Business
UNDP-led Private Sector Giving Facility launched
Hemas, Dilmah, Brandix and Daraz come together to provide emergency relief
The health and food sectors are two of the most heavily affected by the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, with severe medical and food supply shortages, availability of basic pharmaceuticals and overall health and wellbeing continuing to be significantly affected.
In this backdrop, building on established partnerships and keen interests of various actors, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka has leveraged its experience to develop a giving facility, comprising of two mechanisms; Firstly, by channeling private sector funds towards procuring essential and non-essential medical supplies and address food security; and secondly, by channeling individual donations through a crowdfunding mechanism set up by UNDP.
In response, key private sector actors including Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Brandix Apparel Limited and Daraz Sri Lanka have come forward to pledge their commitment through the facility to complement and strengthen the ongoing health sector efforts of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and food sector efforts led and coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) among others. Sarvodaya, the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and oDoc Sri Lanka will also come on board as Strategic Partners of the facility, a news release on the initiative said.
Speaking at the launch event held last week, H.E. Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka stated, “Now is the time for the private sector to show solidarity and prove what we have known all along – investing in prevention is good for business. Therefore, we call on you to urgently support our Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan to provide life-saving assistance to the women, men, and children most affected by the crisis and thus prevent a deterioration of humanitarian needs in the country.”
Reiterating the crucial importance of inter-agency collaboration for crisis relief, Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company stated, “Sri Lanka will rise again as businesses, individuals, local and international agencies work together with the government to ease the pain our nation is suffering. Circumstances demand that we all act with the kindness and empathy that Sri Lankans are known for. With this mindset, we will face the present and future crises with strength. We are blessed to have the possibility of helping at this time, and thank UNDP Sri Lanka for initiating this collaboration while inviting every business that can help, to support the effort.”
Highlighting the key role the private sector has historically played in humanitarian efforts, especially in times of crisis, Ms. Kasthuri Chellaraja Wilson, Executive Director, Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC mentioned, “As Sri Lanka navigates its worst economic crisis, Hemas remains committed to support our people and our country. Being the leader in Pharmaceuticals we are committed to support the most impacted vulnerable communities, and enable access to medicines. Our partnership with UNDP is in line with these efforts and we will focus on providing essential and near essential medicine to communities across the island”
The launch event saw the participation of several high-level representatives from partnering organizations including Dr. Anver Hamdani, Director Medical Technical Services, Coordinating In Charge/ COVID-19, Ministry of Health; H.E. Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka; Ms. Kasthuri Chellaraja Wilson, Executive Director, Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC; Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company; Ms. Natasha Boralessa, Group Director, Brandix Apparel Limited; Mr. Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka; Mr. Heshan Fernando, CEO and Co-Founder, oDoc Sri Lanka; Mr. Rathika de Silva, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka; Ms. Malin Herwig, Officer in Charge, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka; and Mr. Vimlendra Sharan, Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Food and Agriculture Organization.
Speaking on the importance of addressing the need of the hour, Ms. Natasha Boralessa, Group Director, Brandix Apparel Limited stated, “The Inspired People of Brandix pledge our commitment to thoughtful solutions to the food security challenge we face as a nation. Through our Manusathkara initiative, we already uplift the lives of our employees and the communities in which we operate in with our Model Village programmes across Sri Lanka, and with this partnership with UNDP, we will infuse much-needed inputs for short and medium-term relief assistance to restoring seasonal agricultural cycles. Our efforts will create immediate impact to tackle the challenges at hand, and also drive positive sustainable change.”
Speaking on mobilizing the private sector beyond Sri Lanka, Mr. Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka stated, “Given the country’s development to middle-income status, mobilizing funds from beyond Sri Lanka will be challenging, but a concerted effort with international organizations like the UNDP to raise awareness of Sri Lanka’s humanitarian crisis among the global community is an important first step. We need to work to start the required conversations, explore all possible options and leverage our technology, markets, networks and resources to mobilize private sector funds outside of Sri Lanka.”
Reiterating UNDP’s convening role in the facility, Ms. Malin Herwig, Officer in Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “The giving facility will provide vital health and food sector support, liaising closely with relevant partners on procuring and delivering based on clear requirements, in strict compliance with UNDP’s globally renowned procurement guidelines. UNDP through its overall response efforts towards Sri Lanka’s recovery has leveraged its prior experience and strong relationship with the private sector to kickstart this facility, and looks forward to engaging with further private sector actors in working closely with fellow UN agencies, committed to empowering and strengthening vulnerable communities.”
The individual crowdfunding facility will be launched in the coming weeks, which provides the opportunity for individuals to contribute towards alleviating the impacts of the crisis, not only through addressing shortages in the healthcare sector but also by contributing to strengthening food security and other response measures in Sri Lanka.
Contact: socialmedia.lk@undp.org | 0779804188 | 011-2580691 Ext. 1501 Get in touch: UNDP on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
by Claude Gunasekera
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) officially launched its nationwide capacity-building campaign, “Grow your Tourism Business with National Tourism Skilling Programme (NTSP),” August 31, from the scenic regional hub of Ella. Directed under the leadership of the Tourism Deputy Minister, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, the comprehensive initiative aims to transform micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by accelerating their digital readiness and business formalization across the local hospitality ecosystem.
The entire islandwide operation is under the direct coordination of Ms. Tharanga Rupasinghe, the SLTDA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, ensuring that all rural operators align seamlessly with international hospitality standards. By utilizing the framework of the NTSP, the campaign focuses on delivering essential digital payment tools, modern online marketing insights, and compliance frameworks directly to village-level enterprises, handcraft artisans, and independent tour operators. Speaking at the launch event in Ella, Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe emphasised that sustainable growth in the travel sector relies heavily on empowering smaller stakeholders to become resilient, data-driven participants in the modern market. “True economic resilience in our tourism sector cannot be achieved through large-scale infrastructure alone, but must be built from the ground up by transforming our local communities and regional MSMEs into direct, digitally enabled beneficiaries of global travel traffic,” Prof. Ranasinghe noted. Through this synchronized, localized training approach, the SLTDA intends to systematically protect cultural heritage while elevating the service quality benchmarks of regional travel hotspots nationwide.
Regional hospitality groups, led by the Ella Tourism Association, have strongly welcomed the launch of the SLTDA national skilling campaign, calling it a vital step toward safeguarding the destination’s international reputation. Local operators noted that rapid commercial growth in the Uva Province has highlighted an urgent need for structural standardization, making the arrival of the National Tourism Skilling Programme (NTSP) highly timely. The grassroots response focused heavily on the benefits of formalization and digital integration for the region’s diverse service sector. The Ella Homestay Owners Collective praised the focus on digital payment tools, noting that transition support will help smaller vendors capture direct bookings and reduce their reliance on third-party booking commissions.
The Uva Tuk-Tuk and Adventure Guides Association highlighted that the safety and compliance training will build trust with high-spending international travelers, effectively raising service quality benchmarks across the town. Local association leaders emphasized that having Ms. Tharanga Rupasinghe, SLTDA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, directly coordinate the field training ensures the program addresses practical, local challenges rather than just theoretical rules. Following the initial rollout, regional committees have pledged to work alongside the SLTDA to ensure that even the smallest village artisans and micro-enterprises achieve official registration, positioning Ella as a model hub for high-quality, community-driven sustainable tourism.
The Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd Annual General Meeting recently, bringing together Council members and key stakeholders to review the Council’s activities and priorities for the year ahead. The AGM was graced by Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka and Patron of the Council
Delivering her address, Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, provided a comprehensive overview of Indonesia’s political and economic landscape, highlighting the country’s focus on promoting economic independence, strengthening sectoral resilience, improving public welfare, and facilitating both inbound and outbound investment.
Re-elected as President of the Council for 2026/27, Sheamalee Wickramasingha, Chairman / Group Managing Director of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. acknowledged the instrumental role played by the Ambassador in the re-establishment of the Council and reflected on the Council’s key achievements during the past year. She highlighted the successful Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Delegation to Indonesia, which provided valuable opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses to engage with Indonesian counterparts and explore avenues for commercial cooperation.
LAUGFS Supermarkets has further strengthened its growing retail presence with the opening of its 46th outlet at No. 78, K.B. Christy Perera Mawatha, Kotahena. The new outlet operates 24 hours a day, offering customers a wide range of products together with bakery and hot food options, providing greater convenience and accessibility to the surrounding community.
The new Kotahena outlet further expands LAUGFS Supermarkets’ growing network and reflects the Group’s continued focus on strengthening its presence in strategic locations across the country. The opening ceremony was attended by the Group Chairman, Group Executive Vice Chairman, Acting Group Managing Director/Group Executive Director and senior management.
Commenting on the opening, the Sector Managing Director/CEO – Retail, Niroshan De Silva, said, “The opening of our 46th outlet reflects the dedication, teamwork and determination of our people, who have worked exceptionally hard to bring this outlet together. The new Kotahena outlet is designed to offer customers greater convenience, with an inbuilt bakery and hot food facility that provides freshly prepared food alongside our wide range of products, all under one roof. Our focus is to ensure that every LAUGFS Supermarket operates to the highest standards and consistently delivers quality, convenience and service excellence to our customers.”
The opening of the Kotahena outlet marks another significant milestone in LAUGFS Supermarkets’ ongoing expansion, bringing its products and services closer to more customers while further enhancing its 24-hour retail offering. With its growing network of outlets and continued focus on customer convenience and service excellence, LAUGFS Supermarkets remains committed to strengthening its presence and creating greater value for customers across Sri Lanka.
Draft of the Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2027 su mitted to the Parliament
Cabinet approves aditional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase 2026 Yala harvest
Cabinet nod to host the 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
SAARC Training Workshop on Financial Modeling for Renewable Energy Projects from 5th to 7th October in Colombo
National Children’s Week from 25th September to 01st October
Nairobi and Munich to host 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships
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