Business
Market expansion and European investment drive 99x’s growth in 2021
Despite challenging market conditions brought on by the prevailing pandemic in 2021, technology company 99x saw organisational growth across the board while maintaining topline performance and recording strong profitability for the financial year ended 31 December 2021.
Some notable achievements for the year were the USD 20 million investment from a Scandinavian private equity company and the acquisition of Norway-based Seeds Consulting AS, to increase its presence in Europe and strategically position 99x to build new offerings to the enterprise market. The company also diversified its customer portfolio by expanding into new markets last year and onboarded new clients, spread across Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Singapore. This growth was supplemented with a notable increase in talent at 99x’s Sri Lankan offices, with over 100 employees recruited virtually in the last year alone.
“2021 was a challenging year. We expected greater mobility across borders, which was finally not the case and not what we hoped for. However, our people continued to deliver through it all while working from home for a second year. We see the trend of digitally onboarding customers and employees in our business, which we believe will be the new normal. Our customer satisfaction scores have in fact increased over the past two years, which is a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness of our teams, and I truly appreciate their commitment – our accomplishments in 2021 would not be possible without them,” observed 99x Founder and CEO Mano Sekaram, when commenting on the company’s performance.
He added that despite the ongoing pandemic, the company hopes to have more people in office this year. “Our work has been cut out for us in 2022, with various macro-economic factors weighing in – being a good employer is no longer enough. However, I’m confident we will continue to find new ways to engage and retain our people.”
99x also strengthened its leadership with the appointment of legal professional Shalini Ratwatte as its Chief Legal and Governance Officer, to play a tactical role in company’s plans for expansion in international markets.
Keeping in line with its people-first approach, the company made it a priority in 2021 to extend the maximum support to employees and families affected by COVID, providing logistical and financial assistance at every stage. “Our HR, facilities and administrative teams rose to the challenge in extending this level of support to our employees in a difficult time,” Sekaram noted.
99x continued to be recognized for its people practices, and business and export excellence. It was listed as a Best Workplace in Asia for a fifth year and Best Workplace in Sri Lanka for a ninth consecutive year by Great Place to Work® Institute.
Uplifting the community continued to be of the highest priority for 99x, and the company focused on aiding hospitals during a time when the healthcare industry has been inundated. This included contributions to the Kalubowila HDU and setting up of a PCR testing facility at the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital.
99x’s university relationships initiative Dotitude continued uninterrupted in 2021, with numerous workshops, trainings, mock interviews and more conducted online for universities and higher education institutes, empowering thousands of undergraduates across the country. This culminated with the launch of ‘Hacktitude’ in December, an inter-university hackathon geared at grooming talented undergraduates to be industry-ready upon graduation.
Understanding that remote working is now here to stay, the company partnered with VMware to implement its Workspace One platform across the organisation, which bolstered the company’s work-from-home strategy and enabled it to deliver seamless, uninterrupted product engineering services to global clients, even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
99x is a technology company co-creating well-engineered, innovative digital products for the Scandinavian market. Its expertise has been proven through a portfolio of over 150 impactful global digital products, developed together with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). 99x employs over 350 technology and product specialists, who are high achievers, creative thinkers and team players. The company is one of Asia’s Best Workplaces for 2021 and has been named a Best Workplace in Sri Lanka for nine consecutive years.
MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka (MLG) announced the appointment of Sarah Nasry as Director & Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
In her new role, Sarah will lead both the Finance and Human Resources functions at MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and people agenda. She holds a distinguished track record across multiple business disciplines, including Supply Chain, ICT, Administration, Corporate Communications, and CSR. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her most recent position as General Manager – Finance & Business Partnering at Brandix, Sri Lanka’s leading apparel manufacturer.
Recognised for her strengths in business partnering, financial planning, and strategic decision-making, Sarah is also widely respected for nurturing inclusive, people-centric cultures that foster growth and high performance.
Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of MLG, commented, “Sarah’s appointment follows an extensive search for the right person to lead our finance division through the next phase of our journey. Her wide-ranging experience and strong leadership credentials give me every confidence that she will continue to strengthen the financial integrity and compliance standards we are known for, and the Board looks forward to working closely alongside her in this journey.”
Sarah also marks a significant milestone for the company, becoming the first female member of MLG’s Board of Directors. She will additionally serve on the MLG Executive Committee (ExCo), reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion at the leadership level.
Commenting on her appointment, Sarah said, “I am honoured and excited to join MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka and help steer the company into its next chapter. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at MLG to drive financial strength, champion a people-first culture, and build on the company’s strong legacy of creativity and performance.”
Business
Sun Siyam Pasikudah Named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award Best of the Best Winner for 2025
Sun Siyam Pasikudah, a boutique luxury resort on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, is thrilled to announce its recent win at the Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2025, placing it among the top 10 percent of resorts worldwide. This accolade reflects the resort’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.
Reopened in November 2023 after an extensive transformation, Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers 34 spacious one- and two-bedroom garden and beach pavilions, each featuring bold monochromatic interiors accented with golden tones. The redesign, led by Studio Sixty7, emphasizes a blend of contemporary elegance and local craftsmanship. The resort collaborated with local artisans, showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich talent and cultural heritage.
‘‘We are thrilled to being recognized on par with some of the world’s best resorts. Under just two years since our reopening, this achievement couldn’t be possible with the tremendous effort and support of our world-class team and our guests that keep coming for the unique experiences we offer. We are proud to contribute to Sri Lanka, a destination that is on every traveler’s go-to list,’ said its General Manager, Arshed Refai who has been with Sun Siyam Resorts for over a decade.
OTTO Bathware has received Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). This certification confirms that OTTO’s sanitaryware meets the highest national standards for safety, durability, and performance. With over 30 years of experience, OTTO Bathware operates under the ADI Group (Art Decoration International Pvt. Ltd.- www.ottobathware.com) and runs a modern 435,000square feet manufacturing facility in Bandaragama. The company has grown to become; South-Asia’s largest decorative ceramic manufacturer/ exporter, Sri Lanka’s second-largest sanitaryware producer, supplying to over 500 retailers island-wide.
“We’re proud to offer sanitaryware that meets national safety and quality standards. We encourage all Sri Lankans to look beyond the price tag and choose products that are certified, tested, and built to last.” said its Chairman, S. H. B. Karunarathne.
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