Business
Softlogic Invest becomes Sri Lanka’s first investment brand to win at the Dragons of Asia Awards 2022.
Softlogic Invest, the Asset Management arm of the Softlogic Group, clinched the prestigious Bronze award at the recently-concluded Dragons of Asia Awards 2022. Held in Malaysia, the awards ceremony bestowed Softlogic Invest with the coveted award for their ‘Born to an Investment’ campaign, making the company the only Investment brand in the whole of the APAC region to walk away with an award.
This accomplishment also makes Sri Lanka’s first youth-focused, 100% end-to-end digital investment brand (in the open-ended unit trust industry) stand out as the country’s first investment brand to receive a global commendation for its efforts in Marketing.
Ranked as one of the world’s 4th leading marketing award, and the number 1 in Asia, the Dragons of Asia sees the participation of some of the biggest global brands from Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Subway, Pepsi etc to award the best results-driven marketing campaigns by brands across the Asia-Pacific region. Following a stringent evaluation process, all entries from 17 categories undergo four rounds of assessment conducted by four independent panels of judges. Subsequently, the three highest scoring entries from each category are rewarded Gold/Silver/Bronze Dragons, the Best Campaign in each country awarded Blue Dragons and the Best Campaign in Asia the ultimate Red Dragon.
Expressing her joy, Niloo Jayatilaka –Chief Executive Officer at Softlogic Invest, said, “As a young, home-grown company of just two years, this is a remarkable win for us as a company and Sri Lanka as a whole. This is a testament to our brand building strategy which boldly breaks through age-old thinking and processes making it accessible to the youth of Sri Lanka. Taking in learnings from our parent company the Softlogic Group, we are indeed very proud to be able to drive this industry forward by reaching a broader spectrum of investors. I want to also extend my utmost gratitude to our strategic partner, Loops Integrated, for their collective vision and dedication to the brand.
Softlogic Invest, despite being a young 2-year-old brand against all odds went onto win the Bronze award under the Best Brand Trial / Sales Generation Campaign category. Ideated and executed by Loops Integrated, the campaign encapsulates Softlogic Invests primary focus which is to inspire and empower a whole new generation of young investors to kick-start a plan towards realizing their dreams in life.
Commenting on the win was also the Chief Marketing Officer Kavi Rajapaksha “This is the first global metal award received for Softlogic Invest, and we are extremely proud of it. From being a brand launched amidst the height of a pandemic to being able to transform how people invest, we have been challenging the norm and that’s something we will certainly continue to do so as we go along. This is just the start, and we have so much more we can do in the world of investments and so much more we certainly hope to do”
Wasaam Ismail, Chief Executive Officer at Loops Integrated, said, “We are honored to be a part of Softlogic Invest’s marketing journey since its inception, and we are proud to be helping the brand reach its true potential through creative, result-oriented campaigns. Our team finds it gratifying to work with clients like Softlogic Invest, who don’t shy away from bold ideas and are open to co-creating outside their comfort zone. Their unwavering faith makes our partnership a special one and we hope to continue working on unprecedented campaigns in the future.”
Now in its second year of operation, as at 2022 March Softlogic Invest has successfully managed to bring in 26% of all new accounts opened industrywide and is the 2nd highest contributor to the industry’s unitholder growth. Key partnerships with brands like Asiri Hospitals and Dialog Genie have been instrumental in this growth journey.
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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