Business
South Korean hospital presents generous gift to Sri Lanka
Ambassador Dr. Mendis and Most Venerable Vijithawansha Thero accepting the medical material from the senior medical staff of the Gwanghye General Hospital in Busan
The embassy of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Korea, in close coordination with the Sri Lankaramaya Temple in the City of Daegu, managed to convince the senior most officials and medical team of Gwanghye General Hospital in the City of Busan to gift over 100 medical beds, wheelchairs and other medically important material to the embassy of Sri Lanka to be shipped to select hospital in Sri Lanka.
In this regard, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis, and Chief Incumbent of Sri Lankaramaya Temple, Most Venerable Katuwana Vijithawansha Thero, travelled to Gwanghye General Hospital in Busan, approximately 400 Km from Seoul, to receive the medical beds, wheelchairs and other medical material/accessories from the hospital in a ceremonial ambiance.
At the handing over ceremony at the Gwanghye General Hospital in the presence of the senior most medical and administrative officials of the hospital, Ambassador Dr. Mendis, in his opening remarks, stated that gifting of these sparingly used medical beds, wheelchairs and new medical accessories would assist and facilitate a number of patients in hospitals in Sri Lanka. Dr. Mendis further enunciated and impressed the fact that just over four decades ago, the Republic of Korea was an aid-recipient nation and today it has evolutionized to one of the more generous aid-giving nations in the world. The Executive Director of the Gwanghye General Hospital, Dr. Lee Jae Won, stated in his address that it gives deep pleasure and privilege to gift the aforementioned medical material to Sri Lanka. He further added that in the near future, the hospital would be able to extend more assistance to the embassy of Sri Lanka by gifting more medical material including medical beds. The Most Venerable Vijithawansha priest, who was instrumental in connecting the Hospital with Ambassador Dr. Mendis, stated that assisting the sick or unwell persons, either physically or mentally, is one of the noblest acts a person or an institution could fulfil or realize.
Once the medical material including the medical beds were handed over to the embassy, Sri Lankan well-wishers in the region were present to transport the medical material to a warehouse in Busan to be shipped to Sri Lanka. It may be highlighted that Trico Cargo of South Korea and Sri Cargo, both operated and owned by Sri Lankan nationals volunteered to ship them to Sri Lanka at their own cost. The aforementioned medical material including the medical beds would be shipped to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) since the SLA are constructing a hospital in the region of Kandy in Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Dr. Mendis and Most Venerable Vijithawansha Thero assured the Sri Lankan community, who was present at the ceremony, that the embassy, in close coordinaton with the Sri Lankaramaya Temple, would endeavor and strive, relentlessly and unremittingly, to provide particularly beds including medical beds to each and every hospital in Sri Lanka, thus facilitating and accommodating each and every patient in those hospitals to be secured with a comfortable bed, during their sicknesses or illnesses. On a separate note, another patron of the embassy and Sri Lankaramaya Temple, Beung-gu Hur, a leading Korean business personality in the region of Busan, pledged to provide nearly 150 more medical beds to Sri Lankan hospitals, once this consignment is shipped to Sri Lanka.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
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.
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