The Ministry of Environment yesterday launched a new knowledge-sharing platform titled Green Minds, aimed at strengthening environmental thinking and institutional capacity among public sector officials, at a time when Sri Lanka is facing mounting ecological stress and climate-related challenges.

The inaugural session of the monthly programme was held on February 12, 2026, at the Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, K. R. Uduwawala, with the participation of senior officials from the Ministry and its affiliated institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary Uduwawala said that Green Minds was designed not merely as another training initiative, but as a thinking space for public officials to critically engage with emerging environmental concepts and global best practices.

“Environmental governance today is no longer limited to regulations and enforcement. It requires new ways of thinking, interdisciplinary approaches and continuous learning. Green Minds is intended to become a platform where officials can reflect, debate and update themselves on these evolving realities,” Uduwawala said.

He stressed that Sri Lanka’s environmental institutions must move beyond routine administrative practices and embrace knowledge-driven policy making, particularly in areas such as climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management and environmental justice.

The keynote lecture at the inaugural session was delivered by Senior Professor Siri Hettige, who spoke on the role of social sciences in achieving sustainable development in Sri Lanka. He highlighted the often overlooked social dimensions of environmental problems.

“Environmental issues are not purely scientific or technical. They are deeply social. Human behaviour, consumption patterns, inequality and governance structures all shape environmental outcomes,” Prof. Hettige said.

“If we want sustainability, we must understand society as much as we understand nature.”

He pointed out that many environmental policies fail because they do not adequately consider community realities, livelihoods and social power relations.

“You cannot conserve forests without understanding people. You cannot manage waste without understanding urban lifestyles. Sustainability is fundamentally a social project,” he added.

Following the keynote, a high-level panel discussion on strengthening environmental awareness brought together Prof. Hettige, Dr. Herath Vidyaratne, environmental policy analyst, Ravindra Kariyawasam, Adviser to the Minister of Environment, and S. C. Palamakumbura, Conservator General of Forests.

Kariyawasam said Sri Lanka was at a critical juncture where environmental decision making must be aligned with national development priorities.

“We can no longer treat the environment as a separate sector. It has to be integrated into economic planning, infrastructure development and social policy. Green Minds offers a space for officials to think beyond institutional silos,” he said.

Dr. Vidyaratne stressed that environmental literacy among state officials was essential in responding to complex challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation.

“The problems we face today are interconnected. Climate change is linked to food security, public health and migration. Officers need systems thinking, not just subject knowledge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Palamakumbura highlighted the importance of translating environmental awareness into institutional action.

“We have knowledge, laws and policies. What we need is consistent implementation and a shared environmental ethic across all institutions. Platforms like Green Minds can help build that collective responsibility,” he said.

He noted that forest conservation, wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration could not succeed without inter-agency cooperation and informed decision makers.

By Ifham Nizam

Spanning tourism, maritime and freight logistics, strategic investments and services, with operations across the region, Aitken Spence PLC, with a legacy of over 157 years, continues to pursue excellence. The Group recorded revenue of Rs. 67 billion for the nine months ending 31st December 2025, underscoring a robust performance across its portfolio of industries. The Tourism sector accounted for 68% of Group revenue, while the Maritime & Freight Logistics sector and Strategic Investments sector contributed 18% and 12% respectively. Furthermore, the Group’s revenue for the third quarter improved by 3.8%, reflecting steady performance across key sectors.

The Group’s total Profit Before Tax (PBT) stood at Rs. 5.6 billion for the nine months ending 31st December 2025, compared to Rs. 4.3 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting a growth of 30%. Correspondingly, the Group’s Profit After Tax improved by 42% to reach Rs. 3.4 billion.

Sectoral Performance

The Tourism sector recorded the most notable improvement during the period under review, reporting a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 2.0 billion for the nine months ended December 2025. This performance was primarily attributable to the sustained recovery and growth of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. In addition, the sector benefited from significant improvements in profitability at the Group’s Maldivian resorts, as well as enhanced operating performance across hotel operations in India and Oman.

The Group’s Maritime & Freight Logistics sector was the largest contributor to Profit Before Tax for the period under review, reporting a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 3.3 billion. Sector performance, however, was moderated by lower volumes and margin pressures, particularly impacting overseas freight and airline operations. This was reflected in the reduced contribution from the sector’s equity-accounted investee for the period.

In the Strategic Investments sector, the key contributing segments of printing and plantations both recorded stellar performance for the period under review despite the challenging market conditions of these industries, while the power generation segment witnessed a steady performance with notable contributions from the Waste-to-Energy and renewable power generation operations. However, the significant losses incurred in the apparel manufacturing segment impacted the overall performance of the sector, resulting in a loss of Rs. 652 million at PBT level.

The Services sector recorded strong growth during the period under review, driven primarily by the expansion of operations at Port City BPO, the Group’s most recent investment. This performance was further supported by improvements in performance by the Group’s elevators segment. As a result, the Services sector reported a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 843 million, compared to Rs. 114 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The period was marked by notable achievements:

Aitken Spence PLC became the first and only diversified holdings company in Sri Lanka to have its climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Sri Lanka is standing at a critical demographic crossroads. By 2030, one in every five Sri Lankans will be over the age of 60, as birth rates continue to decline and life expectancy rises. This rapid shift is already creating farreaching economic and social consequences-shrinking productive populations, increasing healthcare and pension costs, mounting pressure on hospital capacity, and a growing dependency ratio that places strain on families and the nation alike. Yet beyond these numbers lies a deeply rooted human truth: when our parents retire, their world often becomes smaller. Routines fade, passions quieten, and purpose slips away—quietly draining physical strength, emotional resilience, and mental sharpness.

Sustagen, Sri Lanka’s most trusted adult nutrition brand with over 60 years of heritage, is stepping forward to reframe how the nation views ageing. Not as a gradual withdrawal—but as a powerful new chapter where parents remain active, independent and inspired. This belief is brought to life through Sustagen’s renewed proposition: “Sustagen

මඟහරින්න බැරි ගුණයක්, සුවපත් මව්පිය පරපුරක්.” It is both a promise and a call to action—to give our parents renewed purpose, supported by the nutrition they need to live it fully.

To bring this national issue into sharper focus, Sustagen hosted an insightful and thoughtprovoking panel discussion that strongly amplified the conversation around healthy ageing in Sri Lanka. Moderated by renowned media personality Madhawa Wijesinghe, the panel brought together Professor Madhura Jayasinghe from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Food Science & Technology), Chaminda Vaas, a Cricketer and a Coach for respected symbol of sustained fitness and vitality, popular actor Roshan Ranawana and former Miss Sri Lanka Anudi Gunasekara representing the generation of children who care for their ageing parents. The discussion explored how mindset, purpose, family support and nutrition collectively shape how parents experience their later years.

At the heart of this movement is a simple yet powerful idea: healthy ageing requires purpose—and the right nutrition to sustain it. Sustagen strengthens this belief with a clear and relevant reason to believe, through its scientifically formulated blend of 24 essential nutrients. The key focus is on the three pillars that supports healthy ageing: activeness, immunity and cognitive strength. Because the confidence to start new at 60 and beyond comes when the body is energised, immunity is supported, and the mind remains sharp.

Speaking at the event, Professor Madhura emphasised the role of nutrition in enabling healthy ageing, “As parents grow older, their nutritional needs change significantly. Adequate intake of essential nutrients is vital for maintaining activeness, supporting immunity and preserving cognitive strength. When the correct nutritients are combined with an active lifestyle and renewed purpose, it can greatly improve quality of life in older adults.”

For sons and daughters – the oftenunseen decisionmakers – this movement reframes responsibility into opportunity. It asks a powerful question: what new beginning can you help your parents discover? A passion long forgotten. A routine that brings joy. A reason to wake up each day with excitement. Sustagen supports this journey by becoming part of a daily ritual that fuels energy, strengthens immunity and supports mental clarity.