Business

Twinery, Innovations by MAS recognised as one of region’s most influential innovators

Published

6 years ago

2021/01/15

By Steve A. Morrell

MAS Holdings Chairman, Mahesh Amalean said recently that it was a proud moment for his company when their Twinery product won the Clarivate award for excellence.

He said so addressing the media on a virtual meeting platform. “Technology and innovation that developed the product which was the ultimate result of team work and distinct attention to detail. MAS holdings Twinery was one of 28 products that achieved this distinction and the first to be awarded worldwide acclaim in the apparel sector,” he said.

“Distinction achieved was also that the product was a national achievement, with the ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ tag adding prestige to the country of origin,” he said.

Elaborating on the prestige of the award, Sales Director,- IP Group- South Asia & South East Asia, Rajat Kumar Sikka. addressing the media said, the IP group’s tradition spanned over 150 years. Within this time span it lent recognition to products originated from other countries as well. Innovative ideas emerging from such origins were evaluated for innovation and originality. He confirmed that the Twinery product from MAS holdings was outstanding in its quality and texture, and the Clarivate award identified the MAS product to be outstanding and a leading product of the brand. Intellectual Property Rights for the MAS product was an indelible stamp of excellence recognized for the Clarivate award; that too its competing texture was recognised to ensure the brand was the result of research to maximise its value”.

Chief Innovation Officer, MAS holdings, Ranil Vitarana, commenting on intellectual property rights said the advantage of such identification was that the product could not be duplicated by another manufacturer for another 10- 20 years. He also said the advantage was that the product achieved such exclusivity coupled with its brand prestige, was that the manufacturer could charge an extra shelf price during its rights period”.

“Smaller companies are within the vortex of violating such property rights, and tend to renegade on such strictures. To prevent such action the property rights were protected legally. Additionally, prices for such products were not subject to controls that could be enforced during the period enforced”.

Expanding on the product, Twinery, was an innovation that came into being since 2014, to help women manage and support physical changes through the company’s FEMTECH pillar. That being to support women during physical changes that become unavoidable during the period of menopause. To help them cope with these changes the silky fabric made of a mixture of yarn and light weight material accents coolness against the skin absorbing heat to ensure comfort during the transitional period experienced by women during this time.

The team of innovators at MAS, included a group of some 45 persons who were also a number of women who were part of their team. Additionally, a group of about 5 young persons were also part of the team, the difference was that they did not have any academic qualifications.

Responding to a query from the media, Mahesh Amalean, confirmed that success of the product was the advantage of team work. “Product innovation was continuous and did not bear an ultimate end. Progress is a factor that does not register an end. Given the excellence of the product, MAS products are recognized on retail shelves and are an inevitable product sought after by customers”, he said.

Also present at the press conference were, Director Corporate Affairs, MAS Holdings, Rajitha Jayasuriya, and CEO MAS Holdings, Suren Fernando.

All News Advertisement

Business

HNB Finance strengthens Board with four independent directors

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/13

Thilina Walpola

Newly appointed HNB FINANCE PLC Independent Non- Executive Directors (from left): Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi

HNB FINANCE PLC has strengthened its Board with the appointment of four Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective September 8, 2026.

The new directors are Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi, who collectively bring extensive experience in financial regulation, banking, risk management, corporate finance, investment strategy, development finance and public policy.

Wijayawardhane, an Attorney-at-Law and capital market professional, retired in July 2025 as Chief Regulatory Officer of the Colombo Stock Exchange after more than 31 years with the Exchange. His experience covers securities regulation, corporate governance, market infrastructure and compliance.

Gnanapragasam has over four decades of banking experience spanning treasury, risk management, credit and trade finance. She currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Cargills Bank, Wealth Trust and Vision Fund Lanka.

Mohamed is a corporate finance and investment professional who previously served as Lead Transaction Advisor at the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, where she led five divestiture transactions worth over US$600 million.

Dr. Wanniarachchi brings over a decade of experience in development finance, institutional reform and social protection, including work with the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Business

Prime Residencies hands over The Palace Gampaha

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/13

Thilina Walpola

Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage speaking at the event

Prime Lands Residencies PLC has completed and officially handed over The Palace Gampaha, described as the largest planned gated residential community in Gampaha, to its homeowners.

The development, which commenced construction in 2021, is located two kilometres from Gampaha town and 100 metres from the Colombo-Kandy main road.

Spread across 13.5 acres, The Palace Gampaha comprises 480 two- and three-bedroom apartments in a ground-plus-three-floor development, with prices starting from Rs. 27.5 million.

The project allocates about 80% of its land to landscaped areas and common facilities, while the remaining 20% is used for apartment development. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, clubhouse, library, community kitchen, laundry, mini-mart and a daycare centre managed by the Lyceum Group.

The fully gated community also incorporates solar power for common areas, underground electricity cabling and a sewage treatment plant with water recycling facilities.

Prime Residencies said all statutory approvals required for the handover had been secured, including certifications from the Condominium Management Authority and registration of the Condominium Plan and Deed of Declaration.

Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage said the project reflected the company’s vision of creating large-scale residential communities designed to enhance the quality of life of Sri Lankan families.

The project is the latest addition to Prime Group’s portfolio of more than 70 gated community and apartment developments.

Business

SLANA warns NVOCC business losing ground amid THC concerns

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/13

Thilina Walpola

SLANA Chairperson Swabha Wickramasinghe presenting a memento to Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka at the eventually

Sri Lanka’s Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) sector is losing ground despite the expansion of the industry in several regional markets, Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA) Chairperson Swabha Wickramasinghe said.

Wickramasinghe, re-elected for a third consecutive term at SLANA’s ninth Annual General Meeting last week said the continued difficulty in collecting Colombo Terminal Handling Charges (THC) as a separate land-based cost was among the key challenges facing the industry.

She said the practice placed Sri Lanka at a competitive disadvantage as principals consider the overall economics of operating through Colombo.

“When Sri Lanka becomes less commercially attractive compared with other regional destinations, the consequences eventually reach our members,” she said.

Wickramasinghe said a committee had been proposed at a recent meeting with the Minister and Deputy Minister to evaluate the THC issue, urging the authorities to expedite its appointment and review.

She also called for an early solution to the problem of uncleared salt containers at the Port of Colombo, which has resulted in delays in releasing empty containers.

With more than 75 NVOCC lines operating in Sri Lanka, she stressed the sector’s importance to regional trade, particularly links with India and China.

Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Sri Lanka should expand regional business while exploring areas such as bunkering, freight forwarding and e-commerce logistics.