Strengthening its commitment to understanding the needs of today’s youth and empowering them to achieve their goals, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DIMO Academy for Technical Studies (DATS) to promote the Bank’s Education Loans among students aspiring to pursue advanced technical and vocational training.

Through this collaboration, students enrolling at DIMO Academy, the vocational training arm of DIMO can pursue advanced studies in fields such as Automotive Technology, Plant Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Systems, Mechatronics and Automation, Hybrid and EV Technologies, Industrial LPG and HVAC, with the support of attractive loan facilities from Commercial Bank. These Education Loans offer financing up to Rs. 10 million, covering up to 75% of the course fee, and include a grace period of up to two years and a 50% reduction in documentation charges, easing the financial burden on students and families alike.

Sri Lanka Tourism marked yet another milestone with the arrival of an important flight from Kazakhstan — a pleasant Christmas surprise, as the aircraft landed on December 25th itself. The special flight was operated by Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with LSR as the ground handler.

This inaugural flight for the 2025/2026 winter season carried 166 passengers aboard an Airbus A321. Air Astana will continue operations until March 2026, with two weekly flights (Monday and Thursday) connecting Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, to Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.

The arrival was celebrated with a traditional water salute, creating a spectacular sight for passengers and crew. They were further delighted by Sri Lanka’s trademark hospitality — greeted warmly and escorted through a vibrant cultural dance troupe, which showcased the island’s rich traditions and colorful heritage. Souvenirs were presented to mark the occasion, leaving visitors with a lasting impression of Sri Lanka as a welcoming paradise.

Sri Lanka Tourism emphasized that the country offers a 365-day destination experience, where diverse travel opportunities can be enjoyed within a single day’s journey. This accessibility and variety provide exceptional value for international visitors.

Suzuki has warned owners of its new Suzuki Fronx to stop carrying passengers in the rear seats after a seatbelt failure was discovered during independent crash testing in Australia.

The issue was identified by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which said the rear seatbelt retractor failed during testing, causing the belt to release and leaving the crash-test dummy unrestrained.

ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg said adults and children should not travel in the back seats of the vehicle until the cause of the failure is determined and repairs are completed, calling the defect “rare and serious.”

Suzuki has issued a recall covering 324 vehicles in Australia, instructing owners to immediately stop using the rear seats. The company said the defect could allow excessive belt length to be released during a crash or heavy braking.

Suzuki said customer safety remains its highest priority but has not yet detailed how the issue will be fixed. The Fronx, a budget SUV manufactured in India, was launched in Australia in August, with about 1,600 units sold locally.

ANCAP said the failure follows similar component issues recently identified in other low-cost models and urged manufacturers to submit vehicles for testing before market release.