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‘Golden Memories & Sensational Melodies’ – A Tribute to Legacy and Charity

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Presentations being made at the forum.

Continued from yesterday

So again, Kadirgamar was very, very strong on issues of national independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, but he did so while at the same time being, as I said before, a very strong advocate of devolution and autonomy. The next, and I would say probably the second and final point I want to make, because this is not a lecture, is the issue of multipolar balancing. Sri Lankan society, especially Colombo society, tends to be polarized between those who are nativist, anti-Western elements, Sinhalese, ultra-nationalists, and cosmopolitan neoliberals, as they are called, who have very little respect or affection for issues of national sovereignty. So you have ultra-nationalists, and you have those who are wide-open supplicants of the West.

Lakshman Kadirgamar was neither, and he was opposed to both. Kadirgamar was very clear about the role of the United Nations and its limits in the Sri Lankan conflict, but he also made a very powerful speech endorsing universal human rights at the UN Human Rights Council.

Kadirgamar was friends, and close personal friends, with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. They were on first name terms but, I recall his dismay which he shared with me that Colin Powell told him, Lakshman you know that you cannot win this war which Kadirgamar did not adhere to, which did not prevent him from having a warm personal friendship. So, Lakshman Kadirgamar did, what is now seen as impossible in Sri Lanka, what was perfectly possible because he practiced it.

He was friends with the United States, he was friends with China and he was friends with India but, above all, he was a friend of Sri Lanka so he knew what to take from each major global player but he knew where to stop and where a line had to be drawn. He would never have, for instance, never did in his brilliant, adroit, ambidextrous balancing of United States and China and then again India and China, he would never have permitted and he never did permit any large footprint either for India or for China on the soil on this small island.

That is the lesson that has been forgotten, I am afraid, because Kadirgamar knew that balancing between the two, India and China, or even the United States and China does not mean giving each one a foothold in parts of your small island. He knew that you have to operate in the interstices, in the space between the US and China, in between India and China, not give our small space to either one, or any one of those three, and we must return to the Kadirgamar doctrine.

If I may conclude by recalling to you the famous interview that he gave ZeinabBadawi because I heard this from ZeinabBadawi herself. Now, it is out there and it is a model of how Sri Lanka must present its case. He rejected the idea of an ethnic or narrow ethnic identification by saying famously, I am not a tribalist and that is something that we must all remember and adhere to but he was no less firm and resolute in his pushback on issues of the secessionist war, terrorism, national sovereignty and independence.

So ZeinabBadawi who began the interview with her usual flair and, if I may say so, challenging attitude, told me that at the end of it, not only was she completely sort of convinced but, she and her husband, became Lakshman’s friends from that point on. So Lakshman Kadirgamar showed us how to defend the country while being friends with all; how to establish personal relations at the highest level but not giving an inch on issues of national security, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence. I think the Kadirgamar doctrine, if I may call it that, must be rediscovered, re-excavated as it were and should be enshrined as the guiding foreign policy doctrine of the Sri Lankan state in these troubled times. Thank you….”

Professor Rajiva Wijesinha :

“…After those two very scintillating presentations it is going to be a bit difficult because I cannot claim to understand the personality as much as Saku did the politics as well as Dayan did. So, let me confine my remarks about a man greatly admired and greatly loved with the last few years of his life when we got comparatively close. I had met him in 1973. I had not realized he had just come to England when he dropped in when I had my parents in Oxford and stayed an evening. I had seen him on and off then, but suddenly, in 2002, his secretary called me and said that he wanted to re-establish the Board of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, and he had handpicked half a dozen people.

Then he spoke to me himself and he explained what he was trying to do. I have to say that, that Board that I served on is really the only Board I served on in which one could respect everybody listen to everybody and understand he had a great mindset worked. That is when I really became very close to Dayan. Also, there was Professor Amal Jayawardena, Lecturer in political science at Colombo University, there was a very professional, quiet Foreign Service representative, Mr. Navaratnarajah, there was Professor Savithri Gunasekera, there was Nanda Godage from the Foreign Ministry and we would meet maybe once a month and it was a really scintillating discussion.

I learnt a lot from him then and this takes up from what Dayan said that he developed great relationships through the Bandaranaike Centre to fulfil the principles Dayan has laid down. To me, in an odd way, this was something like coming home because way back in 1981, after I had resigned from my university post in protest against the deprivation of Mrs. Bandaranaike’s civic rights, something I have never regretted, because the people thought I was a eccentric at the time, but later they told me you understood what JR was up to, which none of us did at the time.

And JR, a couple of months later, stopped my taking on the post of Director of Studies for which I had been selected by the Board of the BCIS, which included Mrs. Bandaranaike, Mervyn de Silva, a really distinguished Board and the then Director, Dr. Udugama. And someone said, JR will never forgive you because you are the only person of his class who kicked him in his teeth, something I feel very proud of still, 45 years later.

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SriLankan Airlines records revenue increase with AI and ML-powered Revenue Management System

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2026/03/31

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SriLankan Airlines recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of its AI- and ML-powered Revenue Management System, a project that earned the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 by PROS and the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management platform. The system enables dynamic pricing and smarter inventory optimisation, while delivering a superior passenger experience across all sales channels through real-time seat availability and predictive analytics.

Kshanaka Saparamadu, Head of Revenue Management at SriLankan Airlines, remarked, “Embracing the latest revenue management technology is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and digital transformation. With the introduction of PROS Revenue Management Advantage and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation, we are not only refining our current processes but also positioning ourselves for long-term success in modern airline retailing, ensuring we stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.”

Chamara Perera, Group Head of IT at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This transition to a dynamic, integrated revenue management system reflects our strategic focus on remaining agile in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving airline industry. As the aviation sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, SriLankan Airlines is enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations and meet the evolving demands of today’s travelers.”

Powered by PROS’ AI-driven Revenue Management Advantage (RMA) and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation (RAAV), the platform leverages AI algorithms and ML models to improve alignment of capacity and demand, optimise premium seat allocation and respond swiftly to market shifts. These capabilities deliver unmatched agility and scalability, boost yield and position SriLankan Airlines at the forefront of digital transformation in aviation.

Industry benchmarks show that O&D-based revenue optimisation models typically deliver a 3%-5% increase in passenger revenue, underscoring the new revenue management system as a key driver, among other strategic factors, to the 13% growth recorded by SriLankan Airlines during the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 financial year.

This initiative has not only enhanced SriLankan Airlines’ agility, scalability, and competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market, but also strengthened collaboration between pricing, demand and flight analyst teams, earning two awards in the process. It was recognised with the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 in Las Vegas by PROS, as well as the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 in Colombo by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

As SriLankan Airlines continues its modernisation journey, the new integrated revenue management platform will significantly improve SriLankan Airlines’ global market position, its ability to attract and retain high value connecting passengers, and competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.(SriLankan Airlines)

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CCC delegation completes prestigious International Trade Facilitation Programme

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2026/03/31

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A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.

Hosted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely regarded as a leading centre of excellence in international trade education and research, the programme also included engagements with several of India’s most prominent trade and diplomacy institutions. These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government authority responsible for shaping and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institution for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s most influential industry associations. Together, these engagements offered participants valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry interact in a robust manner to facilitate trade and economic progress.

Over nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging issues such as AI, cyber risk, and digital transformation.

The programme offered valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it, while highlighting ways in which chambers of commerce can further leverage their existing role in supporting businesses navigate global markets, contributing to policy discussions, and strengthen the broader trade ecosystem.

The programme was designed and overseen by Dr. Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a widely respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic work and advisory experience have contributed to international trade discourse.

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LOLC Life Assurance hosts MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 honouring top performers

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2026/03/31

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Chandana L. Aluthgama Executive Director/Principal Officer LOLC Life Assurance Ltd // Jayantha Kalinga Chief Operating Officer LOLC Life Assurance Ltd.

LOLC Life Assurance recently hosted its MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 at the Hilton Colombo Residences, celebrating its 2025 MDRT qualifiers while aspiring the team to achieve even greater milestones in the year ahead. The event brought together senior leadership and top performing advisors in a distinguished forum focused on recognising performance excellence, sharing industry insights, and setting the strategic direction for continued success.

In 2025, the Company produced 89 MDRT qualifiers, including six Court of the Table (COT) and two Top of the Table (TOT) achievers, along with one Lifetime MDRT member. Representing Agency and Bancassurance channels, these professionals demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering responsible financial guidance and long-term protection solutions to individuals and families across Sri Lanka.

The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is globally recognised as the benchmark of excellence in the life insurance and financial services profession. Membership is reserved for individuals who meet rigorous production targets and uphold strict ethical standards. Achieving MDRT status is widely regarded as a mark of credibility, trust, and advisory distinction.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Chandana L. Aluthgama, Executive Director and Principal Officer of LOLC Life Assurance stated, “It is with great pride that we recognise our MDRT qualifiers for their dedication, discipline, and integrity, which set a benchmark of excellence for our advisory force and reflect the customer-first values that define LOLC Life Assurance. These achievers deserve recognition not only for meeting targets or selling policies, but also for safeguarding families, empowering individuals to build their legacies, and supporting financial independence, providing certainty and confidence in an unpredictable world. In acknowledging their exceptional contributions, I congratulate all our MDRT qualifiers and am confident they will continue to deliver meaningful financial protection while creating lasting value for our clients and communities.”

Further echoing this sentiment, Mr. Jayantha Kalinga, Chief Operating Officer of LOLC Life Assurance added, “This Summit not only celebrates the outstanding performance of our MDRT achievers in 2025 but also acknowledges the resilience, consistency, and customer dedication demonstrated by our teams throughout the year. As we move forward, we will continue to strengthen capabilities through structured development initiatives, advanced training tools, and robust operational support, empowering our advisors to serve clients with confidence and professionalism while further expanding our MDRT presence in the years ahead.”

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