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Top child artists rewarded at ComBank’s colourful ‘Arunalu Siththam’ awards event

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Representatives of the corporate management of Commercial Bank, the judges and the top 12 child artists at the ‘Arunalu Siththam’ awards event at the BMICH.

359 winners picked from over 13,000 entries received across the country

Over Thirteen thousand colourful works of art were scrutinised to select the best child artists who created the most imaginative drawings to be honored and rewarded with cash prizes and certificates at the ‘Arunalu Siththam’ art competition conducted recently by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

Of these winners, the 12 young artists that topped four of the five age groups that competed in the competition received their prizes at a colourful ceremony hosted by the Bank at the BMICH.

The Bank launched the ‘Arunalu Siththam Children’s Art Competition 2021’ – the second in the series – in October last year and invited children between the ages of 4-16 under five age categories to submit drawings that illustrate the themes of ‘Our lifestyle,’ (Junior category) and ‘Gifts of nature,’ (Senior category) before 25th November 2021. The categories were Pre-school (ages 4-5), Primary (ages 6-7), Post Primary (ages 8-10), Junior (ages 11-13), and Senior (ages 14-16). The competition was open to any child, whether an account holder of the Bank or not. However, in recognition of being an existing account holder, special cash prizes are to be awarded, doubling the prize.

The child artists that took the stage at the BMICH were the First, Second, and Third placed winners in the four older age groups. These winners were presented cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000, and Rs 50,000 each, as per their placements.

Although not present at the event, the 25 youngest winning contestants in the Pre-school category will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 10,000 each and certificates, and another 50 participants in this category will receive Merit Certificates. Additionally, 25 contestants in each of the other age groups will each receive cash prizes of Rs 10,000 while another 50 participants in each group will receive Merit Certificates, the Bank said.

The total of 359 winners including the top three in each category as well as the winners of Awards of Excellence and Merit Awards were selected from the entries that were submitted digitally via www.arunalusiththam.lk, but only the top winners were present at the awards event, so as to ensure safety in view of the prevailing situation.

The Bank said all other winners will receive their certificates through the nearest Commercial Bank Branch and those that have won cash prizes will have their winnings credited to their respective ‘Arunalu’ accounts. A total of Rs 2.5 million in cash prizes is to be distributed among the winners.

The panel of judges for the competition included Professor Susiripala Malimboda, retired Dean of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) who is also a member of the State Arts Council of Sri Lanka; Mrs Deepa Alahakoon, a Consultant Creative Director (Advertising) and visiting lecturer at the VPA; Mr Lal Jayasekara, Senior Lecturer and the Head of Department of Printmaking at VPA; Mr Sanjaya Seneviratne, professional artist and a graduate of VPA and Mrs Inoka Edirisinghe, art teacher at Royal College Wayamba who is also a graduate of VPA.

The vibrant awards ceremony was attended by Commercial Bank’s Group Chief Marketing Officer Mr Hasrath Munasinghe, Deputy General Manager – Personal Banking Mr Delakshan Hettiarachchi and representatives of the senior management of the Bank.

Commercial Bank launched the ‘Arunalu Siththam Art Competition’ in 2017. The flagship children’s savings account of Commercial Bank, Arunalu, after which the competition was named, offers a higher interest rate for Children’s Savings Accounts and rewards account holders with special cash prizes if they score the first, second or third highest aggregate marks in their schools at the Year 5 Scholarship Examination.



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Ambeon Securities hosts exclusive investor forum on Sri Lanka’s economic and market outlook

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The event was organized with the objective of providing investors with valuable insights to make better-informed investment decisions while further strengthening the firm's engagement with its growing client base.

Ambeon Securities recently hosted an exclusive investor forum, bringing together clients, investors, business leaders, and market professionals for an insightful discussion on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook and investment opportunities amidst a challenging global landscape.

The event was organized with the objective of providing investors with valuable insights to make better-informed investment decisions while further strengthening the firm’s engagement with its growing client base.

The forum featured Baqar Zaidi, Director and Chief Economist for Sri Lanka and India at Citi Research, as the keynote speaker. Sharing his perspectives on the evolving global macroeconomic environment, Mr. Zaidi discussed key themes influencing emerging and frontier markets, Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, and the opportunities lie ahead.

The keynote address was followed by an engaging panel discussion comprising Baqar Zaidi, Aravinda De Silva, respected investor, entrepreneur, and the Chairman of Arcasia Holdings. Hasitha Premaratne, Group Managing Director of Brandix and Asanka Herath, Chief Executive Officer – Unit Trusts and Head of Equities at LYNEAR Wealth Management.

Moderated by Imran Furkan, the panel explored a range of topics including Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic outlook, the future of the Colombo Stock Exchange, sectoral opportunities, capital allocation strategies, investor confidence, and the role of policy reforms in attracting investment and supporting long-term growth.

Speaking at the event, Charith Kamaladasa, Chief Executive Officer of Ambeon Securities, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to facilitate quality insights, informed perspectives, and meaningful dialogue to support their clients while building lasting relationships with them. He noted that in an environment where uncertainty has become the new normal, equipping investors with timely information and expert perspectives is essential for successful wealth creation.

The event was well attended by a distinguished gathering of institutional investors, high-net-worth investors, and business leaders. Among those present were members of the Ambeon Group Board, including Group Chairman Sujeewa Mudalige, Group CEO Dr. Sajeeva Narangoda, and Chairman of Ambeon Securities Mangala Boyagoda. Their presence, together with the participation of Ambeon Group shareholders and valued clients, enriched the discussions and contributed to a vibrant networking session, fostering meaningful dialogue and stronger connections within the investment community.

Through initiatives such as this, Ambeon Securities continues to reinforce its commitment to helping clients navigate evolving market conditions, make informed investment decisions, and achieve their long-term financial goals.

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Tata Group leads humanitarian education support initiative with DIMO and ChildFund

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The Tata Group, in partnership with ChildFund and DIMO, has successfully implemented a humanitarian education support initiative for disaster-affected schoolchildren in Sri Lanka, reaffirming its commitment to helping communities recover from the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent floods.

Following a formal request for support from Sri Lanka, an on-ground assessment was conducted in December 2025. Recognizing the urgent need, several Tata companies joined forces to implement the response program.

As part of this initiative, the ‘Hope in a Backpack’ programme, which provides disaster-affected children with essential educational supplies, was launched by the Tata Group at Taj Samudra, Colombo, in the presence of the Chief Guest, Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya; the Guest of Honour, Hon. Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha; Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO; Chacko Thomas, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tata Sons; and Aditi Ghosh, Country Director, ChildFund.

This initiative is part of DIMO’s Social and Community Pillar, under the project theme ‘Lassana Hetak,’ which focuses on giving the future generation a helping hand towards a better future.

This collective effort was further strengthened by volunteers from Tata and DIMO, who actively mobilized on the ground to pack, distribute, and support affected communities. During the proceedings, specially invited schoolchildren received the backpacks with essential supplies as well.

Commenting on the partnership, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO, said: “DIMO is proud to collaborate on this meaningful initiative alongside the Tata Group and ChildFund as the local implementation and logistics partner. Our relationship with Tata spans more than six decades and has been built on a shared commitment to ethical business practices, trust, and creating lasting value for the communities we serve. These values have shaped our partnership over the years, extending beyond business to initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

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NovaNest Properties launches Rainbow Apartments in Ratmalana

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Samitha Waidyasekera CEO - NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd

NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd has officially launched Rainbow Apartments, a new residential development in Ratmalana. The announcement was made at an official launch event held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, marking the company’s latest addition to Sri Lanka’s growing apartment market.

The development is designed to cater to homebuyers seeking modern urban living, as well as investors looking for long-term value. Rainbow Apartments is located in Ratmalana, an area of increasing residential interest, and benefits from the suburb’s established social infrastructure, proximity to major transportation links, and accessibility to Colombo.

The project reflects NovaNest Properties’ commitment to delivering quality residential developments that combine contemporary design with practical living. Intended to satisfy the evolving lifestyle demands of today’s homeowners, Rainbow Apartments features thoughtfully designed living spaces supported by modern amenities. These include two infinity pools, a gym, fully functional workspaces, a mini theatre, stylish cafés, a mini-mart, and a children’s daycare. Additionally, it features a full time medical centre backed by Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Colombo, with a 24-hour ambulance service.

Commenting on the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd, Samitha Waidyasekera, said, “Today’s buyers are looking beyond square footage. In addition to providing long-term value, they want homes that are close to the places where they work, learn, and spend their time. With that shift in mind, Rainbow Apartments was created to bring together a strategic location, thoughtful design, and quality construction in a way that will continue to meet buyers’ needs for years to come. Through our promise of ‘Luxury Beyond Expectations,’ we are committed to delivering an elevated lifestyle experience that combines comfort, convenience, and modern living.

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