Business
Vision Casting at BIOFACH 2023
Dilmah-GLX led Lost Ingredients Lab Program Participants Attend World Leading Organic Food Trade Fair
The Lost Ingredients Lab program pushes the boundaries of the Sri Lankan organic food and agriculture sector by adding value along the supply chain to locally underutilized ingredients like jackfruit, gotukola and seaweed to be embraced by the world, A Dilmah news release said last week.
“For over eight months, the Lost Ingredients Lab programme (LIL), a Dilmah Tea and Good Life X collaboration, has been mentoring six promising small-medium entrepreneurs and agri-tech companies equipping them with knowledge, strategies, and tools to position their products strongly in the international market,” the release said.
“An exciting highlight of the programme was a recent visit to BIOFACH – the world’s leading trade fair for organic food held in Nürnberg, Germany (14th-17th February 2023). Nowhere else in the world has this many organic food suppliers, partners, products, and consumers gathered in one place to meet, network, and inform.
“It was the perfect environment for the budding organic agripreneurs to pitch their solutions, understand global trends, and form new connections with potential partners. They were further able to glean the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ dynamics of other brands that exist in this space. On the ground, the six companies received constant mentorships and guidance from programme experts including Bert Jan Ottens, Senior Advisor, ProFound, making the trip focused and productive.”
This year the trends at BIOFACH were “New Glocal”, “Vegan meets Tradition”, “Less is More” and “New Sweeteners”. There was a new-found interest towards food & agriculture, an alternative means of producing food that will have a low or net positive impact on lowering the carbon footprint by improving soil health, improving water quality and even food productivity, which is encouraging to the LIL participants who live this concept coupled with food and agri-tech innovation.
A Lankan company, Lak Nature, a woman-led enterprise, heroes the superfood gotukola in their product line of healthy porridge and cereals. Plant Based envisions plant-based fast food championing young jackfruit.
Others like Ceylon Agri and Aqua is combining community development in Jaffna and Mannar with seaweed harvesting for carrageenan extraction. Saviru Technologies manufactures its own food dehydrators, provides premier dehydration solutions and even has its own line of spices. Niftron is on a mission to simplify blockchain for agri and other businesses to improve trust, security, and ownership. Senzmate Polar promotes technology to keep food safe from farm to fork.
Kapila Weeratunga Arachchi of Saviru Technologies said, “We have been developing and promoting dehydration technologies for 20 years. At BIOFACH 2023, we saw for the first time, what was happening in the world with agro and food processing. We gauged that our local technology and dehydrated products are on par with Europe. There was a keen interest in our dehydration technologies and dehydration services centre model. Development agencies in the African region thought that we are ideal candidates for South-South cooperation for technology transfer. Thanks to the LIL Program we are ready to deliver beyond our shores to the global village.”
Lakmini Weerakkody of Lak Nature International said, “BIOFACH gave me good exposure. I learned so much, identified potential markets and got the best experience about new trends in the international market. The wonderful team of Lost Ingredients Lab guides us on accessibility, opportunities, knowledge-building and many more, always.”
The Lost Ingredients Lab is an initiative under the ‘Support to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Organic Agriculture Sector’ Programme of the Multi-Donor Action (MDA) jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The program is aimed at creating investment opportunities in the domestic agri-food sector, emphasising the growing importance of digitalizing the domestic organic food sector, and supporting organic food producers in Sri Lanka to access new markets, particularly in the EU.
Business
Ambeon Securities hosts exclusive investor forum on Sri Lanka’s economic and market outlook
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.
Business
Tata Group leads humanitarian education support initiative with DIMO and ChildFund
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.”
Business
NovaNest Properties launches Rainbow Apartments in Ratmalana
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.
-
Features6 days agoPrison riots and politics: NPP’s biggest challenge and Sri Lanka’s biggest opportunity
-
Editorial7 days agoWhat’s the world coming to?
-
Features3 days agoDirty Money
-
Editorial6 days agoMuch ado about crime: Fish or cut bait
-
Features6 days agoMore on Saudi Arabia: ARAMCO and beyond
-
Midweek Review3 days agoThe sordid tale of theft and tragedy at Finance Ministry
-
Latest News3 days agoOil prices hit 1-month high as US-Iran attacks dim Strait of Hormuz outlook
-
News18 hours agoMoney laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
