialog Axiata PLC commented “We are pleased to onboard SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka to the Karuna.lk platform. As a conscious corporate citizen and the trusted digital companion of over 17 million Sri Lankans, Dialog has continuously dedicated our services to empowering and enriching the lives of Sri Lankans and we are thrilled to join hands with renowned non-profits such as SOS Children’s Villages as we are confident that the required support will be extended to those in dire need”
By Sanath Nanayakkare
In a major boost to bilateral economic ties, the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) and the Indo–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in real estate, infrastructure, and urban development.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for both institutions to drive collaborative initiatives, including business delegations, high-level conferences, workshops, B2B matchmaking sessions, and technical site visits. Designed to bridge businesses, government institutions, and project stakeholders across the Palk Strait, the partnership aims to unlock new avenues for cross-border joint ventures and technology transfers.
A focal point of this newly minted partnership is the facilitation of an upcoming trade delegation from the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) of India. Comprising major Indian players in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, the visiting delegation will engage in targeted business meetings, workshops, and inspection tours of prominent construction projects in Sri Lanka.
Under the terms of the MoU, CCISL will serve as the principal host coordinator in Sri Lanka. In close consultation with ISCCI, the apex construction body will curate itineraries, identify viable projects for engagement, and facilitate high-level dialogues with key government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry leaders.
With both nations prioritizing sustainable urban growth, modern construction technologies, and infrastructure expansion, industry leaders view the partnership as a timely catalyst for economic rejuvenation. The collaboration is anticipated to accelerate market access, knowledge exchange, and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s burgeoning property and development sectors.
To ensure the success of the upcoming NAREDCO delegation, CCISL has issued an urgent appeal to statutory authorities and relevant project owners to come forward with viable investment proposals. Stakeholders holding projects seeking foreign investment or technical partnerships are invited to submit comprehensive details to the Secretary General and CEO of CCISL via email at secyces@gmail.com.
Both chambers emphasize that translating this foundational agreement into tangible partnerships and robust capital flows will significantly strengthen bilateral connectivity between the construction and real estate sectors of India and Sri Lanka.
Hettich, the globally renowned German manufacturer of furniture fittings and architectural hardware known for its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and magical interior solutions across the world celebrated a significant milestone in Sri Lanka, marking 10 years of presence in the country with its inaugural Partner Meet in Colombo.
The landmark event brought together Hettich’s key partners, stakeholders and industry leaders to celebrate a decade of growth, collaboration and shared success, while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Sri Lankan market.
Over the past decade, Hettich has strengthened its presence in Sri Lanka through its focus on German engineering, innovation, quality and functionality, contributing to the creation of contemporary and intelligently designed living and working spaces across the country.
The gala evening was graced by a distinguished delegation of senior leaders, including Dr. Andreas Hettich, Chairman, Hettich Group Advisory Board; S. K. Poddar, Chairman, Hettich India & Adventz Group; Mr. Akshay Poddar, Director, Hettich India; Andre Eckholt, Managing Director, Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa; Rahul Thakkar, Director – Sales, Hettich India & SAARC; and Dinusha Bhaskaran, Managing Director, Vallibel One PLC.
GS Evo Motors Limited, the authorized distributor of JMEV electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, has officially launched the JMEV EWIND, a next-generation compact electric SUV. The vehicle is designed to offer strong performance, intelligent technology, premium comfort, and high safety standards, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s growing electric mobility sector.
The EWIND features a sleek, aerodynamic exterior with penetrating LED daytime running lights, trapezoidal chain-inspired LED tail lamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a bold silhouette. Inside, it offers a spacious cabin with a panoramic moonroof and retractable curtain, an ultra-thin suspended instrument panel, a D-shaped multifunction steering wheel, multi-colour ambient lighting, premium finishes, and electrically adjustable front seats.
The SUV is available in single-motor front-wheel drive configurations, producing up to 108 kW and 210 Nm, with 0–100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds.
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