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Hayleys honours talented stars at 10th annual Chairman’s Awards

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Celebrates employees for enduring legacy of winning amid adversity

Celebrating a decade of excellence in innovation, Hayleys PLC hosted its 10th annual Chairman’s Awards to recognise the inspiring achievements and initiatives of its teams across 16 diverse business sectors, a company news release said.A total of 205 employees from 25 project teams were felicitated at the diversified conglomerate’s apex recognition platform. Projects included value-added export innovations that continued to drive foreign exchange earnings, cutting-edge digital transformations from raw material supply chains to robotic process automation, and ground-breaking, unique solutions to diverse industry challenges.

“The Hayleys Chairman’s Awards began in 2012 with the intention of building a culture of excellence and recognition across our diversified conglomerate, and is today a highly anticipated hallmark of our corporate culture.

“As a Sri Lankan corporate with 145 years of heritage, we are no stranger to periods of immense challenge. It has been the enduring passion of our people – our greatest asset – that has helped us successfully navigate through the ages to overcome tremendous adversity. This year’s award-winning projects demonstrate the resilience and relentless spirit of our talented employees to create value for our diverse stakeholders,” Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage said.

Talawakelle Tea Estates’ Green Leaf Zip Line – Elevating Work Life and Reducing Emissions

A new series of Category Awards recognised top initiatives across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Innovation, Quality and Lean Management and Service Excellence. Dipped Products PLC (DPL) received the flagship Overall Winner Award for launching patented hand-protection solutions designed with five unique technological platforms for six export markets. Backed by deep customer insights from clients all over the world, DPL delivered a superior solution to differentiate its value propositions in the competitive, global nitrile glove market. The team’s in-house engineering team was also recognised with the Innovation Category Award for their ground-breaking ‘fully integrated robot dipping automation’, created within a limited space.

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTEL) was acknowledged as the Quality and Lean Management Category Award-winner for its ‘Eco-friendly green zip line’ project. The novel idea was implemented during fuel shortages and escalating prices, to transport fresh leaves to the factory. The initiative resulted in a decrease in emissions anchored to a significant decrease in transportation costs, and has supported a better work-life balance for the team on-ground.

The Group’s leading consumer brand, Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, won the Service Excellence Category Award for meeting the surge in consumer demand for ‘work-play-and-study-from-home’ solutions during the pandemic. Singer not only successfully met the demands from the work-from-home front but captured the hearts of gamers in Sri Lanka with the biggest and most watched gaming tournament – the Singer Esports Premier League as well.

Hayleys Fabric was recognised as the ESG Award-winner for its efforts to restore the Lagenandra Kalugalaensis, a critically endangered plant species, endemic to a single location on the periphery of the Kalugala Forest Reserve. The collaborative initiative with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Universities of Peradeniya and Wayamba seeks to conserve the rare aquatic plant from extinction through field research and seed germination.

On this night, employees also had the chance to showcase their hidden talents on stage through four entertaining segments. These included a live instrumental band, group and solo singing, and a fashion show exclusively designed by Hayleys Fabric, featuring garments made out of ocean waste (recycled nylon) and PET bottles (recycled polyester).



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Business, economic heavyweights converge in Colombo

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Senior business leaders, economists and international development experts, alongside the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will headline the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12 and 13 October at the Shangri-La Colombo.

The Summit will open with a keynote address by T. Krishnakumar, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, who brings more than four decades of experience in the consumer brands and FMCG sectors. Having previously served as President of Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, with extensive experience in building businesses and driving growth across emerging markets, Krishnakumar, more popularly known as Kk, now leads Reliance Consumer Products as it expands across categories and builds new customer, partnership and market opportunities.

Day 2 will bring together four international perspectives across discussions on economic resilience, regional connectivity, sector growth and digital transformation.

Lilia Aleksanyan, Senior Country Economist for Sri Lanka at the Asian Development Bank, will open the day’s discussions with a focus on Sri Lanka’s economic resilience. Her work covers the country’s macroeconomic outlook, policy advice and macro-fiscal and financial-sector reform. Her international policy experience also includes roles at the French Ministry of Finance and the French Central Bank.

The Summit will then turn to Sri Lanka’s connections with regional markets, with P. D. Singh, Chief Executive Officer, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, delivering the keynote for the session on trade corridors and value chains. Singh counts close to three decades of experience in banking and finance, with senior leadership roles spanning Standard Chartered, JPMorgan Chase Bank and HSBC.

The Sector Deep Dives will bring international perspectives to discussions on healthcare and energy.

Tushar Shroff, Chief Financial Officer, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd, will deliver the keynote for the healthcare discussion, drawing on more than three decades of experience in corporate finance, strategic investment and financial transformation. His career spans senior finance and leadership roles with ABB, Piramal Healthcare, Intas Pharmaceuticals and Vedanta Group, giving him a broad perspective on the business and investment decisions shaping the healthcare sector.

For the energy-focused deep dive, Edore Onomakpome, Regional Infrastructure Industry Manager for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal at the International Finance Corporation, will bring extensive experience in infrastructure investment and project finance across emerging markets. Since joining IFC in 2013, she has held senior roles across Africa and South Asia, including managing IFC’s infrastructure portfolio across 16 countries.

The Summit will conclude its keynote programme with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who will deliver the keynote for “Nation Building in the Digital Age.” The Prime Minister also oversees the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, bringing a direct policy perspective to discussions on digital transformation, innovation, education and the skills needed for a changing economy.

Together, these perspectives will bring regional, international and policy insight to SLEIS 2026 as Sri Lanka considers how to strengthen economic resilience, attract investment, deepen regional connections and develop new sources of growth.

Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will take place on 12 and 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 is supported by its valued sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsor – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Gold Sponsor – VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd., Bronze Sponsor – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., Strategic Development Partner – Asian Development Bank, Telecommunication Partner – Dialog Telecommunication, Television Partner – Dialog Television, Session Sponsors – David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Ltd., Microsoft Sri Lanka (Pvt) Limited, Official Logistics Partner – Hayleys Advantis Limited, Official Airline – SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Official Hospitality Partner – Shangri-La Colombo, Airline Partner – China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.

Registrations for SLEIS 2026 are now closed. The Ceylon Chamber looks forward to welcoming participants to the discussions on Sri Lanka’s future trajectory on 12 and 13 October.

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Commercial Bank launches ‘Prestige’ banking for HNW clients

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Sharhan Muhseen, Chairman of Commercial Bank flanked by Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO and Hasrath Munasinghe, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer at the launch of Commercial Bank Prestige Banking

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has launched ‘Prestige’, a three-tier banking proposition aimed at high-net-worth (HNW) clients, combining wealth management, advisory services and lifestyle benefits.

The initiative replaces the bank’s existing ‘Elite’ private banking brand with Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond tiers, designed to cater to customers according to their wealth profiles and banking relationships.

The bank said Prestige would provide dedicated relationship managers, priority branch services, preferential rates on loans and deposits, enhanced card privileges, family banking programmes and offshore account solutions.

Its wealth and investment management services include access to capital-protected income solutions, dual-currency investments, institutional deals and estate and portfolio governance.

Clients will also have access to specialist financial and corporate advisory services, including assistance with international relocation, overseas property and capital repatriation.

The programme includes lifestyle benefits such as VIP airport lounge access, travel concierge services, property management and medical coordination, as well as access to selected art and culinary events.

The bank said its flagship Prestige banking residence at R.G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 07, had been refurbished, with the service to be extended to other economically important cities.

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said Prestige was intended to support customers in managing their wealth, business interests, family needs and long-term legacy.

Existing Elite clients are being transitioned to the new programme, the bank said.

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Ceylinco Life rewards 80 sales achievers with overseas tours

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Ceylinco Life has rewarded 80 members of its sales force with overseas tours to Vietnam and China for their outstanding performance in the company’s 2025 sales competitions.

The group comprised 62 sales achievers who travelled to Vietnam and 18 who visited China.

The Vietnam tour included visits to Hanoi’s Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Hoan Kiem Lake. The group also travelled to Ha Long Bay, where they went on an Aurora Cruise and explored attractions including Sung Sot Cave, Luun Cave and Titop Island.

The tour also featured a sunset party aboard the cruise, with music and refreshments.

The 18 achievers who travelled to China visited several of Beijing’s major historical and cultural attractions, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. They also took a boat ride on Kunming Lake.

A highlight of the China tour was a visit to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, including a round-trip cable car ride. The group also attended an acrobatic show at Chaoyang Theatre and visited the Panda Garden at Beijing Zoo.

The company said the tours were organised to recognise and reward sales personnel for their performance and achievements.

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