Business
Velaris welcomes Udara Wijeratna as Country Head (SL) & Vice President of Engineering
Velaris – An emerging startup that’s making a big impact on the Customer Success space appoints the SaaS industry specialist, Udara Wijeratna as the Country Head of Sri Lanka & Vice President of Engineering, the copany announced.
“This unique team of problem solvers, designers, engineers, and developers, living and working across the globe, is empowering businesses to put customers front and center. Velaris pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, united by the singular aim to change the world of Customer Success,” a news release said.
Wijeratna joins Velaris after a dedicated career at SyscoLABS spearheading Corporate Technology and International engineering divisions. Specializing in enterprise application design, he guided over 120 engineers to excel in the delivery of quality products to Sysco USA.
“Udara surged through the ranks with technical expertise and a focus on enterprise with industry leaders like Pearson and Virtusa. An AWS Certified Solutions Architect he is now an instrumental consultant in the acceleration of SaaS product engineering and cloud enablement start-ups,” the release said.
Educated at Nalanda College, Colombo, Udara went on to graduate from the University of Colombo and the University of Kelaniya where he holds a BSc. (Hons) in Information Technology and a BSc. (Hons) in Physical Science. He acquired a distinction for MSc in Enterprise Application Development from Sheffield Hallam University.
“A strategic problem-solver, Udara will collaborate with team members to ensure design requirements are met and plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee activities in the Engineering department. By ensuring the development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet the current and future needs of the company, he’ll be responsible for keeping everyone’s eyes on the prize. His primary role will be to ensure that all processes run smoothly while creating a culture that rewards motivation and cooperation,” the release said..
“We are thrilled to welcome Udara as our new VP of Engineering and Country Head to help take Velaris to the next level. Having led high-performing cross-functional teams for the last 10+ years, Udara brings a wealth of technical and managerial experience to the team. We are very excited about all the innovation and the great culture that will come under his leadership.” says José Fernández-Castaño, Co-founder / COO welcoming Udara to the helm.
A similar greeting was given by Dilanka Kalutota – Co-founder/CEO who considered it an honour to have Udara on board. “Udara was the missing piece of our remarkably talented team in Sri Lanka. The wealth of expertise he brings on board will enable us to scale at a higher velocity whilst maintaining stability.”
About Velaris
Velaris, a UK-based tech startup with routes to Sri Lanka and Spain is co-founded by Dilanka Kalutota and José Fernández-Castaño. The product, a pioneering customer success platform named Velaris for B2B tech companies has disrupted the customer success market by filling a specific market gap. With a €4.7M investment by venture capital firm Octopus, followed by Zaka and Fintech 365, customer-centricity is not a process at Velaris – it’s a mindset that is part of the company’s DNA.
Their mission is to build state-of-the-art products for B2B companies, enabling them to make their customers successful. The focus is on helping B2B tech companies to better understand their customers, strengthen relationships, and retain and expand their business through data-driven decisions. Velaris aims to develop R&D and boost expansion in London, Madrid, and Sri Lanka.
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.
IPL 2025: Siraj, Gill and Washington hand Sunrisers fourth successive defeat
The sun will be directly overhead Colombo, Awissawella, Talawakelle, Dimbula, Galakumbura and Dambagalla at about 12:12 noon today [07]
Heavy rainfall of above 100 mm is likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva and North-central provinces and in Ampara district
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