Business
Founder IIHS Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe receives global acclaim for visionary leadership in education
Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, the Co-Founder and CEO of the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), Sri Lanka’s pioneering healthcare training provider and role model for the education industry, received international acclaim recently for driving excellence and visionary leadership in education.The award, an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Health Sciences presented by the Open University of Malaysia (OUM) pays tribute to Dr. Edirisinghe for his foresight in adding value to the healthcare and education profession. The prestigious award is also recognised by the Malaysian government.
IIHS was launched as a novel concept of moving Sri Lanka to export skilled labour, reducing dollar outflows and improving currency inflows. He stated when he began the institute, it had 0% recognition within the sector. Today, the prestigious company is regionally accepted, with growing global acclaim.
“I truly appreciate OUM for recognizing me,” Dr. Edirisinghe said. “Everyone milestone is important, each recognition and landmark is unique in nature. I continuously strive to make sure all achievements are done with quality.”
Throughout his career Dr. Edirisinghe’s milestones are countless. After completing his education at S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia, he became a medical doctor by profession. Dr. Edirisinghe possesses a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from North Colombo Medical College, followed by a Master of Science and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Medical Administration from the University of Colombo. He has over 26 years of experience in the health industry and over 15 years of experience in the education industry. Dr. Edirisinghe possesses a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and he is also a Certified Master Trainer, Australia.His journey in practicing medicine began as a doctor serving rural areas. With little access to scare resources, Dr. Edirisinghe made a difference. “I trained as a medical doctor, a surgeon, I enjoyed working with people. During my first appointment as a MBBS doctor at the Hospital in Mahawalathenna, Balangoda, I worked many shifts alone conducting minor surgeries – there were no nurses, no ambulance or even a telephone.” As a result of his clinical acumen, he was able to transform the infirmary from bare minimum to a thriving rural healthcare hospital.
Unwilling to rest on his laurels, Dr. Edirisinghe, he joined the Ragama Hospital as the Deputy Director, Administration. He progressed as a hospital planner and consultant and realized that he had more value to add to society. He ventured into the private sector and served at a leading hospital as Project Director, contributing through administrative and managerial roles.
He has rendered his services as a project consultant towards many hospitals and healthcare centers in Sri Lanka, including the Northern Central Hospital, Jaffna; Hemas Hospitals, Wattala and Galle, the Kotelawala Defence University Hospital, Special Baby Care Centre for De Zoysa Maternity Hospital, etc. He says, “I am very fortunate that everywhere I went I got a chance to practice what I learned.”
Using his wealth of experience, Dr. Edirisinghe also currently teaches at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine imparting knowledge to undergraduate doctors and graduates in healthcare and management.Dr. Edirisinghe firmly believes that his greatest achievement is “Being able to create a model to include everyone in education.” In recognition as an international educator and entrepreneur, Dr. Edirisinghe was awarded the Asian Grid Entrepreneur 2009 award.
Of IIHS’s success, Dr. Edirisinghe said, “when I began IIHS, only the Open University and IIHS were offering healthcare degrees. Now there are 17 players’ and we are very happy with the growth of the industry. Previously, in the private sector, no one wanted to be a nurse. We commenced IIHS with over 20 students. Today we have grown to 3000 students. Society recognises that IIHS is affordable for students and some courses are even offered at 1/15 of the total cost when compared to overseas fees. Our vision remains of transforming people to benefit the community and the landscape, mainly through innovation.” Importantly, Dr. Edirisinghe is now living his dream by establishing a global education hub in South Asia named ‘IIHS Multiversity’ for South East Asian students and healthcare professionals.
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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