Business
‘Rajarata Rajini train, Air Ceylon’s first jet aircraft, Ceylon’s first taxi services and railway diesel engines were launched by E.L.B. Hurulle’
Edwin Lokubandara Hurulle was born on January 19, 1919. He served as the provincial governor of the Central Province, North Central Province, Minister of Communications in Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake’s government, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Member of Parliament under President Jayewardene’s government
Ilangasinghe Kalukumara Rajakaruna Edwin Loku Bandara Hurulle was born to Tikiri Bandara Hurulle and Alice Bulankulame, the daughter of Lokubandara Bulankulame, the chief custodian of the Atamasthana (the eight sacred places) in Anuradhapura. He was the eldest in the family. His family has established itself as local leaders in the Anuradhapura District. His great-grandfather, Punchi Bandara Hurulle, built a Walawwe adjacent to the Morakewa reservoir at Horowpathana. His grandfather Henarath Banda Hurulle, the rate-mahaththaya of Hurulu-Palatha constructed a two-storey mansion between the Morakewa Wewa and the main road from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee in the year 1865. Henarath Banda Hurulle was married to Weragama Kumarihami of Maningamuwa. This is the building that was burnt and destroyed down during the 1988 JVP uprising.
He was married to Malini Galagoda, the daughter of the former chief custodian of the Natha Devala, Kandy and an officer of the Forest Conservation Department, Maduma Bandara Galagoda of Teldeniya.
E L B Hurulle and his wife Malini had two daughters named Maya and Deepthi and three sons named Themiya, Vajira and Kanishka
Following the death of Horowpothna’s U N P MP, T.B. Poholiyadde, Edwin Hurulle was elected MP by popular vote for the Horowpothana Electorate at the General Election held in 1956.
The train Rajarata-Rajini was introduced to the Railways by him. He introduced jet aircraft to Sri Lanka. In the remote areas of Sri Lanka, he introduced buses to facilitate travel for the people. This distinguished service was provided by him as the Minister of Communications and he expedited the conversion of the Sri Lanka’s railway diesel engines by replacing the earlier used steam engines. He introduced the TRIDENT passenger jet aircraft to Air Ceylon, thus changing it from the era of propeller aircraft to the jet engine era.
He was also the first to introduce motor vehicles exempt from customs duties to commence Taxi Services to Sri Lanka. In the 1970 general elections, he ‘lost’ the Horowpothana seat to a candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party by a margin of 2,572 votes. However, in 1977, E L B Hurulle was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Horowpothana with a majority of 4,182 votes, having received 13,982 votes. He was re-elected in the 1977 general election and was appointed the Cabinet Minister for Cultural Affairs. As the Minister of Cultural Affairs, he established the Central Cultural Fund and the Cultural Triangle supported by UNESCO.
The initiatives carried out by the J.R. Jayewardene regime under the Minister of Cultural Affairs have been forgotten by many. Let me remind some of them.
1. Providing Dhamma school books free of charge to children in Dhamma schools.
2. Conducting Dhamma school examinations under the Department of Examinations and the Department of Buddhist Affairs.
3. Establishing the Department of Buddhist Affairs.
4. Launching the Cultural Triangle encompassing Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.
5. Completing of the translation of the Tripitaka into the Sinhala language.
6. Expediting the completion of the writing of the Official Sinhala Dictionary which was to take a further 20 years then.
7. Bringing the Kapilavastu Sacred Relics to Sri Lanka and displaying them throughout the country to be revered by the people.
8. Re-establishing the remains of the Nalanda ruins, which had been discarded for the construction of the Bowaththana Mahaweli Reservoir at the current location at Nalanda.
Despite these achievements, he could not restore his residence, the 150-year-old house at Morakewa, Horowpothana that was destroyed in 1988 during the JVP insurgency. He did not have the necessary funds for that.
By Tissa Attanayake
Business
Ambeon Securities hosts exclusive investor forum on Sri Lanka’s economic and market outlook
Ambeon Securities recently hosted an exclusive investor forum, bringing together clients, investors, business leaders, and market professionals for an insightful discussion on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook and investment opportunities amidst a challenging global landscape.
The event was organized with the objective of providing investors with valuable insights to make better-informed investment decisions while further strengthening the firm’s engagement with its growing client base.
The forum featured Baqar Zaidi, Director and Chief Economist for Sri Lanka and India at Citi Research, as the keynote speaker. Sharing his perspectives on the evolving global macroeconomic environment, Mr. Zaidi discussed key themes influencing emerging and frontier markets, Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, and the opportunities lie ahead.
The keynote address was followed by an engaging panel discussion comprising Baqar Zaidi, Aravinda De Silva, respected investor, entrepreneur, and the Chairman of Arcasia Holdings. Hasitha Premaratne, Group Managing Director of Brandix and Asanka Herath, Chief Executive Officer – Unit Trusts and Head of Equities at LYNEAR Wealth Management.
Moderated by Imran Furkan, the panel explored a range of topics including Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic outlook, the future of the Colombo Stock Exchange, sectoral opportunities, capital allocation strategies, investor confidence, and the role of policy reforms in attracting investment and supporting long-term growth.
Speaking at the event, Charith Kamaladasa, Chief Executive Officer of Ambeon Securities, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to facilitate quality insights, informed perspectives, and meaningful dialogue to support their clients while building lasting relationships with them. He noted that in an environment where uncertainty has become the new normal, equipping investors with timely information and expert perspectives is essential for successful wealth creation.
The event was well attended by a distinguished gathering of institutional investors, high-net-worth investors, and business leaders. Among those present were members of the Ambeon Group Board, including Group Chairman Sujeewa Mudalige, Group CEO Dr. Sajeeva Narangoda, and Chairman of Ambeon Securities Mangala Boyagoda. Their presence, together with the participation of Ambeon Group shareholders and valued clients, enriched the discussions and contributed to a vibrant networking session, fostering meaningful dialogue and stronger connections within the investment community.
Through initiatives such as this, Ambeon Securities continues to reinforce its commitment to helping clients navigate evolving market conditions, make informed investment decisions, and achieve their long-term financial goals.
Business
Tata Group leads humanitarian education support initiative with DIMO and ChildFund
The Tata Group, in partnership with ChildFund and DIMO, has successfully implemented a humanitarian education support initiative for disaster-affected schoolchildren in Sri Lanka, reaffirming its commitment to helping communities recover from the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent floods.
Following a formal request for support from Sri Lanka, an on-ground assessment was conducted in December 2025. Recognizing the urgent need, several Tata companies joined forces to implement the response program.
As part of this initiative, the ‘Hope in a Backpack’ programme, which provides disaster-affected children with essential educational supplies, was launched by the Tata Group at Taj Samudra, Colombo, in the presence of the Chief Guest, Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya; the Guest of Honour, Hon. Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha; Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO; Chacko Thomas, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tata Sons; and Aditi Ghosh, Country Director, ChildFund.
This initiative is part of DIMO’s Social and Community Pillar, under the project theme ‘Lassana Hetak,’ which focuses on giving the future generation a helping hand towards a better future.
This collective effort was further strengthened by volunteers from Tata and DIMO, who actively mobilized on the ground to pack, distribute, and support affected communities. During the proceedings, specially invited schoolchildren received the backpacks with essential supplies as well.
Commenting on the partnership, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO, said: “DIMO is proud to collaborate on this meaningful initiative alongside the Tata Group and ChildFund as the local implementation and logistics partner. Our relationship with Tata spans more than six decades and has been built on a shared commitment to ethical business practices, trust, and creating lasting value for the communities we serve. These values have shaped our partnership over the years, extending beyond business to initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
Business
NovaNest Properties launches Rainbow Apartments in Ratmalana
NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd has officially launched Rainbow Apartments, a new residential development in Ratmalana. The announcement was made at an official launch event held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, marking the company’s latest addition to Sri Lanka’s growing apartment market.
The development is designed to cater to homebuyers seeking modern urban living, as well as investors looking for long-term value. Rainbow Apartments is located in Ratmalana, an area of increasing residential interest, and benefits from the suburb’s established social infrastructure, proximity to major transportation links, and accessibility to Colombo.
The project reflects NovaNest Properties’ commitment to delivering quality residential developments that combine contemporary design with practical living. Intended to satisfy the evolving lifestyle demands of today’s homeowners, Rainbow Apartments features thoughtfully designed living spaces supported by modern amenities. These include two infinity pools, a gym, fully functional workspaces, a mini theatre, stylish cafés, a mini-mart, and a children’s daycare. Additionally, it features a full time medical centre backed by Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Colombo, with a 24-hour ambulance service.
Commenting on the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of NovaNest Properties (Pvt) Ltd, Samitha Waidyasekera, said, “Today’s buyers are looking beyond square footage. In addition to providing long-term value, they want homes that are close to the places where they work, learn, and spend their time. With that shift in mind, Rainbow Apartments was created to bring together a strategic location, thoughtful design, and quality construction in a way that will continue to meet buyers’ needs for years to come. Through our promise of ‘Luxury Beyond Expectations,’ we are committed to delivering an elevated lifestyle experience that combines comfort, convenience, and modern living.
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