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HNB announces two key appointments to drive growth and innovation 

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Bimal Perera - Chief Growth Officer (L) / Chandima Cooray - Chief Innovation Officer (R)

Hatton National Bank (HNB) is pleased to announce the appointments of Bimal Perera as Deputy General Manager and Chief Growth Officer, and Chandima Cooray as Deputy General Manager and Chief Innovation Officer. These strategic additions to the leadership team at Corporate Management level underscore the Bank’s commitment to drive value accretive growth and pioneer innovation in today’s dynamic business environment.

Bimal Perera – Deputy General Manager and Chief Growth Officer 

Bimal Perera joins HNB with over two decades extensive expertise in corporate strategy, investment finance, risk management and digital financial services. With a proven track record of identifying emerging business opportunities and fostering long-term value creation, he brings a wealth of experience in banking, insurance and fintech, into his new role at HNB

His career includes key roles at leading organizations in the financial services domain such as NDB Bank PLC, LB Finance PLC, Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd & Acuity Knowledge Partners.

At his last assignment at NDB Bank PLC as the VP-Strategy and Business Intelligence, he was instrumental in ushering a transformative change in the bank’s business model supported by cutting edge business intelligence tools. At LB Finance PLC, where he served as Chief Risk Officer and later as DGM – Strategy and Digital Financial Services, Perera played a pivotal role in the company’s expansion into Myanmar and led transformative digital finance initiatives, including the launch of an omni-channel mobile wallet platform.

Commenting on his appointment, Perera stated: 

“I am honoured to join HNB at this exciting juncture. I look forward to driving strategic growth initiatives that create lasting value for our customers, stakeholders, and communities.”

Chandima Cooray – Deputy General Manager and Chief Innovation Officer

Chandima Cooray is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges. Renowned for his innovative mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, Cooray has consistently delivered impactful solutions across industries.

Starting his career with Unilever and MAS Holdings PLC, Cooray earned national and international recognition for his technological innovations. At Hemas Holdings PLC, he held leadership roles including Chief Process Officer, Chief Digital Officer, and Executive Director of its venture arm, Concept Ventures. His contributions included driving IT transformations, establishing start-up ecosystems, and creating digital landscape blueprints for key sectors.

In his new role at HNB, Cooray will lead the Bank’s innovation strategies, focusing on harnessing disruptive technologies to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.

“Innovation is at the heart of progress,” Cooray remarked. “I am excited to contribute to HNB’s mission of delivering cutting-edge solutions that redefine banking for the future.”

HNB warmly welcomes Bimal Perera and Chandima Cooray to the leadership team and looks forward to their contributions in steering the bank toward its next phase of growth and innovation.

“HNB is entering a bold new chapter—one defined by innovation, resilience, and purpose-driven growth. The appointments of Bimal Perera as Chief Growth Officer and Chandima Cooray as Chief Innovation Officer mark a pivotal moment in our journey to reimagine banking for the future. These roles signal our intent to not only adapt to a rapidly evolving financial landscape but to lead its transformation. By empowering businesses, enabling communities, and driving progress, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable economic recovery in Sri Lanka,” said HNB Managing Director/CEO, Damith Pallewatte.



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Export of scrap metal required for domestic industry to be banned

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to impose the necessary legal provisions to prevent the export of scrap metal in a manner detrimental to domestic industries.

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

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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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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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