Business

SLIM NASCO Awards programme opens entries for 2020/2021 edition

Published

3 years ago

2022/01/3

The National Sales Congress (NASCO), organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), opens applications for the SLIM NASCO awards 2020/2021. All interested parties who look forward to taking part in this most anticipated event in Sri Lanka’s annual corporate calendar, can submit their entries from the 9th of December 2021 to the 21ST of January 2022.

Celebrating its 21st year as the premier event dedicated to recognizing the efforts and performance of sales personnel, while uplifting them to the next level, NASCO is eagerly awaited by Sri Lanka’s dynamic sales professionals who seek to shine on this prestigious platform benefitting both their careers and the human capital profile of the companies they represent.

The only credible and respected award ceremony for sales professionals – SLIM NASCO has become a badge of honour for sales professionals and corporates. The organizers aim to honour the sales professionals whose potential knows no bounds and aims to recognize individuals who have powered through blazing roads to change the game, having conquered the steepest mountains to reach the pinnacle of excellence.

Thilanka Abeywardena, President of SLIM noted, “We recently launched ‘Future Ready Sri Lanka’, a national initiative, with the objective of encouraging Sri Lankans to adapt to the new normalcy, challenge dependent and risk-averse mentality, and enforce an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset through the right skills and knowledge to drive our nation towards economic recovery and prosperity. Since the beginning of the year 2020 and throughout 2021 we, as a nation, faced economic downturns owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and we have had to rethink our business strategies while exploring new opportunities. Over the years, SLIM has engaged in plenty of activities to develop and recognize sales personnel in Sri Lanka. SLIM NASCO is one of the key events in the SLIM event calendar and it strives to support sales professionals to develop and lift them up to the next level. Sales professionals play a pivotal role in the business organization and make a significant contribution to the growth of the economy, and we want to recognize and appreciate their efforts.”

Chinthaka Perera, Vice President – Events at SLIM stated, “The role of sales used to be heavily physical, but now, especially since the pandemic, it has become something entirely different. The sales personnel now make great effort to overcome the challenges posed by this new normal by placing sales at the centre of their strategy, leveraging sales to discover and meet new customer needs while improving the sales experience offered to the valued clientele. We believe that it is very important that sales personnel are guided on how to adapt to this ‘new normal’ and as the apex body for the Sri Lankan Marketers, we strive to support them in their journey.”

Nuwan Thilakawardhana, Project Chairperson of NASCO 2021 said, “SLIM NASCO has grown to become a premier sales awards event in the country, and it serves as the ideal motivational tool to inspire sales professionals to optimize the skills and enhance their capacity. NASCO has been an outstanding success year after year and even in 2020, amidst the pandemic, we were able to recognize our valued sales personnel spread across the nation. We strongly believe that sales professionals stand tall and have the maximum capability to adapt to new ways of doing sales, benefitting not only their livelihoods but also greatly contributing to the revival of the economy.”

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic Sri Lanka was posed with major macro-economic challenges such as increased rate of inflation, lack of foreign capital inflows, political instability followed by the global health emergency. It has been a tough business landscape for all businesses but despite the challenges, the sales personnel across all industries have been required to rise and face these challenges to create positive outcomes. The industry changes and latest technology have eased the task of sales personnel and took it to new and greater heights. Thereby, even during these challenging times, SLIM warmly invites organizations to apply for this year’s NASCO 2020/2021 awards enhancing opportunities for their best sales personnel to go beyond their potential.

The NASCO 2020/2021 Awards will be judged on the performance for the financial year starting from 1st January 2020 or 1st April 2020 until the financial year ending 31st December 2020 or 31st March 2021.

The entry kit can now be downloaded at www.nasco.lk and all entries must be submitted by 5.00 pm on 21st January 2022. Applicants may contact Gangani Liyanage on +94 703266988 for further details.

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Business

President briefs Sri Lankan delegation leaving for tariff related discussions in Washington

Published

6 hours ago

2025/05/24

Priyan

A Sri Lankan delegation is set to participate in discussions in Washington, D.C., focusing on tariff-related matters, following an invitation extended by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the second in-person meeting aimed at ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two nations.

This initiative builds on several prior virtual interactions held between the USTR and Sri Lankan officials, and underscores a commitment to deepening economic ties. The upcoming talks are anticipated to explore avenues for enhancing trade cooperation and securing favourable outcomes for Sri Lanka, in light of current economic priorities.

Ahead of the visit, a high-level meeting was convened today under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to ensure the country’s interests are well represented. The discussion focused on aligning the delegation’s approach with Sri Lanka’s broader economic strategy, ensuring the best possible outcomes from the upcoming discussions.

Key participants at the meeting included Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development K.M.M. Siriwardana; Nirmal Vigneshwaran, representing the Attorney General’s Department; and Dharshana Perera from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Details of the discussions in Washington are expected to be made available following the conclusion of the meetings.

[PMD]

Business

“Tourism Renaissance 2025” launched under the patronage of president

Published

6 hours ago

2025/05/24

Priyan

Sri Lanka’s largest tourism exhibition, “Tourism Renaissance 2025” (Sancharaka Udawa 2025), was inaugurated on Friday (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), this event brings together key stakeholders across the tourism industry. It offers a valuable platform for small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as individuals aspiring to enter the tourism sector, to connect with market opportunities and showcase their products and services.

The two-day exhibition, which ends on Saturday [24], features 250 trade stalls and includes participation from a wide range of sectors such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, service providers and educational institutions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the government has declared 2025 the “Year of Tourism Renaissance,” with plans to generate USD 5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector by the end of the year.

Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, SLAITO Chairman Nalin Jayasundara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and a distinguished group of invitees including the Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka.

Business

‘Be Part of the Plan’ – Sri Lanka’s theme for International Day for Biological Diversity

Published

16 hours ago

2025/05/24

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”

The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.

“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”

By Ifham Nizam