Sterling Steels Limited has formalized a strategic collaboration with the University of Moratuwa, Department of Civil Engineering through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening academic and industry-based research within Sri Lanka’s Steel Building Construction sectors. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to innovation, knowledge exchange, and the practical application of academic research to address real-world industry challenges.

Under the MoU, the University of Moratuwa will lead and conduct applied research initiatives, while Sterling Steels will provide technical expertise, industry insights, and access to facilities and materials to support research, testing, and industrial exposure. The collaboration is guided by Professor Udeni Nawagamuwa, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, with Sterling Steels represented by its Chief Operating Officer, Kemantha Perera. Research activities will be supervised by Dr. H. M. S. T. Herath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering.

The partnership is designed to create structured opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage in industry-relevant research and development activities, while enabling academic staff to work closely with industry practitioners. It also aims to enhance Sterling Steels’ research-driven innovation capabilities by leveraging the University’s academic and technical expertise, fostering joint projects, publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that contribute to the long-term advancement of Sri Lanka’s construction and manufacturing industries.

Research under the collaboration will focus on key structural engineering areas, including the design and performance of cold-formed steel sections and connections under complex loading conditions. These studies are expected to generate insights that support improved design practices, material efficiency, and structural resilience, with relevance to both local and regional construction contexts.

Commenting on the collaboration, Kemantha Perera, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Steels Limited, said, “This partnership reflects our belief that sustainable industry growth must be anchored in rigorous research and close collaboration with academia. By working with the University of Moratuwa, we are not only supporting the next generation of engineers and researchers but also strengthening our own innovation capabilities to deliver safer, more efficient steel solutions for Sri Lanka’s evolving construction landscape.

The MoU forms part of Sterling Steels’ broader corporate responsibility agenda, which prioritizes support for higher education, research excellence, and capacity building within critical national industries. The signing ceremony took place at the University of Moratuwa, with representatives from both institutions in attendance.

Award-winning agency marks milestone year with established track record in reputation management and strategic counsel across multiple sectors

Mark and Comm (Pvt) Ltd, one of Sri Lanka’s leading independent public relations and communications agencies, celebrated 15 years of operations last Month, marking a decade and a half of solving real business problems through strategic communications.

Founded in January 2011 by Thanzyl Thajudeen, the agency has built its reputation on a fundamental principle: communications work must deliver measurable business outcomes, not just media coverage. This approach has seen Mark and Comm develop long-term partnerships with organizations across technology, hospitality, manufacturing, agriculture, financial services, retail, education, and sustainability sectors.

“Fifteen years ago, we started with a conviction that great communications work is built on understanding business problems first,” said Thajudeen, Managing Director of Mark and Comm. “We’ve never positioned ourselves as order-takers. Our role is to work alongside leadership teams as strategic counsel, helping them navigate reputational challenges, stakeholder complexities, and market positioning with clear-eyed pragmatism.”

The agency’s approach has earned recognition. In 2025, Mark and Comm was named Rest of South Asia PR Agency of the Year by Campaign Asia-Pacific, a distinction that reflects both the quality of its client work and its contribution to raising professional standards in the region.

As a member of the GlobalCom PR Network and a Corporate Member of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Asia Pacific, Mark and Comm provides clients with international reach while maintaining deep local market knowledge. The agency is also the exclusive partner for Hootsuite and Talkwalker in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, positioning it at the forefront of enterprise social media management and real-time consumer intelligence, advocating for brands to build in their internal capabilities.

This expertise was demonstrated recently when Mark and Comm led an industry initiative bringing global executives from both platforms to Colombo for the “Brands: Listen, Learn and Lead” event. The gathering, aimed at CMOs and marketing leaders, focused on building in-house social listening capabilities, reflecting the agency’s commitment to empowering clients with tools for long-term strategic advantage rather than short-term tactical fixes.

Strategic Rs. 1.5 billion project by Browns Hotels & Resorts under LOLC Group

The Sri Lankan leisure landscape saw a significant addition on January 30, 2026, with the official opening of Newburgh Ella – The Tea Factory Resort. This Rs. 1.5 billion project, a strategic diversification by Browns Hotels & Resorts under the LOLC Group, transforms a 123-year-old tea factory into a luxury destination designed to capture the growing global interest in Ella.

The resort is housed in a structure originally established in 1903 by Scottish planter George Thomson. During the conversion, LOLC ensured the core structure was preserved, even reusing steel and other structural raw materials to maintain the factory’s industrial soul.

“We decided to transform it into a hotel without harming the core structure, ensuring the prevention of nature,” noted Gangadaran Velsamy, General Manager of Newburgh Ella. This commitment to sustainability extends to the resort’s operations, which follow a fully paperless concept and are currently undergoing LEED and green certification processes.

At the helm of the hotel’s operations is Gangadaran Velsamy, the seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience across 10 international and local hotel brands, including Dubai One and Only and Taj Samudra. A graduate of the Ceylon Hotel School, Velsamy brings a mission-driven approach to the property.

“My mission is to make Newburgh Ella the best hotel in Ella that offers nothing but the best for the guests that Ella couldn’t offer ever before in its history,” Velsamy told The Island Financial Review. His management style is notably people-centric, utilising multiple management approaches to maximise the potential of his human resource.

A key highlight of the project’s “human side” was the absorption of the original Finlays tea factory staff. These employees underwent six months of intensive theoretical and on-the-job training at 5-star properties to transition into the hospitality sector.

Further supporting the local economy, 50% of the hotel’s workforce is recruited from the immediate neighborhood. This integration is reflected in the resort’s service culture; for instance, pre-booked restaurant tables are marked with “Promised” tags rather than the standard “Reserved,” signaling a deeper level of commitment to the guest.

Newburgh Ella features 41 rooms categorised as Silver, Gold, and Bronze – a naming convention inspired by tea tips. Room rates range from USD 250 to 350 per day (approximately LKR 75,000 to 100,000).

Key Facilities Include:

1903 – The Dining Room: An all-day dining venue.

Eastern Valley: An open-air restaurant specialising in Asian fusion.

George Thomson – The Founder’s Tavern: A bar named in honour of the factory’s founder.

Three Tips Tea Lounge: A dedicated space for tea tasting and the “living tea experience”.

SKY Observation Deck: Offering views of Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak.

From a business perspective, the resort addresses a critical need for high-end infrastructure in Ella, a destination famed for its “exhilarating vibes” but often underserved in the premium segment.

Eksath Wijeratne, CEO of Browns Hotels & Resorts, expressed confidence in the property’s financial trajectory, estimating a breakeven point within five to six years.

“If we see Sri Lanka achieving more arrivals in correlation with increased revenue inflows, we should be able to reach a breakeven within a shorter period,” Wijeratne stated. He emphasised that the resort is a key piece of infrastructure to boost foreign currency earnings, attracting discerning travelers whose spending directly bolsters the country’s economy.

Ultimately, the success of Newburgh Ella lies in its details – such as the “Promised” tags on restaurant tables that replace the cold, standard “Reserved” signs. This subtle shift in language, championed by Velsamy’s team, encapsulates the resort’s mission: to honour a century of history while delivering a standard of service that Ella has never before hosted.

The “gastronomical delights” of Newburgh Ella are presented perfectly with the seasoned artistry of Chef Senthilkumar. Having spent over 18 years refining his craft across the luxury landscapes of Dubai, Kuwait, and the Maldives, the Chef transforms world-class techniques into unforgettable dining experiences, redefining the art of the meal in the heart of Ella.

In addition to Newburgh Ella’s refined hospitality and “yummy” gastronomy, guests have easy access to the region’s crown jewels such as Ella Gap and Ravana Cave to the thundering beauty of Ravana Falls.

By Sanath Nanayakkare