Business
Aitken Spence Travels wins top Sustainability Award 2022
Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd emerged as the most sustainable Destination Management Company (DMC) and the role model of sustainability in the tourism industry at the recently held “Sustainability Awards 2022,” organized by the AHK (Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka), together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The Sustainability Awards 2022 serves to recognise sustainability initiatives and award companies across the agriculture, textile, and tourism industries for such efforts. The nominees were reviewed under four broad categories, namely, holistic approach to sustainability, visionary leadership, innovative capability, and resistance to external factors to reward.
As one of the leading DMCs in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka for 45 years, Aitken Spence Travels being part of the Aitken Spence PLC group has sustainability engrained to the DNA of the company and is serious about its commitments and principles. The company works within the industry to safeguard and strengthen the livelihoods of communities, promote social integration and peace through cultural exposure, and help to foster goodwill among different communities. Moreover, has integrated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific targets into the company’s sustainability strategies as the outcome would contribute towards national and international development needs.
Offering community-based excursions, offsetting carbon footprints, and executing CSR projects such as “The Art of Giving”, Tree planting programs, and “Travel Kindly” initiative are salient contributors to the company’s successful sustainability journey.
Commenting on the company’s stellar performance, Stasshani Jayawardena Executive Director, Aitken Spence PLC and Head of the Tourism and Leisure, said, “Aitken Spence Travels has continuously strived towards making meaningful contributions to local and global development needs in the tourism industry. This achievement resonates with the values of the organisation and our unwavering commitment to reach greater heights in sustainability amidst many challenges faced in the tourism industry.”
Nalin Jayasundera, the Managing Director, Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, also commented, “We are delighted to win this award, which is a reflection of our effort to preserve sustainable tourism at every step of our value chain. We are thankful to our staff, consumers, suppliers, partners, and all other stakeholders for their patronage that has helped us to extend and excel in sustainability.”
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
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.
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