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Dilmah Ecovation Awards Empowers Eco-innovators

Published

3 years ago

2021/12/12

Despite COVID-19 hitting economies hard this year, the Global Innovation Index 2021 illustrates a boom in innovation around the world. This goes to show that ideas are crucial for overcoming the economic challenges of post-pandemic economic growth. Therefore, Ecovation Awards, inaugurated in 2019 to create an innovation culture and empower Sri Lankan eco innovators, couldn’t have resumed its second edition at a better time.

Dilmah Tea, CEO, Dilhan C. Fernando said, “”Ecovation seeks to encourage practical or scientific innovation from youth, women and men in academia or any field, in designing creative and impactful solutions to our most urgent ecological issues. Our schools and universities have an abundance of brilliant ideas and our hope is that we can deliver recognition, support the creative innovators with mentorship to refine the idea into an actionable plan, and initiate collaboration that will deliver positive impact on our environment while benefiting the innovator.”

Having received an overwhelming number of applicants, this year, 16 eco innovators have qualified to the next round. The shortlisted contestants (A to Z) are Anupama Kulasinghe, Banuri Gammanpila, Couleur(group), Danushka Jayasooriya, Food for All (group), Gamini Alexander, Hesith Rajakaruna, Keshala Amarasena, Manjula Jayampathy, Prof. R. U. Halwatura and Himahansi Galkanda, Ransirige Dhammika, Sandani Wijenayake, Selvarajah Thevakumar and team, Sudhara Suneth,Sujatha Weerasinghe & team and Tharaka Weddagala.

Sustainability, cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and practicality are what the shortlisted innovations have in common. The 16 eco-innovators are hopeful that their eco-innovations will contribute to waste management, resource efficiency, and sustainable packaging – the key focus areas at this year’s awards.

Making up the judge panel are Prof. Ajith de Alwis, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Moratuwa; Prof. Ilmi Hewajulige, Additional Director General, R&D, ITI; Mr. Jeevan Gnanam, Group CEO of Saks Global; Ms. Pathma Abeykoon, Director, Operational Focal Point Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment; Ms. Savera Weerasinghe, Founder of Ananta Sustainables; and Ms. Shiranee Yasarathne, Advisor, Biodiversity Sri Lanka.

Innovation requires collaboration across a wide range of constituencies including corporate leaders, start-up entrepreneurs, university leaders, faculty members, and students, investors, and public officials.

“Ecovation is not about innovation in a silo, it is about supporting and scaling social enterprises that can contribute to a sustainable and robust ecosystem of products and services that can make our daily consumption a little more conscious; a little more impactful.”, said Ms. Savera Weerasinghe.

Therefore, moving forward in the competition, the top 16 will be privy to one-on-one Mentor-mentee Sessions with our Ecovation judges. The constructive criticism and insights contestants receive during the Mentor-mentee Sessions will help contestants improve their innovation in time for the finale. Ecovation Awards’ aim is not only to select the best eco-innovations but also to nurture eco-innovators and empower them to take their innovations to market while safeguarding their intellectual property rights.

The tea brand is no stranger to innovation. “Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando was the original disruptor, the first tea grower to break out of the colonial economic model and offer his tea direct to customers around the world. He built Dilmah on a Foundation of Taste, Goodness and Purpose. We want to support the many women and men who have the same dream, unique perspective and commitment to do good for the environment.”, said Dilhan C Fernando.

Some of the tea company’s noteworthy innovations are Dilmah’s Seasonal Flush Tea, School of Tea, and Tea Gastronomy Programme. The brand is also one of the first, to have introduced value-added tea products with flavoured teas, infusions, iced tea, and real tea cordials.

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Dates and times for the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic announced

Published

12 hours ago

2025/03/2

Priyan

[Picture by Haripriya de Silva]

The Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, has announced the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic will be held at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on April 18, and 12.00 noon to 5:30 p.m for 10 days thereafter from

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Navy bring critically ill fisherman

Published

14 hours ago

2025/03/2

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy swiftly responded to bring ashore a critically ill fisherman and transfer him to the General Hospital, Trincomalee for urgent medical attention on 01 Mar 25. The fisherman was aboard a local multiday fishing trawler which was off the coast of Trincomalee.

Reportedly, the multiday fishing trawler ‘Sadaru 03’ departed from the Trincomalee fisheries harbour on 01 Mar with 07 fishermen on board. While at sea approximately 09 nautical miles (16 km) off the coast of Trincomalee, one of the crew members fell critically ill and required urgent medical attention on shore. In response to the situation, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, which operates from the Navy Headquarters, to coordinate assistance.

Acting promptly, the Navy deployed a craft from the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the ailing fisherman. After successfully retrieving him from the fishing trawler, the Navy provided initial medical care and brought him to the Trincomalee harbour. He was then urgently transferred to the General Hospital, Trincomalee on the night of 01 Mar.

[Navy Media]

Business

IMF Executive Board completes the third review under the Extended Fund Facility [EFF] arrangement with Sri Lanka

Published

16 hours ago

2025/03/2

Priyan

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the third review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the authorities to draw SDR 254 million (about US$334 million). This brings the total IMF financial support disbursed so far to SDR 1.02 billion (about US$1.34 billion).^[1]

The EFF arrangement for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Board on March 20, 2023 in an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion. The program supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore and maintain macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting the poor and vulnerable, rebuild external buffers, and enhance growth-oriented structural reforms including by strengthening governance.

Following the Executive Board discussion on Sri Lanka, Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director, issued the following statement:

“Reforms in Sri Lanka are bearing fruit and the economic recovery has been remarkable. Inflation remains low, revenue collection is improving, and reserves continue to accumulate. Economic growth averaged 4.3 percent since growth resumed in the third quarter of 2023. By end-2024, Sri Lanka’s real GDP is estimated to have recovered 40 percent of its loss incurred between 2018 and 2023. The recovery is expected to continue in 2025. As the economy is still vulnerable, it is critical to sustain the reform momentum to ensure macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, and promote long-term inclusive growth. There is no room for policy errors.

“Program performance has been strong with all quantitative targets met, except for the indicative target on social spending. Most structural benchmarks due by end-January 2025 were either met or implemented with delay.

“Sustained revenue mobilization is crucial to restoring fiscal sustainability and ensuring that the government can continue to provide essential services. Boosting tax compliance and refraining from tax exemptions are key to maintaining support for economic reforms. To ease economic hardship and ensure the poor and vulnerable can participate in Sri Lanka’s recovery it is important to meet social spending targets and continue with reforms of the social safety net. Going forward, social support needs to be well-targeted towards the most disadvantaged so as to promote inclusive growth with limited fiscal space. Restoring cost-recovery electricity pricing without delay is needed to contain fiscal risks from state-owned enterprises. A smoother execution of capital spending within the fiscal envelope would foster medium-term growth.

“The progress to advance the debt restructuring to restore Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability is noteworthy. The recent successful completion of the bond exchange is a major milestone towards restoring debt sustainability. Timely finalization of bilateral agreements with creditors in the Official Creditor Committee and with remaining creditors is a priority now.

“Monetary policy should prioritize maintaining price stability, supported by sustained commitment to prohibit monetary financing and safeguard Central Bank independence. Continued exchange rate flexibility and gradually phasing out the balance of payments measures remain critical to rebuild external buffers and facilitate rebalancing.

“Resolving non-performing loans, strengthening governance and oversight of state-owned banks, and improving the insolvency and resolution frameworks are important priorities to revive credit growth and support the economic recovery.

“Prolonged structural challenges need to be addressed to unlock Sri Lanka’s long-term potential, including steadfast implementation of the governance reforms.”