Business
Hemas Outreach Foundation Celebrates International Day of Down Syndrome

Hemas Outreach Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the Hemas Group together with AYATI National Centre for Children with Disabilities marked International Day of Down Syndrome on March 16 at the Ayati Centre in Ragama. Held with the goal of raising awareness about their social movement ‘(Treat All Alike)’ the event also launched a new song that lends a voice to Down Syndrome children. ‘එItමු’ is aimed at empowering children and families with Down Syndrome by providing a forum to acknowledge their rights and advocate inclusion in today’s society.
“The social movement was created to raise awareness for Down Syndrome children, who are often overlooked in society. We as Hemas believe in an inclusive society where no child is left behind and our initiatives at Hemas Outreach Foundation focuses on achieving this goal. It is estimated that approximately 20% of children in Sri Lanka have some form of a disability. The Ayati Trust Sri Lanka seeks to create an inclusive society to prevent persons with disabilities from facing prejudice and a lack of access to specialised services. As we mark the World Down Syndrome Day, it is critical that we all work together to break the stigma. As a company that promotes ‘healthful living,’ we look forward to making the world a more inclusive place by creating a platform for families to air their concerns and receive much-needed community support. These children have special talents that needs to be recognized. We have to celebrate them and treat them as equals”, stated Shiromi Masakorala, Executive Director, AYATI Trust Sri Lanka and Hemas Outreach Foundation.
The ceremony was graced with the presence of many special guests standing together in support of creating an inclusive world. Past Global President of Rotary International K. Ravindran attended the event as Chief Guest of the event. Further English, Sinhala and Tamil instructional pamphlets on Down Syndrome were handed over to the Director of Social Services, Chandana Ranaweera Arachchi, which is to be distributed to the 331 Divisional Secretariats in the country.
“From all the facilities I have seen around world, AYATI ranks as one of the best. Hemas is living true to the tagline ‘business goes beyond profits.’ It is also important that we celebrate the carers; each circumstance has its own group of heroes who we should recognize. The need to integrate children into society is vital, integrating children into the mainstream enhances everyone’s learning. It fosters a giving atmosphere; expectations increase on both sides – to rise to difficulties, and the other children also rise to become more compassionate” added the Chief Guest of the occasion, the Past Global President of Rotary International, K. Ravindran.
Hemas Holdings PLC is aiming to create a world that encourages a society that ‘leaves no child behind’ while promoting ‘healthful living, because we believe every family deserves a better tomorrow’ This fundamental objective will inform the cause and aid in the eradication of the stigma they experience daily. The new song launched on the day by Amila Jayaswarna focuses on treating children with Down Syndrome with love and respect.
Roshan Mahanama, Brand Ambassador for Hemas Outreach Foundation and Trustee of Ayati Trust Sri Lanka had this to say at the event: “As a society we must treat everyone equally. Parents must engage and include their children in all activities. I feel the Ministry of Education should do more to foster an inclusive atmosphere. We need to show these children greater love and kindness and play a part in making the communities see the special talent they have.”
Join the Social Movement of the Hemas Outreach Foundation to educate the public and eradicate the stigma attached to children with Down Syndrome: http://web.facebook.com/ekasesalakamu
AYATI National Center for Children with Disabilities is a partnership between theFaculty of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya, Hemas Holdings PLC, MAS Holdings, Roshan Wijerama Foundation, Sri Lanka Army and the Rotary District 3220
Established under Hemas Holdings PLC, the Hemas Outreach Foundation has been leading the Group’s purpose of promoting ‘healthful living’ through transformative corporate social responsibility. The mission of the foundation is to champion ‘Healthful Living’ for a better life through holistic interventions for Sri Lankan Families where no child is left behind. The foundation operates as a Trust, managed by an eminent board of trustees.
Business
DFCC Bank and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce forge strategic partnership

DFCC Bank PLC has entered a partnership with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, to formally integrate Ceylon Chamber-led macroeconomic and sectoral intelligence into its service model. This strategic collaboration is set to enhance both internal expertise and client-facing value, reinforcing DFCC Bank’s position as the most insight-driven and customer-aligned bank in the country.
By harnessing the Ceylon Chamber’s deep research capabilities, DFCC Bank will gain privileged access to quarterly macroeconomic outlooks, sector-specific insights, and dynamic market intelligence. These deliverables will inform decision-making across the organisation—from strategy formulation to client advisory—ensuring DFCC Bank teams remain ahead of the curve in responding to economic developments and customer needs.
Through this partnership, the Ceylon Chamber will provide briefings on key economic indicators such as GDP performance, inflation trends, policy shifts, and global economic movements, alongside industry analyses tailored to DFCC Bank’s client sectors. These insights will not only serve internal capability-building but also enhance client conversations—offering DFCC Bank customers access to curated intelligence through strategic reviews and presentations.
Thimal Perera, CEO of DFCC Bank, commented:
“As we sharpen our focus on delivering value beyond banking, this collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce gives us and our clients a distinct advantage. Timely economic insights and sector intelligence will strengthen the relevance and depth of our engagements – enabling us to support customers with more informed, responsive financial solutions that align with the realities they face.”
Buwanekabahu Perera, Secretary General and CEO of the Ceylon Chamber stated:
“Our goal is to take economic intelligence beyond boardrooms and make it practical and actionable for businesses. Partnering with DFCC Bank allows us to do exactly that, by ensuring that insights translate into better advice, faster decisions, and stronger outcomes for businesses.”
The official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place on 12 June 2025, symbolising a shared vision for smarter financial ecosystems in Sri Lanka.
Business
Spring board to ‘unleashing a new era in start-up driven growth’

In an impassioned call to action, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, declared that Sri Lanka was ready to “unleash a new era of startup-driven growth, as he kicked off the prelude to Disrupt Asia 2025 — a four-day mega-event that aspires to redefine the nation’s digital economy and transform it into South Asia’s next innovation hub.
“We are no longer waiting for the future. We are building it, right here, starting now, said Abeysinghe. “With Disrupt Asia, we aim to place Sri Lanka firmly on the map as a gateway to South Asia, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia for global investors, innovators and disruptors.”
Scheduled to run from September 17–20 in Colombo, Disrupt Asia 2025 is more than just another tech event. Backed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the ICT Agency (ICTA), the platform is being positioned as the national accelerator for startups and innovation—bringing together universities, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and the general public into one unified ecosystem.
The event is anchored in Sri Lanka’s broader ambition to grow its digital economy from a current estimated transaction volume of USD 3–5 billion to USD 15 billion by 2030. To achieve this, the government is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy: a USD 50 million Fund of Funds to boost venture capital availability, the creation of a Virtual Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and new equity pathways for startups through the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Deputy Minister Abeysinghe noted that the government was working with financial advisory firm KPMG to address longstanding taxation and regulatory hurdles, including the double taxation of venture capital funds and limited frameworks for foreign co-founders.
“These policies are no longer in the shadows, he stressed. “They are being debated, fixed and aligned so that startups can thrive in a globally competitive landscape.”
Heminda Jayaweera, Executive Director at TRACE Sri Lanka, the ecosystem partner and host of the Innovation Festival on September 19, called the event “a confluence of creativity, code, and capital.”
TRACE Expert City will host more than 50 interactive product demos, themed exhibitions spanning HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, AI, Tourism, and GovTech, and immersive installations aimed at both the general public and young innovators.
Jayaweera emphasized the importance of creating an “incubation ground” that serves not just the tech elite, but also students, small-town entrepreneurs, and policymakers. “This is where ideas collide and evolve,” he said. “It’s where we disrupt the status quo.”
Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager of Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives, added a private sector perspective to the conversation. “This is not just another tech expo, he said. “It’s a serious commitment to transform Sri Lanka into a digitally inclusive, investor-attractive economy.”
Mastercard’s participation as a strategic partner underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving these goals. “Innovation doesn’t happen in silos, Hapugoda noted. “We are working with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financiers to build scalable solutions.”
Mastercard’s support extends to FinTech integrations, digital commerce enablement, and cybersecurity solutions — all crucial building blocks for a vibrant digital economy.
Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Managing Partner at BOV Capital and founder of LAN, said the platform was already working to secure listings for at least two promising startups on the Colombo Stock Exchange. “Equity is not a foreign concept. We’re just late adopters. But now, we’re building the runway, he said.
Disrupt Asia 2025 will also host a “Sundowner Cultural Showcase” that celebrates Sri Lanka’s creative and artisanal identity. Featuring curated culinary offerings from Asaya Sands, gem exhibitions, and artisanal tastings, the event aims to build a bridge between innovation and tradition.
“This is more than a networking mixer, said event curator Ruwani Fernando. “It’s a statement. Sri Lanka is a land of both ancient wisdom and future-focused solutions.”
By Ifham Nizam
Business
Sampath Bank pioneers SL’s standardised API banking platform, redefining transaction banking

Sampath Bank has set a new milestone as the first bank in Sri Lanka to launch a standardised Application Programming Interface (API) platform. This revolutionary move redefines corporate banking by simplifying and automating intricate financial processes for businesses of all sizes, reflecting the Bank’s steadfast commitment to providing agile, technology-driven solutions for its expanding base of corporate and SME clients.
API banking fundamentally transforms traditional banking by exposing core functions and data as web services accessible to third-party applications. This approach creates a more interconnected and flexible ecosystem that enhances convenience, encourages innovation and improves efficiency in delivering and consuming financial services.
The new platform empowers businesses to seamlessly integrate Sampath Bank’s core banking capabilities into their internal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This integration supports faster supplier payments, streamlined collections, real-time balance inquiries and trade-related transactions, while maintaining established approval chains and audit controls inherent in corporate systems.
Driven by a deep understanding of digitalisation’s transformative potential, the development of this platform aims to empower corporate decision-makers by saving time and increasing visibility across financial operations. As Mr. Sanjaya Gunawardane, Chief Strategy Officer at Sampath Bank, explains, “There is no longer a need to spend hours managing physical payments or manually reconciling bank records. This platform empowers businesses, enabling them to configure, validate and execute transactions securely through a single interface. Our goal was to deliver an end-to-end solution that not only boosts efficiency but also transforms the overall banking experience. This is part of our ongoing commitment to introducing cutting-edge technologies to reshape the Sri Lankan business landscape.”
Addressing a critical challenge in financial supply chain management, this innovation offers companies a suite of ready-to-integrate APIs, automated testing tools and rapid onboarding processes that make it possible to go live within days rather than weeks.
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