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Windows 11 now available in Sri Lanka

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The next generation of Windows will bring users closer to what they love

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 will start to become available through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs pre-installed with Windows 11. As the PC continues to play a more central role in our lives than ever before, Windows 11 is secure and designed to be centered around the user, empowering one to be more productive and creative.

“Windows 11 marks the start of a new generation of Windows, a platform and home for over a billion people to do their jobs, pursue their passions, and connect with the people they love. With Windows 11, we reimagined the entire user experience to bring you closer to what you love, empower you to produce, and inspire you to create. It’s an open platform that enables our partners in the SEA New Markets to innovate, providing customers with the broadest choice of devices—across form factors, styles, and features—whether they are working, learning, creating, or gaming. We look forward to seeing their dreams and ideas come to life with our new platform,” said Sook Hoon Cheah, General Manager, Southeast Asia New Markets, Microsoft APAC.

Windows 11 bringing users closer to what they love

Windows 11 brings users closer to what they love and is designed to support users in every part of their life with ease whether that’s at work, home or school.

From the new Start menu and Taskbar to each sound, font, and icon available, users can expect Windows 11 to bring them a more modern, fresh, and beautiful experience. With Start at the center, users have quick access to the content and apps they care about and through the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 (sold separately), they can view recent files they have been working on regardless of which device they were using, even if it was an Android or iOS device.

Chat from Microsoft Teams will deliver an incredible new experience that helps bring users closer to the people they care about. With a simple click, users can instantly connect through chat, voice or video call with personal contacts regardless of the device or platform they’re on, Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS. Users also get faster access to information they care about with Widgets, a new personalized feed powered by AI.

Empowering productivity and inspiring creativity through new experiences

Windows 11 features powerful new experiences whether users are working on a school project, collaborating on a presentation for work, building a new app or creating your next big idea. Windows 11 features such as Snap Layouts and Groups offer a more powerful way to multitask and optimize screen real estate in a way that is visually clean. Desktops will provide users the ability to create individual Desktops that display different sets of apps to help stay organized and focused.

Accessibility was also considered from the start in the development of Windows 11, and it offers familiar assistive technologies like Narrator, Magnifier, Closed Captions and Windows Speech Recognition to support users across the disability spectrum. Microsoft has also improved the experiences for touch and voice typing with Windows 11.



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Business

SIA warns of 1,000 SME collapses, urges fair policies to protect Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector

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The Solar Industries Association (SIA) holds a press briefing in Colombo recently.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The Solar Industries Association (SIA), representing over 1,000 companies and employing 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector, issued a stern warning recently regarding threats to the industry’s survival and the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. The association condemned recent regulatory instability and called for urgent policy reforms to avert economic and social crises.

The SIA categorically rejected the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) claim that rooftop solar installations caused the recent island-wide power outage, calling the accusation “baseless and misleading.”

“Public trust is eroded when accountability is misdirected,” the SIA stated. “We demand an independent, transparent investigation led by experts appointed by the Ministry or the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL). The CEB’s unilateral statements disregard the sector’s contributions and jeopardize Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition,” they said.

“While acknowledging the formation of a tariff determination committee, the SIA criticized its narrow focus on financial parameters, ignoring the sector’s socioeconomic value. Rooftop solar empowers businesses and households with energy independence, reduces grid strain, and supports climate goals. However, proposed volatile tariff structures risk destabilizing over 100,000 installations—primarily owned by middle-class families—and deter future investment,” they noted.

“A rigid, equation-based tariff system is unsustainable,” the association warned. “Sri Lanka needs a stable policy framework to attract long-term investments. For instance, retirees could invest EPF savings into solar projects, securing income while advancing national energy targets. Without urgent action, 1,000 SMEs and 40,000 jobs face collapse, with dire consequences for employment, energy security, and economic stability,” they pointed out.

SIA urged policymakers to establish an independent committee to investigate the power outage fairly, expand the tariff committee’s mandate to include socioeconomic and environmental benefits and implement predictable policies to safeguard SMEs, households, and investor confidence.

“Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads,” the SIA emphasized. “Protecting rooftop solar isn’t just about energy—it’s about livelihoods, economic resilience, and a sustainable future. We urge stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize both people and progress,: they emphasized.

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SLT-MOBITEL partners with the Rush Lanka Group to power its apartment portfolio

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Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer - Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Lanka Group, exchange the signed agreement

SLT-MOBITEL has entered into a strategic partnership with Rush Lanka Group to provide exclusive SLT-MOBITEL Fibre connectivity solutions to their portfolio of luxury apartment developments in Colombo and the suburbs, enhancing the digital experience of all residents.

The agreement was signed between Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer of Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Group headquarters. Representatives from both companies also attended the ceremony.

Under the partnership, SLT-MOBITEL will serve as the exclusive digital service provider for five prestigious Rush Lanka developments including Street Rush Residencies and Rush Court 4 in Mt. Lavinia, Rush Tower 2, Rush Metropolis in Dehiwala, and Rush Court 5 in Colombo 14. The collaboration ensures residents will enjoy superior fibre connectivity speeds, enabling seamless digital experiences in modern smart homes. The partnership with the Rush Lanka Group aligns with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to offer ultra-fast, reliable connectivity solutions to residential developments. Delivering exclusive fibre connectivity to luxury apartments, SLT-MOBITEL ensures residents have access to world-class digital services that complement the living experience promised by Rush Lanka Group.

Powered by advanced fibre technology, SLT-MOBITEL network will provide the residences with seamless performance across digital activities. The SLT-MOBITEL Fibre backbone ensures lag-free experiences whether tenants are gaming online, attending virtual classes, working remotely, or streaming high-definition entertainment. SLT-MOBITEL Fibre will transform the lifestyles of all apartment users bringing greater convenience and superior quality of life.

Rush Lanka Group, established in 1992, is a property developer specializing in luxury and semi-luxury apartments.

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Sri Lanka makes outstanding appearance at OTM and SATTE 2025 in India

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SLTPB has been a regular member of both OTM and SATTE trade fairs in India

Starting its promotional work for 2025, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) added another feather into its cap of endorsements, by being recognized as the most innovative Tourism Board promotion in Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) . In parallel to that, several other sub events were held. The OTM was held in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—India, from 30th January to 01st February 2025.Before OTM, the Global Village – Global Exchange & Trade Exhibition was held at the Surat International Exhibition & Convention Centre , Sarsana, Surat (Gujarat – India , from 25th to 27th January 2025. This travel fair was organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).

Sri Lanka participated in both OTM and South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), held from 19th – 21st Feb 2025, in New Delhi, India . This was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to promote it’s potential as a unique travel destination, especially for the Indian counterparts, as SLTPB has identified India as the number one source market for Sri Lanka, tourism bringing the largest number of tourist arrivals to the destination.

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