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Celebrating women and achieving an equal future in a pandemic world

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Daraz, Sri Lanka’s largest online market place, has decided to hero the women of Sri Lanka, a little bit extra this Women’s Day. This International Women’s day, the world is embarking on a #ChoosetoChallenge campaign, aimed at inspiring a world that is more aware of the plight of women and therefore more inclined to change.

The International Women’s Day Missions for 2021 include celebrating women in tech and innovation, applauding equality for women in sport, educating women on health choice decisions, building inclusive workplaces so women can thrive, increasing visibility of women creatives and forging women’s empowerment worldwide.

As an online platform, Daraz has contributed greatly to celebrating women in tech and innovation. To further emphasize the contributions made by women, Daraz is creating a separate platform on the site on Women’s Day to uplift all women sellers. With over 800 women entrepreneurs selling more than 20,000 products ranging from electronics to groceries, clothes, fashion, accessories, cosmetics and toys, bags and a range of handmade products, Daraz is aiming at empowering the women of Sri Lanka. Over two million rupees’ worth of investment will be borne by Daraz and its women entrepreneurs on a free shipping promotion this Women’s Day.

By giving them a platform through which to showcase their innovation and creativity, Daraz is ensuring the increased visibility of Sri Lankan women’s creatives. By streamlining a platform to allow women to take the reins in their own lives, Daraz has shown their commitment to the welfare and development of opportunities for women, on a large scale. Speaking to Sheromi Priyadharshani, who after retirement from the army, was able to start focusing on her passion in making stuffed toys and handlooms, she said, “I am from a small town where there isn’t enough visibility for my products but thanks to Daraz, I am able to sell my products island-wide. I am thankful to Daraz for this opportunity.”

With specific focus on the mission of forging women’s empowerment, Daraz has already paved the way for numerous women, young and old who have utilized the online platform to sell their own products, passed down through generations or enable creative outlets for those no longer employed full-time. It is not an isolated incident designed specifically for Women’s Day. Daraz has facilitated the chance for numerous women across the country to make a name for themselves. By encouraging independence and self-sufficiency not only via their online marketplace but also through numerous educational and training schemes, Daraz aims at being a pillar of support to the women of Sri Lanka.

Nishadi Edirisinghe, the founder of Dreamy Collections adds, “I found out about Daraz when I was shopping online. Inspired by what I saw, I thought that I too could start my own business straight from the comfort of my own home. The online marketplace is increasingly more popular so after attending a workshop, I was able to set up my own business through Daraz. Any woman can easily set up their own business and sell via Daraz.”

Numerous other women sellers have been able to kick-start their careers from the comforts of their homes thanks to Daraz, who has encouraged them to take their futures into their own hands.

Conversing with Muditha Premarathne of Daraz, “We believe that women play an important role in the future of our country. Women sellers are important contributors to our platform and we would not be able to carry out our services successfully without them. By ensuring that our women sellers feel empowered and motivated to pursue their passions and dreams, we believe that we are contributing to the future of our country. These women deserve a spotlight on their efforts and by empowering them, we hope to encourage the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

Daraz is more than just a one-stop shop. They are investors in the future of Sri Lanka and in the sustainability of women-led businesses, which they believe go hand-in-hand. By supporting self-sufficiency of women and providing training schemes to assist them as they navigate the online marketplace, they have chosen to challenge themselves and the rest of the country, to take note of and empower women.



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‘This must be your last IMF Programme; lapses cannot be repeated’

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Top dignitaries who featured at ‘Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery…’ forum.

IMF First Deputy Managing Director tells Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s long and difficult journey from economic collapse to cautious recovery reached a critical milestone as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, IMF First Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Gita Gopinath, and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe addressed the high-profile “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance” conference yesterday in Colombo.

The event, jointly organized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), underscored the urgency of sustaining reform momentum while opening a new chapter in the country’s 75-year partnership with the IMF.

With macroeconomic stability returning but fragility still looming, the message from all three leaders was clear: Sri Lanka cannot afford to backslide.

“This must be the last IMF programme for Sri Lanka, Dr. Gopinath stated firmly in her keynote speech. “We’ve had 16 before this—about half ended prematurely. Reform fatigue, policy reversals and lost discipline cannot be repeated. This time must be different.”

While the conference primarily focused on public financial management, debt sustainability, and governance, the implications for Sri Lanka’s business environment were unmistakable. According to Gopinath, structural reforms, transparent fiscal management and improved governance are not abstract policy ideals — they are the essential foundations for restoring investor confidence, revitalizing private enterprise and building a resilient economy.

“Comprehensive governance reform can raise GDP by over 7% and reduce debt-to-GDP by more than six percentage points over the next decade, Gopinath noted, citing IMF internal analysis. “These are not just theoretical benefits — they are real, measurable returns for the private sector, job creation, and inclusive growth.”

Dr. Weerasinghe echoed this sentiment, stating that the IMF-supported programme “has laid the groundwork for macroeconomic fundamentals essential for sustained growth. He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s financial institutions and monetary authorities are now better equipped to support private sector-led recovery, pointing to a stabilizing rupee, single-digit inflation and restored investor interest.

“With improved credit ratings and Sri Lankan bonds being re-included in global indices, capital markets are beginning to show signs of life, said Dr. Weerasinghe. “This creates a platform for increased foreign direct investment (FDI), trade expansion, and domestic entrepreneurial activity.”

President Dissanayake opened the conference with a stark reminder of the human cost of Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. He called for economic leadership that not only addresses balance sheets but also rights wrongs of the past.

“We lost three critical things — one in our economy, two in our country, and three in our people, he said. “We must recover what was lost. And we can only do that through trust, transparency and inclusive policies.”

Dissanayake acknowledged the sacrifices made by the public — especially the most vulnerable — and emphasized that public buy-in is essential to the success of reform. “The people of this country have already shown their willingness to endure hardship in service of recovery. It is now the responsibility of government and institutions to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain.”

His words carried weight in a country where memories of fuel queues, food shortages and economic despair remain fresh. The President signaled his administration’s commitment to a social contract grounded in accountability and economic fairness.

Gopinath noted that:

USD 3 billion in external debt was forgiven.

USD 25 billion was restructured with longer maturities and lower interest rates.

External debt servicing was reduced by half over the next decade.

Debt-to-GDP ratios are expected to fall by 27 to 34 percentage points.

“Sri Lanka’s experience has helped us sharpen how we approach debt sustainability, creditor coordination and domestic financial sector resilience, said Gopinath. “It’s a case study in how complex, painful, but ultimately successful restructuring can be done.”

By Ifham Nizam

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Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 recognizes Sri Lanka’s top culinary talent

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Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Lanka, relaunched the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition this year – an island wide culinary competition focused on developing up-and-coming culinary talent in the hospitality industry.

Nestlé Professional also collaborated with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and Chefs Guild of Lanka to launch the Junior Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition for the very first time – providing culinary students in the hospitality industry with a platform to showcase their talents and skills, while fostering the next generation of culinary experts.

The regional rounds, held across all nine provinces of the country, brought together 18 finalists from both the Professional category and the newly introduced Junior category, to compete in the Grand Finale at the Culinary Art Food Expo.

The winners of the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 were awarded at an event held on 15th June at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, with the participation of distinguished guests – Chief Guest, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. Siri Walt; Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé S.A., Reinhold Jakobi; Regional Business Head – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region, Jeroen Pluijmers; Director – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia Region, . Saurabh Makhija; Chairman of the Chefs Guild of Lanka, Chef Gerard Mendis and President of the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association, Patrick Pereira.

Mr. Bernie Stefan, Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka commented “The hospitality industry plays a vital role in supporting the transition from stability to growth in the Sri Lankan economy. Nestlé Lanka is honoured to play a part in uplifting the industry through the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition. This initiative also embodies our Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which is dedicated towards empowering and upskilling the youth to excel in their field of expertise and contribute to the community”.

H.E. Dr. Siri Walt, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives mentioned “I congratulate Nestlé Professional, the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association on this wonderful initiative to promote culinary talent.

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Activ8 Asia balances AI with nature through GPT (Go Plant a Tree)

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In celebration of World Environment Day 2025, Activ8 Asia, in collaboration with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), launched an inspiring green initiative titled Project GPT – Go Plant a Tree. The campaign was a city-wide call to action to counterbalance the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence through a simple, tangible act: planting trees.

The initiative saw teams planting a range of rare and biodiversity-rich flora across 11 prominent locations in Colombo, including Viharamahadevi Park, from SLT Head Office to Lake House, and near the BMICH. These spaces, chosen for their cultural, civic, and environmental significance, now serve as living reminders of the need to harmonize technology and nature. “Project GPT is our way of balancing innovation with responsibility — a gesture to give back to the planet as we move forward in the digital age. At Activ8 Asia, we use AI tools like ChatGPT daily as part of our creative workflow. But with every typed prompt, we know there’s an unseen cost — data centers that power AI models consume vast amounts of energy and water,” said a Managing Director, Wazeel Nizar from Activ8 Asia.

Project GPT was not just about planting trees — it became a platform to ignite critical conversations around digital sustainability. Through leaflet distribution, interactive signage, and a targeted social media campaign, the initiative engaged the public with compelling insights into the environmental toll of emerging technologies.

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