Business
Korean Film Festival – ‘A cultural bridge between South Korea and SL’
The Korean Film Festival, now underway at the PVR Cinemas in Colombo, is more than a cinematic showcase — it’s a cultural bridge between South Korea and Sri Lanka, according to Korean ambassador to Sri Lanka, Miyon Lee.
Speaking to The Island Financial Review at the opening ceremony on Thursday ambassador Lee expressed hope that the event will spark greater appreciation for Korean entertainment and encourage lasting cultural exchanges.
“This Korean Festival will be able to bring Korean films, Korean entertainment and Korean arts to Sri Lanka. We hope that we will be able to have more cultural exchanges between Sri Lanka and Korea, ambassador Lee said.
The festival features two films — ‘Extreme Job’, a wildly popular action-comedy and ‘Myeongyang: The Roaring Currents’, a historical epic that depicts Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s legendary 16th-century naval victory. While modest in scale this year, the ambassador said the intention is to grow the event in the future.
“No, unfortunately this time it was very difficult to bring a lot of films. So this time we are going to have only one each, two films, she explained. “But we hope that now you have a very large scope of movie filmgoers and that PBR or Scope will be able to bring more Korean commercial and entertainment movies to show to the Korean–Sri Lankan filmgoers.”
Ambassador Lee, a self-professed history enthusiast, shared her personal appreciation for both films in the line-up.
“My favourite movie among the two? I love both of them. ‘Myeongyang’ is kind of a history mania, so I love all the history movies, she said. “Extreme Job is a really hilarious film — a police officer working undercover finally catches the drug dealers. It’s fun, full of emotion, drama, love stories and family morals. Our entertainment is not only about action — there’s meaning and universal messages for families and gatherings.”
The Korean entertainment industry, now a global force, did not emerge overnight, ambassador Lee emphasized. It grew through a mix of government support, global exposure and investment in talent and technology.
“The Korean entertainment industry did not develop in a short period. It has been developed with a lot of support from the people, the government, and also with talented Korean people going abroad, studying high-tech filmmaking techniques and expertise, she said. “They brought back a lot of content that is now enjoyed not only in Korea but also universally.”
When asked about Sri Lanka’s potential in film and entertainment, ambassador Lee acknowledged the country’s growing industry and highlighted the role of regional collaboration.
“There have been a lot of activities to bring in different Asian cultures and filmmakers to Korea. Korea annually hosts the Busan International Film Festival, which encourages a lot of Asian films that we never experienced before, she noted.
Beyond cinema, the ambassador underscored the multi-dimensional nature of Korea’s cultural outreach in Sri Lanka.
“Not only the films, but we also try to bring and introduce Korean cuisine, Korean dramas, K-pop, taekwondo and sports, she said. “Film is only one part of the activities that we do here in Sri Lanka. I want to meet and satisfy the eagerness and the demand for experiencing Korean culture here.”
Ambassador Lee also addressed the global success of Korean dramas, often referred to as K-dramas, which have captivated audiences from Latin America to the Middle East and beyond.
“Korean dramas are very popular worldwide. In Sri Lanka, we can really promote it more. But it takes effort, infrastructure, and importantly, government and industry support.”
She noted the potential for future collaborations between the Sri Lankan and Korean creative sectors and expressed optimism about deepening these ties.
“This is just a glimpse of Korean films. I hope that we’ll be able to import more Korean films here to be shown to a broader base of the Sri Lankan public. We have very excellent Korean directors, very international, the ambassador explained.
She cited the recent international visibility of Korean filmmakers, including the work ‘Mickey 17’ by acclaimed Korean director Bong Joon-ho, as an example of Korea’s growing global stature in entertainment.
As the Korean Film Festival continues this week at Scope Cinemas, audiences are expected to engage with a blend of laughter, action, history and humanity — the hallmarks of Korean storytelling.
By Ifham Nizam ✍️
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to community upliftment and sustainable sourcing, CEAT Kelani Holdings has conducted the sixth presentation of essential school supplies to children of Sri Lanka’s rubber farming community, this time at Meegama Kanishta Vidyalaya in Matugama.
Seventy students from grades 1 to 5 at the school received school bags, shoes, and exercise books as part of CEAT’s flagship CSR initiative, ‘CEAT Cares.’ This latest event brings the total number of students supported by the programme to 650, spanning key rubber-producing areas including Matugama, Ratnapura, Galle, Moneragala, Kandy, and Hatharaliyadda.
The event at Meegama Kanishta Vidyalaya was attended by CEAT Kelani Chief Operating Officer Shamal Gunawardene, members of the senior management, and authorised CEAT dealers in the area including Sarath Premachandra of Chandra Tyre Center, Chaminda Pushpakumara of Chaminda Tyre Service, and Kithsiri Senewirathna of Udagepola Tyre Center. The school principal, teachers, parents, and students also participated in the ceremony, which featured traditional dances performed by the children.
“Our commitment to the rubber farming community is an integral part of CEAT’s ethos,” Gunawardene said.
Business
Royal College Leads Education’s Digital Shift with Sri Lanka’s First Passive Optical LAN via SLT-MOBITEL
Heralding a new era in digital education, SLT-MOBITEL ENTERPRISE and Royal College recently collaborated over the trailblazing deployment of Sri Lanka’s first full-scale Passive Optical LAN (POL) solution powered by Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology.
Connecting learning spaces with robust, ultra-fast broadband, the project is designed to revolutionize teaching and learning practices, ensuring students and educators can thrive in an increasingly digital world.
The agreement was signed between Janaka Abeysinghe, Chief Executive Officer, SLT Group, and Aruna Samarajewa, Secretary, Royal College Union, in the presence of several officials representing both organizations.
Partnering with one of the country’s most prestigious institutions demonstrates SLT-MOBITEL ENTERPRISE’s dedication to advancing education through cutting-edge technology and reinforcing the company’s leadership in innovative solutions.
Achieving a historic first for the nation, the fully integrated, fibre-based Passive Optical LAN (POL) solution is the inaugural deployment of its kind for an educational institution. The new system incorporates enterprise-grade network security features, ensuring safe browsing and providing advanced protection against potential cyber threats. Controlled access to educational resources is seamlessly integrated into the network architecture, creating a protected and responsible environment that safeguards sensitive academic data while building trust among parents, educators, and the community.
As SLT-MOBITEL ENTERPRISE continues to drive technological advancement within the education sector, the project serves as a vital stepping stone towards broader integration with institutions island wide. The deployment supports efforts to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that high-quality, innovative learning environments become accessible to students across the country.
Melwa, the leading steel manufacturer in Sri Lanka, recently introduced its latest product—Melwa Welding Rods—to the market. Produced by Melwa, a local company that has played a significant role in the development of the country’s construction sector, these welding rods are of high quality. Notably, they are 100% locally manufactured and come with SLS 414 certifications. This marks the first time a welding rod that is entirely locally produced has been introduced to the Sri Lankan market.
As part of the launch, a special workshop was held for welders in Balangoda on 24 June. During the session, participants were introduced to these welding rods and given the opportunity to test them out first-hand.
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