Oxfam in Asia commenced the Rivers, Rights, Resilience Forum (RRRF) 2026, a three-day regional forum bringing together water experts, policymakers, civil society, researchers, and community leaders from across South Asia and beyond to strengthen cooperation on shared river systems and climate resilience.

The Forum is part of the Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) programme, supported by the Government of Sweden, which works on the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) river basins, while also encouraging cross-basin learning at the regional and global levels. This year’s theme is “Building Resilient Communities and Ecosystems.” The Forum is co-organised by Oxfam in Asia and Dev Pro, Sri Lanka.

The forum opened with a welcome address by John Samuel, Regional Director, Oxfam in Asia, who highlighted the deep connection between rivers, politics, climate change, and sustainability. He underlined how rivers shape both environmental and social outcomes across South Asia and called for stronger collaboration between governments and civil society.

“Today building resilience is important in terms of climate and politics, and when civic space is shrinking, we should all work in solidarity,” he said.

Speaking at the Forum, Chamindry Saparamadu, Executive Director of DevPro shared examples of how communities in Sri Lanka have taken actions to ensure equitable access to water resources through catchment protection initiatives, community-based water societies etc. She further highlighted that learning exchanges would be useful to further strengthen inter-provincial water governance in Sri Lanka.

The Chief Guest, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh, in her video message, emphasised the need for regional cooperation among South Asian countries beyond the upstream–downstream identity.

“Climate change will make water scarce, so South Asian countries have to come together to work on the common interest of their communities. Rivers are not just ecology but economics as well for communities. Forums like this help us to share our experience and learn from each other,” she said.

Siyapatha Finance PLC welcomed 2026 at its Head Office, auspiciously commencing a new year of growth and prosperity with traditional rituals and religious observances.

The celebration was joined by the Board of Directors, Chairman, CEO , Senior Management, and staff members as well as invitees and well-wishers.

Expressing gratitude towards the blessings that shaped 2025, Siyapatha Finance PLC Chairman Sumith Cumaranatunge encouraged the team to look forward to a year of unity, resilience and perseverance.

Siyapatha Finance PLC Chief Executive Officer Mathisha Hewavitharana shared that 2026 is a year the team rally together not only to grow as a company, but also to uplift the standard of the finance industry to new heights. “This is an opportunity to make greater use of our talents, skills, passion and team spirit to fulfill a bigger purpose in this country,” he added.

Janashakthi Life, a leading name in the insurance industry and a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group), is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its executive team. Ms. Namalee A. Silva joins as Chief Business Officer, and Shankar Dharmaratne assumes the role of Chief Digital Officer.

These strategic appointments mark a significant milestone in Janashakthi Life’s commitment to accelerating business growth, enhancing market presence and driving comprehensive digital transformation across the organization.

Ms. Namalee A. Silva is an accomplished marketing and business professional with over 36 years of experience in the Banking, Finance, and Insurance sectors. She has held various senior leadership positions at renowned institutions, including Commercial Bank, Nationwide Building Society (UK), Lloyds Bank (UK), Seylan Bank, People’s Bank, and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, where she last served as Chief Business Officer. Her extensive expertise and strategic insight are expected to be instrumental in steering Janashakthi Life towards new heights of success.

Shankar Dharmaratne joins Janashakthi Life with more than 25 years of experience across Banking, Telecommunications, and Technology. He has held key leadership roles at Dialog Axiata PLC, Royal Vision Singapore (Pvt) Ltd and Hatton National Bank, where he most recently served as Head of Digital Services. He has also contributed to national-level digital initiatives through his work with the National Payment Council and the Digital Roadmap Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. His expertise will play a crucial role in advancing Janashakthi Life’s digital strategy, enhancing customer experience, and fostering innovation.