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Stax hosts webinar to shed light on Management consulting in the 21st Century

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Leading global management consulting firm Stax recently conducted a webinar on ‘Management Consulting in the 21st Century’, providing a comprehensive overview of trends in the profession and its future growth potential. The webinar drew over 200 participants as the excellent lineup of panelists shed light on the evolution of the consulting field and also spoke to the need for adopting international best practices. The session was insightful for both newcomers to the field as well as experienced professionals, with opportunities for growth and innovation in the field being discussed.

“The infusion of new blood into the profession is an essential process”, stated Stax Managing Director Dr. Kumudu Gunasekera, kicking off the webinar. “As one of the foremost organizations in the field of Management Consulting, we see it as our responsibility to raise the standard of the entire industry. This webinar is aimed at experienced professionals and new entrants alike, aiming to give them knowledge to steer their careers, transform themselves and make a mark, especially at one of the most dramatic times in human history.”

The panel for the event included Prabodha Shawn Silva, a mechanical engineer turned management consultant, counting 16+ years’ experience. He provided a snapshot of the evolution of management consulting while also outlining its importance in the business world. For those looking to enter the field, he specifically highlighted how one can leverage their varied backgrounds and skills for a successful career in consulting.

Thivanka Bandara, a young leader at Stax with 9+ years of experience, enlightened the audience on multiple growth opportunities at Stax. He highlighted how the organization has structured its key practices, allowing individuals to carve their own career journey, from a very early stage, based on individual competencies. Stax Alumni Firaz Markar, a veteran consultant with over 14 years in the field, elaborated on the positive professional and personal transformations witnessed throughout his career. The honing of many useful and transferrable skills such as being solution-oriented and applying structured thinking, were some core areas discussed by Firaz.

Rashmi Peiris Paranavitane, CFA with over 15 years of experience, stressed the importance of personal autonomy and having the tenacity to carve your own path, in order to be successful in this demanding field. She elaborated that while the ‘Working from Home’ trend necessitated by the pandemic has been challenging for many—especially for those simultaneously caring for young children at home—that there have also been unprecedented opportunities for individuals to redefine their own work-life balance, and that companies will be expected to continue making allowances for more flexible work environments.

As businesses emerge from the COVID-19 crisis new ideas, tools, work processes, and frameworks will be essential for navigating this ‘Great Reset.’. Stax Inc. is a global management consulting firm, headquartered in Boston and offices in Chicago, New York, and Colombo. With more than 25 years of experience, Stax advises the world’s largest public and private corporations, private equity firms and their portfolio companies across a broad range of industries covering 40+ international markets. With a growing client base in Sri Lanka, including diversified conglomerates, blue-chip industry leaders, large family businesses, government organizations, and NGOs, Stax inspires organizations to dream big, think outside the box, and complement gut-based decision-making with fact-based research. For more information, please visit www.stax.com.



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Central Bank of Sri Lanka launches Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) launched the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 on 05 May 2025 at the Atrium of CBSL, marking a key milestone in its continued efforts to foster a climate-resilient and socially inclusive financial system.

Recognising the growing implications of climate-related risks on price stability and financial system stability, CBSL introduced the first Sustainable Finance Roadmap in 2019, which provided foundational guidance to financial institutions on managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks while encouraging financing for green and inclusive economic activities.

In light of evolving global developments, increasing access to climate-focused financing, and broader recognition of the social dimension of sustainability, CBSL developed the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 for the period 2025–2029, with technical and financial support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in partnership with the European Union, under the Accelerating Climate-Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (EU-ACSIIS) programme.

The Roadmap 2.0 was crafted in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA), The Finance Houses Association of Sri Lanka (FHA), financial institutions and government bodies.

Focusing on Sri Lanka’s financial sector, the Roadmap 2.0 outlines a comprehensive set of prioritised actions for banking, non-banking, capital market, and insurance sectors. These actions are geared toward financing sustainable development, strengthening the management of environmental and social risks, enhancing reporting and disclosures, and improving governance and coordination across institutions.

The launch event was attended by distinguished guests including Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka; officials of IFC and EU; Ministerial secretaries and senior officials of government institutions; national and international experts on sustainability; representatives of financial institutions and partner agencies.

Communications Department 05.05.2025 2 Delivering the keynote address, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, emphasised that the launch of Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 marks a vital step in strengthening the resilience and inclusiveness of Sri Lanka’s financial sector amid growing climate and social challenges. He highlighted the need for urgent, coordinated action to integrate climate risk into financial decision-making and called for strong stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective implementation of the Roadmap 2.0.

Speaking at the event, Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka, noted that as Sri Lanka strives for resilient and inclusive growth, sustainable finance will be crucial in creating jobs and driving economic expansion, while also positioning the country to be investment ready. He further highlighted that building a truly sustainable financial ecosystem in Sri Lanka is a collective endeavor – one that IFC has been a part of from inception, and remains committed in working together with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and industry stakeholders to bring the shared vision of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 to fruition.

The keynote was followed by a session providing an overview of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0, led by Ms. W. A. Dilrukshini, Assistant Governor of CBSL, and Ms. Wei Yuan, ESG Officer of IFC. A panel discussion on “Rolling Out the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0” featured Dr. Thusitha Sugathapala, National Technical Expert on Sustainability; Ms. S. Ketawala, Additional Director of the Bank Supervision Department of CBSL; Thimal Perera, Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank; and Ms. Nilupa Perera, Chief Regulatory Officer -Designate of CSE.

The Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 can be accessed using the following link:

https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/sustainable_finance_roadmap_2.0.pdf

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Browns Investments expands plantation sector with another Lkr 4.8 billion acquisition

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Browns Investments PLC (BIL), the investment arm of the LOLC Group, has announced a significant expansion of its plantation portfolio with the acquisition of FLMC Plantations (Pvt) Ltd (FLMC). The acquisition was completed on May 5, 2025, through a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Damro Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd and Piyestra Furniture (Pvt) Ltd, for a total consideration of LKR 4.8 billion.

FLMC Plantations serves as the holding company and managing agent for Pussellawa Plantations Ltd (PPL) and Melfort Green Teas (Pvt) Ltd. PPL operates over 11,500 hectares of land across 24 estates, managing 5,400 hectares of tea, 5,900 hectares of rubber, and 200 hectares of minor crops. The estates collectively produce 4.3 million kilograms of made tea and 2.3 million kilograms of rubber annually. Strategically located in Sri Lanka’s renowned tea-growing regions, including Pussellawa, Udupussellawa, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa, these estates will further enhance BIL’s presence in the country’s agricultural landscape.

Commenting on the acquisition, the Group Managing Director/ CEO of LOLC Holdings PLC, Kapila Jayawardena stated, “Over the past two decades, LOLC Group has been guided by a bold vision of expansion and diversification, positioning ourselves as a global powerhouse across multiple sectors. Our acquisition of FLMC Plantations through Browns Investments PLC is another key milestone in strengthening our leadership in agriculture and plantations. With the addition of Pussellawa Plantations and Melfort Green Teas, we are not only expanding our footprint in Sri Lanka’s premier tea-growing regions but also enhancing our ability to supply premium-quality tea to global markets.’’

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VFS Global acquires majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience to create a centre of excellence

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(From left) Sergio Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer, CiX Citizen Services and Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Supercharged Growth: VFS Global’s partnership will accelerate CiX’s expansion across Brazil, Latin America, and beyond.

Global Powerhouse: With VFS Global’s capital, technology, talent and scale, CiX Citizen Experience will bring new products and technology to the global marketplace.

Quality of Life Commitment: Both companies are dedicated to innovative solutions, including the use of AI, that improve citizens’ quality of life

Local Impact with Wider Reach: Collaboration to modernise services for citizens of Brazil by creating a centre of excellence that stands as a global example.

VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure global mobility for governments and citizens, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a leading provider of digital and physical citizen services based in Brazil. This strategic acquisition marks a pivotal step in VFS Global’s expansion journey—particularly across Latin America (LATAM)—as it continues to broaden its capabilities and deepen its impact in the public service delivery space.

With nearly two decades of pioneering innovation in citizen services, CiX has established a strong presence in Brazil. This success will be further scaled across LATAM and other global markets, leveraging VFS Global’s international reach and operational excellence.

This acquisition is centred on driving transformation through advanced digital technologies, including AI and data-driven platforms. By uniting CiX’s cutting-edge digital capabilities with VFS Global’s extensive global infrastructure and expertise in managing complex service ecosystems, we are positioned to deliver next-generation, integrated solutions to public and private sector clients around the world.

For both companies’ client governments and partners, this will lead to enhanced, tailored solutions that improve citizen engagement, access, and satisfaction.

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