Business

Stredge launches Reach High

Published

3 months ago

2026/07/5

From (L) Reach High Coaching Pvt Managing Director Chinthaka Dharmarathne, Directors Janaka Epasinghe and Sumedha Wijesekera

Following its recent strategic rebranding, Stredge launched ‘Reach High’—a consultancy company for leadership and people development and executive coaching interventions. The new company marks the latest addition to Stredge’s portfolio of businesses, a company news release said.

Founded locally with its global headquarters now in Dubai, Stredge had worked with diverse businesses for nearly a decade, navigating operational, financial and strategic change. The company brings extensive hands-on experience in organisation-wide transformation initiatives, restructuring programmes, leadership interventions, culture transformation, capability development and business performance improvement, the release said.

Its recent addition, Reach High builds upon the experience of successful leadership, coaching and transformation engagements delivered through Stredge Advisory (Pvt) Ltd, while providing a dedicated platform to address the growing demand for people-centred transformation, it added.

“Reach High brings together a team of experienced practitioners with expertise in leadership development, executive coaching, communication coaching, organisational transformation and performance improvement. The new company is also equipped to carry out impactful assessments to support recruitment and talent development. The experienced leadership of Reach High combines decades of transformation expertise, regional exposure and proven client impact to help organisations unlock their full potential.”

Noting that Reach High is a move to deliver greater value to clients, Managing Director of Stredge Advisory (Pvt) Ltd and Group Director of Reach High Coaching, Sumedha Wijesekera said: “Today companies recognise that long-term growth depends not only on strategy and systems, but also on leadership quality, culture and people capability. Reach High is initiated to provide a sharper focus on these critical areas. We are proud to enter this new chapter and confident that Reach High is exceptionally positioned to help organisations strengthen leadership capability, develop high-performing teams and create cultures that drive long-term success.”

Group Director and strategist behind the Reach High concept, Janaka Epasinghe said that Reach High reflects the growing need for specialised people-centric solutions in an increasingly complex business environment. “Our purpose is to help leaders gain clarity, strengthen capability and create meaningful impact within their organisations. We believe that when individuals realise their true potential, organisations achieve extraordinary outcomes.”

Further strengthening its leadership team, Chinthaka Dharmarathne has come on board as its Managing Director. He brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience gained through a distinguished career with HSBC, where he led strategic people-initiatives across Asia Pacific region. “Our ambition is not simply to participate in the market. We aspire to establish Reach High as Sri Lanka’s premier leadership and people-development consultancy, recognized for delivering exceptional coaching and organisational transformation, with a reputation for excellence that extends across the region,” he said.

The story behind Reach High extends beyond professional credentials. The three leaders behind it, first forged a shared sense of purpose as teenagers when they participated in a school expedition to the Himalayas in the early 90’s. The experience instilled values of resilience, aspiration, teamwork and perseverance that would continue to influence their personal and professional journeys.

Decades later, after building successful careers across business transformation, leadership development and global human capital management, they have come together around a common vision: helping individuals, teams and organisations realise their full potential.

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Business

ADB approves $100 million loan to boost skills development and jobs for youth in Sri Lanka

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million results-based loan to help Sri Lanka transform its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, equip more young people with industry-relevant skills, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The Skills Development System Transformation Program will support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts in improving the quality and relevance of skills training, strengthening links between training providers and industries, and expanding employment opportunities for youth. The program will increase women’s employment opportunities in nontraditional jobs in fields including automotive technology, engineering, information and communications technology, construction, and renewable energy.

“A skilled workforce is essential to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic transformation and competitiveness,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin. “This program will help create stronger pathways from education to employment by making training more responsive to industry needs, expanding opportunities for young people and women, and ensuring that graduates have the skills required by a modern and evolving economy.”

Though Sri Lanka’s economy is recovering, it faces skills shortages in priority sectors, high youth unemployment, and low female labor force participation. Many employers report difficulty finding workers with the skills needed in a changing economy.

Aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sector Strategic Framework 2026–2035, the nationwide program will be implemented from 2027 to 2031 and is expected to directly benefit more than 100,000 young people through improved access to quality, employment-oriented training.

Business

USD 40.84m pipeline to secure aviation fuel supplies to BIA

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Ifham Nizam

The government has cleared a USD 40.84 million and Rs. 8,548.75 million contract to build a dedicated aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), alongside a massive new fuel storage facility with a capacity of 92,000 cubic metres.

Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said the project represented a major investment in strengthening the infrastructure underpinning Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel supply and ensuring more reliable fuel availability at the country’s main international airport.

‘This project will provide the infrastructure required to strengthen the reliability and continuity of aviation fuel supplies to Bandaranaike International Airport, Karunatilaka said.

The contract has been awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited, following an international competitive procurement process in which three bids were received.

The project will see a new aviation fuel storage tank complex constructed at Muthurajawela, together with the associated infrastructure required for handling and transferring aviation fuel.

Business

CSE activity up, turnover weak at Rs. 1.4 billion

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Trading activity on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) gathered pace yesterday as global fuel prices began to show signs of easing, according to market analysts.In this context, both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index up by 67.97 points while S and P SL20 up by 8.30 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.4 billion with seven crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank 1.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 238 million and its share price traded at Rs 140, Access Engineering two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 159 million and its share price traded at Rs 79.50, LOLC one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 129 million and its share price traded at Rs 129, HNB 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 38.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 384, JKH 1.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 35 million and its share price traded at Rs 18.60, Hayleys 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22.50 million and its share price traded at Rs 225 and Richard Pieris 847,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22 million and its share price traded at Rs 25.50.

In the retail market top seven companies that have mainly contributed to the turnover were Sampath Bank Rs 114 million (813,000 shares traded), JKH Rs 100 million (5.3 million shares traded) LB Finance Rs 49 million (325,000 shares traded), HNB Finance Rs 30 million (27 million shares traded), HNB Rs 27 million (70000 shares traded), NTB Rs 25 million (82000 shares traded ) and Lanka IOC Rs 21 million (666,000 shares traded). During the day 65 million shares volumes changed hands in 10433 transactions.

The Banking and manufacturing sector counters performed well. In the banking sector Sampath Bank let the market while manufacturing sector especially JKH also significantly performed well. With the fuel revision Land IOC also a significant stock at the floor.

Meanwhile, First Capital Treasuries said that Ramesh Schaffter resigned as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from October 1, to facilitate the restructuring of the company’s board.

Yesterday the Central Bank announced the US Dollar rate as against rupee. The rupee was quoted flat at Rs 330.65/80 to the US dollar in the spot market , while bond yields dropped, dealers said.