Business
Microsoft partners fuel economic recovery in Sri Lanka
Microsoft held a free digital-only event for business executives and government officials in Sri Lanka to share how the Microsoft Partner Network has helped businesses adjust and solve the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our partner ecosystem is working hard to ensure that our customers can respond and recover from the impact the pandemic has had across business processes, industries and organizations in Sri Lanka,” said Hasitha Abeywardena, Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives. “We have seen first-hand how they are equipping customers with the technology and tools to safeguard jobs, businesses and the community; and we are deeply appreciative of their heroic work. Their commitment to enabling the recovery of Sri Lanka, along with our resources and expertise to help them achieve their goals validates our mission to empower every person and every organization in Sri Lanka to achieve more.”
With workplaces pivoting to work-from-home arrangements to keep their employees safe, a significant number of businesses continue to function as normal due to the economic costs associated with shutting down business. Innovations built by Arimac, MillenniumIT ESP, and ZILLIONe seek to help businesses adhere to government regulations and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within their premises.
“I am so proud to see how our partners in Sri Lanka are striving to protect the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate. This growth mindset will transform our country’s industries and enable digital transformation across the market, and has the potential to help beyond the pandemic,” continued Hasitha.
CovidTrace
To scale up the ability to use contact tracing to track and fight COVID-19 outbreaks, Arimac introduced a privacy-safe mobile contact tracing app leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Azure Cloud Services. The app allows for organizations to take preventive measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by assigning authorized employees to trace primary, secondary, and tertiary contacts of newly identified cases via the app with minimal input required from the user in a user-friendly customer journey.
CovidTrace regularly scans for nearby devices using BLE signals to track the spread of infection without compromising location privacy. When it establishes a Bluetooth connection with a nearby device, the app will start exchanging data, record, and securely store the temporary ID of the nearby phone together with the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which measures the signal strength to determine the proximity between the two devices and time stamp.
Similarly, ZILLIONe showcased a mobile contact tracing app leveraging Quick Response (QR) codes and Azure Cloud Services. Each time a QR code is scanned, the app enters the location in a log and adds a timestamp. A moderator/representative will scan the employee ID at the entrance of each visit within the office premises. And in the event an outbreak within the company, they can easily identify the associates of the infected person and take the necessary steps to minimize the spread.
HealthVision
At the event, powered by Azure cloud services MillenniumIT ESP showcased HealthVision—a web-enabled, mobile responsive remote patient monitoring platform for medical personnel and caregivers. This latest solution enables healthcare providers to connect with their patients from a remote location, record their details regarding health and safety risks through guided questionnaires, capturing of their expressions and symptoms through video and voice facility, medical history, etc. and enables continuous communication on a daily basis to ascertain the status of their patients’ health. The solution is been used as a remote patient monitoring and a teletherapy application by some of the leading health care institutes in the country.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Business
IceWarp expands into Sri Lanka, fostering European innovation in collaboration with FentonsIT
IceWarp, a global leader in business communication solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge platform in Sri Lanka, bringing European expertise in email and collaboration solutions to support the country’s evolving business landscape.
This expansion is driven by a strategic partnership with Fentons Information Technology (FIT), the Information Technology arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
The grand launch event held at The Kingsbury Colombo on 4th April, 2025, was graced by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC.
The presence of Adam Paclt, Global CEO of IceWarp, and Pramod Sharda, CEO for India and the Middle East of IceWarp, along with their global team, highlighted the significance of this expansion. Industry experts, government officials, corporate leaders, and CIOs from the banking, financial services and insurance sectors were in attendance as well, reflecting strong local interest in IceWarp’s European expertise.
With this launch, Sri Lankan businesses now have access to an affordable, scalable and secure alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. IceWarp’s advanced Collaboration Suite integrates a wide range of tools into a single, unified platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity. Offering flexible hybrid deployment options and cost-efficient solution, IceWarp enables organisations to optimise their operations without compromising security or functionality.
Eventistry Sports, a trailblazer in innovative sporting events, has unveiled the Sri Lanka Padel League (SLPL), the nation’s first franchise-based padel tournament, set to debut in June 2025. This groundbreaking league promises to redefine Sri Lanka’s sports landscape by creating a dynamic national platform for athletes while fostering unity among fans, brands, and communities.
The SLPL will showcase six franchise teams, each embodying the spirit of iconic Sri Lankan locales: the Colombo Chargers, Yala Rangers, Hikkaduwa Riders, Ella Hawks, Arugambay Vipers, and Trinco Warriors. These teams will not only ignite regional pride but also unite the country through a shared passion for padel—a fast-paced racquet sport merging tennis and squash, played on enclosed courts.
“The SLPL is more than a league; it’s a movement,” declared Karin Wijeratne, Director of Eventistry Sports. “By blending franchise sports with Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, we’re creating a platform where players gain national recognition, fans rally behind their hometown heroes, and brands engage with communities in meaningful ways.”
The league’s launch on June 21–23, 2025, at Colombo’s Padel House courts (CR&FC) will kick off with three days of high-octane matches, preceded by a star-studded player auction on May 16th at The Vault, Colombo City Centre. Local talent—both professional and intermediate—will be drafted by franchise owners, with international registrations now open to elevate the competition’s global appeal.
Please log in to: www.slpadelleague.com and social media: @SriLankaPadelLeague (Facebook & Instagram) for more information.
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