News
World Spa & Wellness Awards 2024 celebrates best in global spa business at an annual ceremony in London
Sri Lanka’s Asela Jayaweera won the ‘Spa Leader of the Year’ award at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2024 at a black-tie gala dinner at The Brewery, London on Sunday (3).
A press release issued by the organizers said that it was “truly remarkable, and it’s clear that Asela’s leadership skills have been exceptional since his days as head prefect at Ananda College in 1997. Congratulations to Asela for his continued dedication to excellence in hospitality and spa leadership.
Launched in 2012 to recognise and reward the outstanding work carried out by spas across the globe, the World Spa & Wellness Awards is considered the leading award ceremony in the industry and aims to inspire spas around the world to be the very best they can be and raise global industry standards.
This year saw winners named across eight categories, recognising all aspects of the spa and wellness industry. Eve Oxberry, head of editorial for Professional Beauty and World Spa and Wellness, welcomed guests, saying: “These awards are all about raising the profile of the businesses that are setting new standards through impeccable levels of training and professionalism and also through a holistic focus on caring for the wellbeing of both their clients and their teams and making a genuine and sustained contribution to the growth and development of the industry as a whole.”
The evening’s celebrity host, Simon Brodkin, provided a fun and exciting atmosphere that resonated with all finalists in their bid to take home the trophy.
After dinner and the opportunity to network with staff, peers and suppliers, it was on to the awards – including the ultimate accolade, Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year, which was named as SHA Wellness Clinic.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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