Business
‘All the good in the world’ this season

Premier hospitality chain, Aitken Spence Hotels, celebrates this festive season with a unique campaign aimed at paying tribute to “All the good in the world”. This year’s theme is inspired by the silver linings that have truly made a difference in the world today, amidst the disruptive events that unravelled since March 2020.
Curated around the ethos of ‘giving back’ and ‘sharing’ – two essential components that illustrates the heart of the festive season – the hospitality arm of the Group has created a range of activities that reiterates the spirit of Christmas, across its hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Oman.
Close to home, Closer to heart
Under this overarching theme, the domestic campaign “Close to home, Closer to heart” reaches out to those travelling with a purpose. Encouraging guests to spend their holidays in a space that feels like home – close to their own residences, and closer yet to the heart at Aitken Spence Hotels, Sri Lanka. Belonging to the chain of Hotels; Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Negombo, Heritance Ahungalla, Heritance Tea Factory, Turyaa Kalutara, Amethyst Resort Passikudah, Bandarawela Hotel and, Earl’s Regency and Earl’s Regent in Kandy – promises a rewarding experience, welcoming all to partake in a holiday that goes beyond just another vacation.
Taking on ‘a season of giving’, Aitken Spence Hotels Sri Lanka has pledged 1% of their turnover between 1 Dec 2020 and 15 January 2021 to purchase school supplies for children in and around the locality of the resorts in Sri Lanka. The Group also encourages guests to partake in this endeavor by choosing Aitken Spence Hotels as their home away from home this December and further contribute to the cause by donating to Spence Evoluzione Charitable Trust, which will further facilitate the cause.
Celebrating the brave hearts
In appreciation of the hard work and dedication of the local military and healthcare professionals, the hospitality group has also extended special discounts up to 58% under its ‘brave heart’ celebratory drive. Bookable during the month of December, the national heroes can enjoy a relaxing holiday at its resorts –– from January to March 2021.
Love from Yonder
Not forgetting the families who are kept apart from their loved ones due to the pandemic, the group has also made available bespoke and pre-made hampers as well as share meal platters that can be ordered online and delivered to the doors of their near and dear. With a range of sweet and savory treats, unique hampers including local sweetmeat hampers ideal for the new year and an array of pre-planned meals for families of six to eight, the Group’s Heritance Hotels and Resorts are going all out in promoting a season of sharing, carefully crafted by their team of award-winning chefs.
Tying in with the overall domestic campaign of “Close to home, Closer to heart” the lineup of treats include those closer to our palettes with new and innovative twists – such as billing chutney, rhubarb jam and a localised hamper with traditional favourites. Made in line with the Group’s sustainable and community development, ingredients are also largely, locally sourced.
A season like no other
Speaking of this incredible spin on the season of festivities, Stasshani Jayawardena, Aitken Spence PLC Director, Head of Tourism and Leisure, and Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements, noted that the theme came naturally given its longstanding commitment to empower and inspire. “From the inception, Aitken Spence Hotels is known to have led the way for greater things within the industry. From sustainability to F&B to community engagement, we have always been at the forefront.
The values and traditions that envelope us as a company is based on a premise of appreciation. Whilst it is easy to delve on the negative connotations based on the black swan event that has interrupted our lives as we knew it, we take this as an opportunity to appreciate and provide for those in need.”
She added; “We are grateful to all our patrons and partners who chose to stay, dine, celebrate and work with us in the past months. This is our way of paying it forward.”
Trendsetters in the industry, Aitken Spence Hotels hold a special place in the hearts of many, built on trust and loyalty over the years. With seasonal activities planned at all their properties to create a relaxing and stress-free holiday, they also maintain heightened health and safety practices, in line with local and international healthcare standards.
To be a part of a unique season and for more information, log on to www.aitkenspence.com or www.heritancehotelsandresorts.com
Business
DFCC Bank and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce forge strategic partnership

DFCC Bank PLC has entered a partnership with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, to formally integrate Ceylon Chamber-led macroeconomic and sectoral intelligence into its service model. This strategic collaboration is set to enhance both internal expertise and client-facing value, reinforcing DFCC Bank’s position as the most insight-driven and customer-aligned bank in the country.
By harnessing the Ceylon Chamber’s deep research capabilities, DFCC Bank will gain privileged access to quarterly macroeconomic outlooks, sector-specific insights, and dynamic market intelligence. These deliverables will inform decision-making across the organisation—from strategy formulation to client advisory—ensuring DFCC Bank teams remain ahead of the curve in responding to economic developments and customer needs.
Through this partnership, the Ceylon Chamber will provide briefings on key economic indicators such as GDP performance, inflation trends, policy shifts, and global economic movements, alongside industry analyses tailored to DFCC Bank’s client sectors. These insights will not only serve internal capability-building but also enhance client conversations—offering DFCC Bank customers access to curated intelligence through strategic reviews and presentations.
Thimal Perera, CEO of DFCC Bank, commented:
“As we sharpen our focus on delivering value beyond banking, this collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce gives us and our clients a distinct advantage. Timely economic insights and sector intelligence will strengthen the relevance and depth of our engagements – enabling us to support customers with more informed, responsive financial solutions that align with the realities they face.”
Buwanekabahu Perera, Secretary General and CEO of the Ceylon Chamber stated:
“Our goal is to take economic intelligence beyond boardrooms and make it practical and actionable for businesses. Partnering with DFCC Bank allows us to do exactly that, by ensuring that insights translate into better advice, faster decisions, and stronger outcomes for businesses.”
The official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place on 12 June 2025, symbolising a shared vision for smarter financial ecosystems in Sri Lanka.
Business
Spring board to ‘unleashing a new era in start-up driven growth’

In an impassioned call to action, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, declared that Sri Lanka was ready to “unleash a new era of startup-driven growth, as he kicked off the prelude to Disrupt Asia 2025 — a four-day mega-event that aspires to redefine the nation’s digital economy and transform it into South Asia’s next innovation hub.
“We are no longer waiting for the future. We are building it, right here, starting now, said Abeysinghe. “With Disrupt Asia, we aim to place Sri Lanka firmly on the map as a gateway to South Asia, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia for global investors, innovators and disruptors.”
Scheduled to run from September 17–20 in Colombo, Disrupt Asia 2025 is more than just another tech event. Backed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the ICT Agency (ICTA), the platform is being positioned as the national accelerator for startups and innovation—bringing together universities, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and the general public into one unified ecosystem.
The event is anchored in Sri Lanka’s broader ambition to grow its digital economy from a current estimated transaction volume of USD 3–5 billion to USD 15 billion by 2030. To achieve this, the government is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy: a USD 50 million Fund of Funds to boost venture capital availability, the creation of a Virtual Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and new equity pathways for startups through the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Deputy Minister Abeysinghe noted that the government was working with financial advisory firm KPMG to address longstanding taxation and regulatory hurdles, including the double taxation of venture capital funds and limited frameworks for foreign co-founders.
“These policies are no longer in the shadows, he stressed. “They are being debated, fixed and aligned so that startups can thrive in a globally competitive landscape.”
Heminda Jayaweera, Executive Director at TRACE Sri Lanka, the ecosystem partner and host of the Innovation Festival on September 19, called the event “a confluence of creativity, code, and capital.”
TRACE Expert City will host more than 50 interactive product demos, themed exhibitions spanning HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, AI, Tourism, and GovTech, and immersive installations aimed at both the general public and young innovators.
Jayaweera emphasized the importance of creating an “incubation ground” that serves not just the tech elite, but also students, small-town entrepreneurs, and policymakers. “This is where ideas collide and evolve,” he said. “It’s where we disrupt the status quo.”
Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager of Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives, added a private sector perspective to the conversation. “This is not just another tech expo, he said. “It’s a serious commitment to transform Sri Lanka into a digitally inclusive, investor-attractive economy.”
Mastercard’s participation as a strategic partner underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving these goals. “Innovation doesn’t happen in silos, Hapugoda noted. “We are working with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financiers to build scalable solutions.”
Mastercard’s support extends to FinTech integrations, digital commerce enablement, and cybersecurity solutions — all crucial building blocks for a vibrant digital economy.
Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Managing Partner at BOV Capital and founder of LAN, said the platform was already working to secure listings for at least two promising startups on the Colombo Stock Exchange. “Equity is not a foreign concept. We’re just late adopters. But now, we’re building the runway, he said.
Disrupt Asia 2025 will also host a “Sundowner Cultural Showcase” that celebrates Sri Lanka’s creative and artisanal identity. Featuring curated culinary offerings from Asaya Sands, gem exhibitions, and artisanal tastings, the event aims to build a bridge between innovation and tradition.
“This is more than a networking mixer, said event curator Ruwani Fernando. “It’s a statement. Sri Lanka is a land of both ancient wisdom and future-focused solutions.”
By Ifham Nizam
Business
Sampath Bank pioneers SL’s standardised API banking platform, redefining transaction banking

Sampath Bank has set a new milestone as the first bank in Sri Lanka to launch a standardised Application Programming Interface (API) platform. This revolutionary move redefines corporate banking by simplifying and automating intricate financial processes for businesses of all sizes, reflecting the Bank’s steadfast commitment to providing agile, technology-driven solutions for its expanding base of corporate and SME clients.
API banking fundamentally transforms traditional banking by exposing core functions and data as web services accessible to third-party applications. This approach creates a more interconnected and flexible ecosystem that enhances convenience, encourages innovation and improves efficiency in delivering and consuming financial services.
The new platform empowers businesses to seamlessly integrate Sampath Bank’s core banking capabilities into their internal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This integration supports faster supplier payments, streamlined collections, real-time balance inquiries and trade-related transactions, while maintaining established approval chains and audit controls inherent in corporate systems.
Driven by a deep understanding of digitalisation’s transformative potential, the development of this platform aims to empower corporate decision-makers by saving time and increasing visibility across financial operations. As Mr. Sanjaya Gunawardane, Chief Strategy Officer at Sampath Bank, explains, “There is no longer a need to spend hours managing physical payments or manually reconciling bank records. This platform empowers businesses, enabling them to configure, validate and execute transactions securely through a single interface. Our goal was to deliver an end-to-end solution that not only boosts efficiency but also transforms the overall banking experience. This is part of our ongoing commitment to introducing cutting-edge technologies to reshape the Sri Lankan business landscape.”
Addressing a critical challenge in financial supply chain management, this innovation offers companies a suite of ready-to-integrate APIs, automated testing tools and rapid onboarding processes that make it possible to go live within days rather than weeks.
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