Business
Power World Gyms reinvents fitness options, introduces Pay-As-You-Go

Covid-19 is changing the way we live, work and play. A new normal is descending upon all mankind. With today’s ever-changing lifestyles, people are increasingly looking out for relevance and flexibility in their lifestyle choices. Fitness needs are no different.
Power World Gyms, the leading fitness chain in Sri Lanka and India with an undisputed reputation among fitness and gym enthusiasts, is once again reinventing the fitness industry with the launch of the pay-as-you-go payment option, allowing customers the freedom to choose at will when and where they wish to exercise. The newly rolled out ‘Proxone’ app will allow access to any and all of its gyms without the need for annual membership payments.
Proxone offers freedom; from being locked into an annual membership, from paying for services that you hardly utilize, from being stuck to using only one gym, and from visiting the same place every time for the same activity.
‘It’s important to stay in line with today’s trends and shifts in consumer behavior, and offer relevant value-added services that best suit our fitness enthusiasts. The roll out of our pay-as-you-go to gym approach is a well thought-out and timely decision. We believe that anyone and everyone should be able to have freedom in fitness that blends well with their daily lifestyle with no constraints or limitations,’ said Talavou F. Alailima, founder and chairman, Power World Gyms.
‘The Proxone initiative supports President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vision of making Sri Lanka a more healthy nation by nurturing a sports culture and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa’s mission to build world-class sports programs and support structures in the country,’ he further added.
One only needs to download the Proxone app which is available in both Android and iOS versions, to unlock the door to a world of fitness choices. The Proxone app lists the gyms that are available for use and the price per one-and-a-half-hour time slot. Simply choose the gym and the time slot between 5am and 11pm and click to pay with a wide range of credit cards and electronic wallets.
The rates for the one-and-half hour time slot vary depending on the gym location and time of day. Gone are the days where the gym industry requires its members to commit to large annual or quarterly memberships to only one given location. The pay-as-you-go is also great for fitness beginners or people who want to get back to the routine of exercise.
Power World Gyms is equipped with fully functional finger scan and management software to control access and abuse, CCTV monitoring for security, qualified and experienced fitness instructors and managers, amongst others features. Established in 1994 with a vision to bring fitness centers to every neighborhood, Power World Gyms today boasts a network of 23 gyms in Sri Lanka, and a network of gyms in India.
Business
‘This must be your last IMF Programme; lapses cannot be repeated’

IMF First Deputy Managing Director tells Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s long and difficult journey from economic collapse to cautious recovery reached a critical milestone as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, IMF First Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Gita Gopinath, and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe addressed the high-profile “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance” conference yesterday in Colombo.
The event, jointly organized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), underscored the urgency of sustaining reform momentum while opening a new chapter in the country’s 75-year partnership with the IMF.
With macroeconomic stability returning but fragility still looming, the message from all three leaders was clear: Sri Lanka cannot afford to backslide.
“This must be the last IMF programme for Sri Lanka, Dr. Gopinath stated firmly in her keynote speech. “We’ve had 16 before this—about half ended prematurely. Reform fatigue, policy reversals and lost discipline cannot be repeated. This time must be different.”
While the conference primarily focused on public financial management, debt sustainability, and governance, the implications for Sri Lanka’s business environment were unmistakable. According to Gopinath, structural reforms, transparent fiscal management and improved governance are not abstract policy ideals — they are the essential foundations for restoring investor confidence, revitalizing private enterprise and building a resilient economy.
“Comprehensive governance reform can raise GDP by over 7% and reduce debt-to-GDP by more than six percentage points over the next decade, Gopinath noted, citing IMF internal analysis. “These are not just theoretical benefits — they are real, measurable returns for the private sector, job creation, and inclusive growth.”
Dr. Weerasinghe echoed this sentiment, stating that the IMF-supported programme “has laid the groundwork for macroeconomic fundamentals essential for sustained growth. He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s financial institutions and monetary authorities are now better equipped to support private sector-led recovery, pointing to a stabilizing rupee, single-digit inflation and restored investor interest.
“With improved credit ratings and Sri Lankan bonds being re-included in global indices, capital markets are beginning to show signs of life, said Dr. Weerasinghe. “This creates a platform for increased foreign direct investment (FDI), trade expansion, and domestic entrepreneurial activity.”
President Dissanayake opened the conference with a stark reminder of the human cost of Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. He called for economic leadership that not only addresses balance sheets but also rights wrongs of the past.
“We lost three critical things — one in our economy, two in our country, and three in our people, he said. “We must recover what was lost. And we can only do that through trust, transparency and inclusive policies.”
Dissanayake acknowledged the sacrifices made by the public — especially the most vulnerable — and emphasized that public buy-in is essential to the success of reform. “The people of this country have already shown their willingness to endure hardship in service of recovery. It is now the responsibility of government and institutions to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain.”
His words carried weight in a country where memories of fuel queues, food shortages and economic despair remain fresh. The President signaled his administration’s commitment to a social contract grounded in accountability and economic fairness.
Gopinath noted that:
USD 3 billion in external debt was forgiven.
USD 25 billion was restructured with longer maturities and lower interest rates.
External debt servicing was reduced by half over the next decade.
Debt-to-GDP ratios are expected to fall by 27 to 34 percentage points.
“Sri Lanka’s experience has helped us sharpen how we approach debt sustainability, creditor coordination and domestic financial sector resilience, said Gopinath. “It’s a case study in how complex, painful, but ultimately successful restructuring can be done.”
By Ifham Nizam
Business
Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 recognizes Sri Lanka’s top culinary talent

Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Lanka, relaunched the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition this year – an island wide culinary competition focused on developing up-and-coming culinary talent in the hospitality industry.
Nestlé Professional also collaborated with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and Chefs Guild of Lanka to launch the Junior Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition for the very first time – providing culinary students in the hospitality industry with a platform to showcase their talents and skills, while fostering the next generation of culinary experts.
The regional rounds, held across all nine provinces of the country, brought together 18 finalists from both the Professional category and the newly introduced Junior category, to compete in the Grand Finale at the Culinary Art Food Expo.
The winners of the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 were awarded at an event held on 15th June at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, with the participation of distinguished guests – Chief Guest, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. Siri Walt; Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé S.A., Reinhold Jakobi; Regional Business Head – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region, Jeroen Pluijmers; Director – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia Region, . Saurabh Makhija; Chairman of the Chefs Guild of Lanka, Chef Gerard Mendis and President of the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association, Patrick Pereira.
Mr. Bernie Stefan, Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka commented “The hospitality industry plays a vital role in supporting the transition from stability to growth in the Sri Lankan economy. Nestlé Lanka is honoured to play a part in uplifting the industry through the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition. This initiative also embodies our Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which is dedicated towards empowering and upskilling the youth to excel in their field of expertise and contribute to the community”.
H.E. Dr. Siri Walt, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives mentioned “I congratulate Nestlé Professional, the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association on this wonderful initiative to promote culinary talent.
Business
Activ8 Asia balances AI with nature through GPT (Go Plant a Tree)

In celebration of World Environment Day 2025, Activ8 Asia, in collaboration with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), launched an inspiring green initiative titled Project GPT – Go Plant a Tree. The campaign was a city-wide call to action to counterbalance the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence through a simple, tangible act: planting trees.
The initiative saw teams planting a range of rare and biodiversity-rich flora across 11 prominent locations in Colombo, including Viharamahadevi Park, from SLT Head Office to Lake House, and near the BMICH. These spaces, chosen for their cultural, civic, and environmental significance, now serve as living reminders of the need to harmonize technology and nature. “Project GPT is our way of balancing innovation with responsibility — a gesture to give back to the planet as we move forward in the digital age. At Activ8 Asia, we use AI tools like ChatGPT daily as part of our creative workflow. But with every typed prompt, we know there’s an unseen cost — data centers that power AI models consume vast amounts of energy and water,” said a Managing Director, Wazeel Nizar from Activ8 Asia.
Project GPT was not just about planting trees — it became a platform to ignite critical conversations around digital sustainability. Through leaflet distribution, interactive signage, and a targeted social media campaign, the initiative engaged the public with compelling insights into the environmental toll of emerging technologies.
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