During President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s four-day state visit to China, Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone by securing the largest foreign direct investment to date. This significant achievement was formalized this morning (16) with the signing of an agreement between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Energy and Sinopec, a leading Chinese international petroleum corporation.

Under this $3.7 billion investment, a state-of-the-art oil refinery with a capacity of 200,000 barrels will be constructed in the Hambantota region. A substantial portion of the refinery’s output is planned for export, further enhancing the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

This major investment from China is expected to bolster Sri Lanka’s economic growth while uplifting the livelihoods of low-income communities in the Hambantota area. Moreover, the benefits of this project are anticipated to positively impact the overall Sri Lankan population in the near future.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake and Director General of Government Information H. S. K. J. Bandara, alongside other dignitaries were present when the agreement was signed.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has disproportionately affected women, with only 32% participating in the workforce and 25% owning SMEs. Many are forced into low-skilled overseas labour or struggle with limited resources. In response, HSBC, in partnership with Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya (LJSS) and Sarvodaya Fusion, launched the Women Empowerment and Digital Inclusion Programme in July 2023. This two-year initiative empowers women-led SMEs in five provinces by providing training, mentorship, seed funding, and market access, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty).

The program aims to promote economic equality, and support women entrepreneurs. So far, 193 women have been trained in financial literacy, sustainable entrepreneurship, leadership, and digital marketing. A business incubator provides ongoing mentorship, and an online platform helps women to market their products and connect with local and international buyers.

In November 2024, the program’s Idea Hackathon identified 20 outstanding women entrepreneurs from diverse industries, including apparel, food, agriculture, and crafts, who were awarded seed funding to expand their businesses. This funding will not only support the growth of women-led enterprises but also create new job opportunities, marking a pivotal milestone in the initiative’s journey.

Beyond financial support, the Women Empowerment and Digital Inclusion Programme equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become leaders in their communities and industries. By fostering sustainable business growth and social resilience, the initiative contributes to long-term economic empowerment and inclusive development in Sri Lanka.

“As a woman in business and a seamstress, the knowledge I have gained through this program has been immense. The seed funding I received has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a sustainable woman entrepreneur, and I am now able to grow and expand my business” says Wasanthi Madumali a women entrepreneur of the programmme from the Southern Province in Sri Lanka.

Sarvodaya Fusion, is the ICT for Development (ICT4D) arm of the Sarvodaya movement, is committed to leveraging digital technology for social and economic development across Sri Lanka. With a vision to transform all Sri Lankan communities into responsible digital citizens, it focuses on bridging the digital divide and empowering underserved and marginalized communities. With over 15 years of experience in community-based works Sarvodaya Fusion have reached over 1/5th of the communities.

SLT-MOBITEL Nebula Institute of Technology, the educational arm of SLT-MOBITEL, has been honoured with international recognition at the prestigious Pearson BTEC Higher Education Forum 2024, highlighting the second consecutive year of acknowledgement for excellence.

The Institute received the International Level 3 and Level 5 Higher National Recognition Award for 2023, signifying commitment to delivering high-quality technological education, during a ceremony held recently at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo.

The award was presented to the Nebula Institute by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Distinguished Pearson representatives including Premila Paulraj, Director, Employability & Qualifications, Pearson South Asia; Siddharth Parnerkar, Senior Director, HEQ International Selling, Pearson South Asia; and Suriya Bibile, Deputy General Manager, Sales, BTEC, PTE, and HEd Courseware, Sri Lanka & Maldives were also present. Janaka Silva, General Manager, Human Capital Development, SLT, received the accolade on behalf of the SLT-MOBITEL Nebula Institute, while Eng. Darshana Bandara participated in the occasion.

Nebula Institute of Technology offers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge technology and engineering programs designed to meet the evolving demands of the technology sector. The carefully curated curriculum addresses critical industry challenges providing students with practical, market-relevant qualifications to transform career potential.

The Institute’s educational portfolio includes BEng (Hons) in Electrical & Electrical Engineering, BEng (Hons) in Robotic & Artificial Engineering, BSc (Hons) in Data Science, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Digital Technologies, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Computing, and Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation.

Additional programs such as Certificate In Applied Information Technology CAIT, Telecommunication Technician National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 4/3, Optical Fibre Courses, Network Security Courses and the CompTIA Security program are also available.