Business
Sri Lankan technology provider OKLO upgrades Ceylon Tea e-Auction into powerful digitalised platform
The latest milestone in Sri Lanka’s tea auction history, where the Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA) upgraded its online platform to a more integrated state-of-the-art e-Auction platform, is spearheaded by OKLO – a leading Sri Lankan technology partner.
OKLO embarked on an R&D project in 2019 to develop a robust and technologically advance Commodity e-Auction platform that would help any industry transform manual outcry auctions into sophisticated online e-Auctions – thereby bringing efficiency and convenience to its stakeholders. OKLO can now customise this core platform to any industry-specific requirements and go live within a short period of time.
More than 70 local and international vendors bid for CTTA’s tender for an integrated, robust, and cutting-edge e-Auction upgrade. Following intense scrutiny over a10-month screening process, OKLO was finally awarded the tender.
Managing Director of OKLO Private Limited Thilanka Withanage states: “I believe OKLO SmartAuction’s success was due to the proven and robust algorithms and technologies powering the auction platform in a sophisticated way, together with the fantastic team at OKLO working towards a common goal. With COVID-19 pandemic pressuring and with no face-to-face meetings, our mission was to launch the first two phases of e-Auction within a short, three month-period but without doing away with the advanced and mandatory features and functions of an enterprise-level national e-Auction platform.”
“The OKLO team rose to take on this national challenge, achieved the go-live date target as originally planned without any changes or postponements, and unveiled the solution to the CTTA. According to some stakeholders who took part in the first transaction of SmartAuction, CTTA achieved a record-breaking auction speed on the very first sale conducted on it.”
Thilanka further adds: “SmartAuction’s success was also due to our experience and technical know-how in handling a portfolio of enterprise projects of this nature. At OKLO we don’t approach every problem with a tool or an app in mind. Our latest agile practices are definitely one of our core strengths. We see ourselves more as a technology partner and listen and try to understand the problem that our customers are facing, working with them to find the best solution. This is also seen in SmartAuction’s highly customisable architecture. We’re all about finding simple and effective solutions.”
“In this information era we believe better data analytics leads to speedier and better decision-making, thereby improving an organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness. SmartAuction is a secure, cloud-hosted e-Auction platform designed to take advantage of cloud services with high level of auditing and transparency of the overall platform. For us, this is only the beginning!” concludes Thilanka.
MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka (MLG) announced the appointment of Sarah Nasry as Director & Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
In her new role, Sarah will lead both the Finance and Human Resources functions at MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and people agenda. She holds a distinguished track record across multiple business disciplines, including Supply Chain, ICT, Administration, Corporate Communications, and CSR. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her most recent position as General Manager – Finance & Business Partnering at Brandix, Sri Lanka’s leading apparel manufacturer.
Recognised for her strengths in business partnering, financial planning, and strategic decision-making, Sarah is also widely respected for nurturing inclusive, people-centric cultures that foster growth and high performance.
Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of MLG, commented, “Sarah’s appointment follows an extensive search for the right person to lead our finance division through the next phase of our journey. Her wide-ranging experience and strong leadership credentials give me every confidence that she will continue to strengthen the financial integrity and compliance standards we are known for, and the Board looks forward to working closely alongside her in this journey.”
Sarah also marks a significant milestone for the company, becoming the first female member of MLG’s Board of Directors. She will additionally serve on the MLG Executive Committee (ExCo), reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion at the leadership level.
Commenting on her appointment, Sarah said, “I am honoured and excited to join MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka and help steer the company into its next chapter. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at MLG to drive financial strength, champion a people-first culture, and build on the company’s strong legacy of creativity and performance.”
Business
Sun Siyam Pasikudah Named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award Best of the Best Winner for 2025
Sun Siyam Pasikudah, a boutique luxury resort on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, is thrilled to announce its recent win at the Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2025, placing it among the top 10 percent of resorts worldwide. This accolade reflects the resort’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.
Reopened in November 2023 after an extensive transformation, Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers 34 spacious one- and two-bedroom garden and beach pavilions, each featuring bold monochromatic interiors accented with golden tones. The redesign, led by Studio Sixty7, emphasizes a blend of contemporary elegance and local craftsmanship. The resort collaborated with local artisans, showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich talent and cultural heritage.
‘‘We are thrilled to being recognized on par with some of the world’s best resorts. Under just two years since our reopening, this achievement couldn’t be possible with the tremendous effort and support of our world-class team and our guests that keep coming for the unique experiences we offer. We are proud to contribute to Sri Lanka, a destination that is on every traveler’s go-to list,’ said its General Manager, Arshed Refai who has been with Sun Siyam Resorts for over a decade.
OTTO Bathware has received Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). This certification confirms that OTTO’s sanitaryware meets the highest national standards for safety, durability, and performance. With over 30 years of experience, OTTO Bathware operates under the ADI Group (Art Decoration International Pvt. Ltd.- www.ottobathware.com) and runs a modern 435,000square feet manufacturing facility in Bandaragama. The company has grown to become; South-Asia’s largest decorative ceramic manufacturer/ exporter, Sri Lanka’s second-largest sanitaryware producer, supplying to over 500 retailers island-wide.
“We’re proud to offer sanitaryware that meets national safety and quality standards. We encourage all Sri Lankans to look beyond the price tag and choose products that are certified, tested, and built to last.” said its Chairman, S. H. B. Karunarathne.
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