Business
Unilever Voted Sri Lanka’s Number 1 Employer of Choice for the 11th Consecutive Year
Unilever Sri Lanka has been recognized as the No. 01 Employer of Choice among undergraduates in Sri Lanka for the 11th consecutive year. This prestigious award is a reinforcement of the unwavering commitment of the company towards developing Sri Lankan youth as purpose led, future fit leaders of tomorrow.
The Employer of Choice survey is an annual survey conducted among undergraduates from national and private universities in the country across management, science and engineering disciplines. The respondents rank companies based on their presence among youth, the career opportunities provided within the organisation, and investments made in terms of enhancing youth employability for which Unilever Sri Lanka has been consistently recognized as the go-to Employer.
Sharing her thoughts on this achievement, Ananya Sabharwal, Human Resources Director – Unilever Sri Lanka said, “We are humbled to be recognized once again as the No. 1 Employer of Choice by undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Leading research agencies are stating that Gen Zs will form 30% of the world’s population by 2030. And they are a growing power that will form the workforce of the future. We will continue evolving our youth offerings to cater to unique nuances of Gen Zs such as flexibility and inclusion whilst building their future fitness. We also want to share this esteemed recognition with our external partners including universities, youth institutions and organisations that have joined hands with us to magnify our scale of reach to purposefully empower youth across Sri Lanka.”
Commenting on the recognition, Hajar Alafifi, Chairperson and Managing Director – Unilever Sri Lanka said, “This milestone marks over a decade of our meaningful connections with Sri Lankan Youth. Our youth are our future and as a responsible corporate citizen, we are proud to have been partnering with them in innovative ways to not just build their employability skills, but also develop them as future leaders of the world. We will continue to support our youth, thereby enhancing their skills, creating impactful learning experiences and preparing them for the future of work in the hopes of building a better tomorrow.”
As part of its commitment to equip 100,000 youth with better employability skills by 2025, Unilever Sri Lanka, together with its SPARKS Student Ambassadors, recently hosted its annual Youth Forum for the ninth consecutive year themed around the topic of ‘Future of Work’ to provide nearly 400 undergraduates and graduates from 50+ universities and institutes with a holistic overview on what the future of work entails. Furthermore, the company recently signed an MoU as a ‘Strategic Partner’ with the Department of Marketing Management of the University of Kelaniya for its Marketing and Digital Marketing degree programmes, and has also partnered with CIMA, the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), AIESEC Sri Lanka and Gavel clubs, to help support dynamic capability building in Sri Lankan youth.
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.
Eventistry Sports, a trailblazer in innovative sporting events, has unveiled the Sri Lanka Padel League (SLPL), the nation’s first franchise-based padel tournament, set to debut in June 2025. This groundbreaking league promises to redefine Sri Lanka’s sports landscape by creating a dynamic national platform for athletes while fostering unity among fans, brands, and communities.
The SLPL will showcase six franchise teams, each embodying the spirit of iconic Sri Lankan locales: the Colombo Chargers, Yala Rangers, Hikkaduwa Riders, Ella Hawks, Arugambay Vipers, and Trinco Warriors. These teams will not only ignite regional pride but also unite the country through a shared passion for padel—a fast-paced racquet sport merging tennis and squash, played on enclosed courts.
“The SLPL is more than a league; it’s a movement,” declared Karin Wijeratne, Director of Eventistry Sports. “By blending franchise sports with Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, we’re creating a platform where players gain national recognition, fans rally behind their hometown heroes, and brands engage with communities in meaningful ways.”
The league’s launch on June 21–23, 2025, at Colombo’s Padel House courts (CR&FC) will kick off with three days of high-octane matches, preceded by a star-studded player auction on May 16th at The Vault, Colombo City Centre. Local talent—both professional and intermediate—will be drafted by franchise owners, with international registrations now open to elevate the competition’s global appeal.
Please log in to: www.slpadelleague.com and social media: @SriLankaPadelLeague (Facebook & Instagram) for more information.
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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