COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – Resplendent Ceylon is proud to announce that Cape Weligama has been honoured with a coveted spot on the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Gold List. This recognition celebrates the world’s finest hotels and resorts, positioning Cape Weligama among an elite group of global luxury destinations and marking a significant milestone for Sri Lankan tourism.

The Condé Nast Traveller Gold List is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and respected accolades in the travel industry. Selection is a testament to a property’s consistent excellence, architectural integrity, and ability to provide a transformative guest experience. In the 2026 edition, Cape Weligama distinguishes itself as the sole Sri Lankan resort to be featured, underscoring its unique appeal on the international stage.

The inclusion comes at a pivotal moment for the island’s tourism sector. Beyond the architectural grandeur of the clifftop resort, the award recognizes the “human element” that defines Resplendent Ceylon’s ethos. Malik J. Fernando, Chairman of Resplendent Ceylon, commented on the achievement:“We are incredibly honoured that Cape Weligama has been included in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Gold List. This recognition belongs, first and foremost, to our incredible team, whose passion defines everything we do. But it’s also a moment of encouragement for Sri Lanka as a whole, especially at this time. When the country needs positive stories, this award shines a light on our resilience, our hospitality, and the unforgettable experiences Sri Lanka offers travellers.”

Perched on a headland overlooking the Indian Ocean, Cape Weligama has long been celebrated for its stunning vistas, world-class dining, and spacious private villas. This latest accolade joins a growing portfolio of honours for the resort, which recently earned a Michelin Key—the new global benchmark for excellence in hospitality.

With this recognition, Cape Weligama joins its sister properties, Ceylon Tea Trails and Wild Coast Tented Lodge, in a rare tier of excellence. Together, these properties have all secured Michelin Key status, further solidifying Resplendent Ceylon’s reputation as the definitive leader in the country’s luxury travel landscape.

The 2026 Gold List arrives as Sri Lanka’s tourism industry continues its impressive trajectory of rebuilding and thriving. Cape Weligama’s presence on this global list provides a timely boost to the nation’s visibility, reinforcing the island’s capability to deliver world-class, sophisticated experiences that rival any destination globally. As international travellers increasingly seek authenticity paired with uncompromising luxury, Cape Weligama remains at the forefront, showcasing the very best of the “Resplendent” spirit.

BY NELUM BUDDHADASA

Home Lands has once again solidified its position as Sri Lanka’s number one and most trusted real estate developer, achieving a historic milestone at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards 2025, held in Bangkok, Thailand on 12th December 2025. The company was crowned “Best Developer, Sri Lanka” for the third consecutive year, reaffirming its unmatched leadership in the nation’s real estate sector. Adding to the prestige, Home Lands was also honoured with the highly coveted “Best Lifestyle Developer, Asia” award, an extraordinary achievement for any Sri Lankan developer on the global stage.

The prestigious PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector was established in 2005 to recognise the region’s finest real estate. Over the years, the programme has become the most trusted and most sought-after awards platform in Asia. Upholding the highest levels of integrity, the Awards follow a professionally supervised, independent judging system, setting the gold standard for real estate recognition in the region.
In addition to its developer accolades, Home Lands’s landmark projects shone across multiple categories, bringing home several top honours:
● Best Luxury Condo Development (Colombo) – Pentara Residencies, Thummulla Handiya – “The Address in Colombo”

● Best Completed Condo Development – Santorini Resort Apartments & Residencies, Negombo

● Best Waterfront Condo Development – Bayfonte Marina Resort Apartments & Villas, Negombo

● Best Lifestyle Developer – Home Lands Skyline (Private) Limited
Speaking on yet another historic achievement, Mr. Nalin Herath, Chairman – Home Lands Group, stated:
“Securing the Best Developer title for the third consecutive year, along with being named the Best Lifestyle Developer in Asia, is a proud moment not just for Home Lands but for Sri Lanka. We sincerely thank our customers for their trust and support, which inspires us to continually raise the bar. These wins reflect our unwavering commitment to building with trust, innovation, and excellence, and we will continue to create exceptional living environments while elevating Sri Lanka’s presence in the international real estate arena.
With over 3,400 residential units delivered and over 2,300 units currently under construction across eight ongoing futuristic mega residential complexes, Home Lands continues to drive the evolution of modern living in Sri Lanka. Beyond developing homes, the company has consistently reshaped the lifestyles of Sri Lankans by introducing globally inspired, amenity-rich, resort-style living experiences.
Among its flagship projects, Canterbury Golf Resort Apartments & Villas stands as a testament to this vision — Sri Lanka’s Largest Residential Development, spanning over 55 acres of land, and the country’s first Victorian-style golf resort apartments and villas. Featuring a signature day & night golf course and an unparalleled collection of lifestyle amenities, this iconic development has redefined modern living standards, setting a new benchmark for integrated, resort-style residential environments in Sri Lanka.
Supported by a fully integrated group of 13 companies, including a CS2-graded construction arm certified by CIDA, Home Lands ensures world-class quality and seamless execution from design to delivery. With a growing global presence and offices in Australia and Dubai, the company continues to strengthen international investor confidence in Sri Lanka’s residential property sector.
According to the latest RIU Brand Health Survey 2025, Home Lands remains the undisputed market leader in the country’s real estate industry.

Nation Secures Multiple Awards at Asia Pacific’s Premier ICT Competition

Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its rising prominence in the regional technology landscape by securing multiple awards at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2025 held in Kaohsiung City Taiwan 2025. The Sri Lankan contingent included winners of the National ICT Awards (NBQSA) 2025, organized by the BCS Sri Lanka Section, along with national finalists from the Young Computer Scientist (YCS) competition hosted by FITIS. This year BCS nominated 36 commercial nominations and 3 Tertiary nominations while FITIS nominated 1 junior school and 3 Senior school nominations.

The APICTA Awards, recognized as the Asia Pacific region’s premier ICT competition, celebrates exceptional ICT innovations and creates platform to foster collaboration among more than 17 countries including 14 permanent member economies. With a clear focus on recognizing, rewarding, and promoting cutting-edge technological solutions to elevate the standards of excellence in ICT among the regions. APICTA 2025 brought together participants from member countries in the region, competing across 24 diverse categories, with evaluations carried out by distinguished panels of over 70 experts. This year it was the 24^th edition of the APICTA Awards. All categories’ top three positions were recognized with Winner, 1^st Runner-up, 2^nd Runner-up awards, while Merit recognitions given only for Student categories.  

Sri Lanka won 19 awards including 5 Category Winnings and Winning a Peoples’ Choice award positioning as the second highest award receiving country among all participating economies.

Commercial Categories 3 – Winners

2 – 1^st Runner-ups

7 – 2^nd Runner-ups

Tertiary Categories

2 – Winners

1 – 2^nd  Runner-up

1 – Merit Award

Senior School Category

1 – Peoples’ choice award winner

2 – Merit Awards

Junior School Category

1 – Second Runner-up

Sri Lanka’s strong performance this year not only highlights the nation’s growing technological prowess but also reinforces its position as a rapidly emerging hub for innovation and ICT excellence—contributing significantly to the advancement of the country’s digital economy.

Chairman of the BCS Sri Lanka Section, stated:

“This year’s achievements at APICTA 2025 showcase the remarkable talent, creativity, and resilience within Sri Lanka’s technology ecosystem. Our nominees have once again proven that Sri Lankan innovations can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the Asia Pacific region. These successes directly contribute to strengthening the nation’s digital economy by accelerating innovation, attracting global attention, and inspiring greater investment in local tech capabilities.”

In this year Sri Lankan delegation there were more than 80 Sri Lankans participants representing Sri Lanka with 43 competition entrees along with Judges and other coordinators.

Mr. Vajeendra Kandegamage, Mr. Alanzo  Doll, Mr. K V Kuganathan, Prof. Lasith Gunawardena, Mr. Sanharsha Jayatissa, Prof. Anuradha Jayakody and and Mr. Kalinga Ihalagedra were invited to the prestigious judging panel with more than 70 international judges while Mr. Ruwan Amarasekara was invited to the judging advisory panel.

Sri Lanka Wins 19 awards including 5 Category wins & 1 Peoples’ choice win

• Tertiary Student Project – Innovative Solutions Category WINNER: Audion by University of Colombo School of Computing
• Tertiary Student Project – Technical Solutions Category WINNER: Melodify by University of Colombo School of Computing
• Business Services – ICT Service Solution WINNER: Skapp by Rootcode
• Business Services – Security solutions WINNER: LCNC Framework with Digital Signing Engine by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
• Inclusions & Community Services – Indigenous Services/Regional, Rural and Remote Services/Sustainability WINNER: Bank2U – Financial Inclusivity Backbone  by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
• People Choice Award Senior Students’ WINNER: Pure Air by Nalanda College, Colombo

• Public Sector and Government – Citizen Services FIRST RUNNER-UP: Urbanora by Rootcode
• Consumer – Media, Entertainment, Retail, Distribution, Tourism, and Hospitality SECOND RUNNER-UP: myhotelina PMS by IM Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd.

• Tertiary Student Project – Innovative Solutions Category SECOND RUNNER-UP: Bunting by Informatics Institute of Technology
• Business Services – Finance, Marketing, and Professional Services SECOND RUNNER-UP: Epic “SELF” Smart Financing Suite by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
• Public Sector and Government – Digital Government SECOND RUNNER-UP: OnsysConnect – Digital Data Sharing Platform by Onsys International (Pvt) Ltd
• Technology -Internet of Things Technology of the Year SECOND RUNNER-UP: Industrial Vending Machine by Zone24x7
• Industrial – Agriculture, Environment, and Sustainability SECOND RUNNER-UP: Clamigo by Rootcode
• Consumer – Consumer Services SECOND RUNNER-UP: E-Switch with FraudGuard and Reconciliation by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
• Consumer – Media, Entertainment, Retail, Distribution, Tourism, and Hospitality SECOND RUNNER-UP: Ez Visa by EVS by Expo Visa Services (PVT) LTD
• Junior Student SECOND RUNNER-UP: The Intelligent Gear X – Pro Max Guardian Protective Network (IGXPM) by Royal College

• Joint APICTA / IEEE AI Startup Award MERIT AWARD: Audion by University of Colombo School of Computing
• Senior Student – Innovative Solutions MERIT AWARD: Healix – Intelligent IOT based Healthcare Robot by Nalanda College, Colombo
• Senior Student – Technical Solutions MERIT AWARD: Pure Air by Nalanda College, Colombo

Prof. Lasith Gunawardena, Secretary of the BCS Sri Lanka Section and the Chief Judge of the National ICT Awards NBQSA 2025, added:

“These recognitions reflect the strength of our ICT education framework and the commitment of our students, industry professionals, and institutions. The impact of these achievements goes beyond awards—they help build a more competitive digital economy, foster a culture of research and innovation, and position Sri Lanka as a trusted and capable technology contributor in the global market. We are immensely proud of all the winners for elevating Sri Lanka’s presence on the world stage and looking forward to recognize and support the tech talent and innovations in Sri Lanka, taking them to the world to uplift the standards and to strengthen the economy.”

Captions – APICTA 2025 Sri Lankan Category Winners.

(02)- Sri Lanka Delegation for Asia Pacific ICT Alliance 2025 Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UL Club Sri Lanka was successfully held on 6th December 2025 at the Radisson Hotel, Colombo, with the participation of its esteemed members. The AGM served as a key platform to review the Club’s progress, outline future initiatives, and reinforce the spirit of unity and fellowship among its members.

The UL Club, which comprises former employees of Air Lanka and SriLankan Airlines, is founded on the objective of uniting eligible members while fostering harmony, camaraderie, and lifelong bonds of friendship. In addition to strengthening these relationships, the Club is actively engaged in meaningful social responsibility projects that support the wider community.

A special acknowledgement was extended to the outgoing President, Captain Gihan Fernando, for his dedicated leadership and the significant contributions he made to the Club during his tenure. His guidance and commitment were deeply appreciated by the membership.

During the AGM, the Office Bearers for the year 2025/2026 were elected and appointed. Ms. Shanaaz Preena was elected as President, while Mr. Ajith Weerasekera and Dr. Shreen Wilatgamuwa were appointed as Vice Presidents. Ms. Susan Jurianz and Ms. Rukmani Manohar were reappointed as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

Speaking after her appointment, President Ms. Shanaaz Preena stated:“It is an honour to be entrusted with the leadership of the UL Club Sri Lanka. I look forward to working closely with our dedicated committee and members to further strengthen our unity and to expand our social responsibility efforts for the betterment of our community.”

Secretary Ms. Susan Jurianz also shared her thoughts, saying “The continued trust placed in the committee reflects the strong bond and confidence among our members. We are committed to ensuring that the Club continues to thrive while upholding its values of fellowship, service, and inclusivity.”

The AGM concluded on an uplifting and forward-looking note, with members reaffirming their commitment to the Club’s mission of unity, service, and shared purpose.

Caption – Susan Juriansz, Dr. Shreen Willatgamuwa, Inga Rodrigo, Ingrid Guruge, Meena Lee, Ajith Weerasekera, Shanaaz Preena Niloufer Dias Jayasinghe, Desiree Premachandra , Rukmani Manohar, Lakshan Rahaman ( Absent Marie Ann Samaraweera, Nilanthi Mendis  

The Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council (SLMLBC) extends its deepest appreciation to the government and the people of the Maldives for the extraordinary solidarity and generosity extended to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the recent cyclone.

Sri Lanka received approximately USD 2 million in financial assistance and USD 1.2 million worth of tuna cans, contributed collectively by the Government of the Maldives, private sector institutions, Maldivian citizens, and the Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Maldives. This substantial support will directly aid families and communities severely impacted by the disaster.

“This remarkable act of compassion reflects the enduring friendship and shared values that unite our two nations,” stated Sanjeewa Perera, President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council. “At a time of need, the Maldives has demonstrated unwavering solidarity with Sri Lanka, and we are truly humbled by this heartfelt support.”

His Excellency the President of the Maldives,The Honourable Foreign Minister,Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Government of the Maldives Government institutions and private sector organizations
The citizens of the Maldives
The Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Maldives
Their collective effort made this humanitarian contribution possible and stands as a powerful example of unity and shared goodwill.

A special acknowledgment is extended to His Excellency M R Hassan, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives, for his leadership and dedication in steering and coordinating this initiative. The Council also conveys its appreciation to His Excellency Masood Imad, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka, for his unwavering support in strengthening the close ties between the two countries.

“As president of SLMLBC, together with our executive committee and the entire membership, I wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this noble effort,” Mr. Perera added. “This gesture of solidarity is a testament to the strong, enduring bond and mutual support that define the relationship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.”

Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council Expresses Profound Gratitude to the People and Government of the Maldives for Their Support to Sri Lanka Following Recent Cyclone
The Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council (SLMLBC) extends its deepest appreciation to the government and the people of the Maldives for the extraordinary solidarity and generosity extended to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the recent cyclone.

Sri Lanka received approximately USD 2 million in financial assistance and USD 1.2 million worth of tuna cans, contributed collectively by the Government of the Maldives, private sector institutions, Maldivian citizens, and the Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Maldives. This substantial support will directly aid families and communities severely impacted by the disaster.

“This remarkable act of compassion reflects the enduring friendship and shared values that unite our two nations,” stated Sanjeewa Perera, President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council. “At a time of need, the Maldives has demonstrated unwavering solidarity with Sri Lanka, and we are truly humbled by this heartfelt support.”

The Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council extends special gratitude to:

His Excellency the President of the Maldives,The Honourable Foreign Minister,Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Government of the Maldives Government institutions and private sector organizations
The citizens of the Maldives
The Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Maldives
Their collective effort made this humanitarian contribution possible and stands as a powerful example of unity and shared goodwill.

A special acknowledgment is extended to His Excellency M R Hassan, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives, for his leadership and dedication in steering and coordinating this initiative. The Council also conveys its appreciation to His Excellency Masood Imad, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka, for his unwavering support in strengthening the close ties between the two countries.

“As president of SLMLBC, together with our executive committee and the entire membership, I wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this noble effort,” Mr. Perera added. “This gesture of solidarity is a testament to the strong, enduring bond and mutual support that define the relationship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.”
Caption:
Address by Mr. Husnie Rauf – Vice President, Sri Lanka – Maldives Business Council.

H.E. Masood Imad – High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives, Mr. Sanjeewa Perera – President, Sri Lanka – Maldives Business Council, Mr. Sudesh Mendis – Immediate Past President Sri Lanka – Maldives Business Council and Mr. Sasanga Nikapitiya – Director, South Asia and SAARC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also in the picture.

Address by H.E. Masood Imad – High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives

Hikvision Sri Lanka is proud to officially announce the successful completion of the Hikvision Skill Quest – Grand Final, recently held at Hilton Colombo Residences. The event saw a gathering of some of the nation’s skilled installers, technicians and integrators in the security industry, marking the culmination of a months-long initiative held across nine provinces.

This year’s national title was awarded to Amila Amarashinha from the Sabaragamuwa Province, who was also named the overall Grand Winner, after having completed a series of advanced real-world technical challenges, designed and evaluated by industry experts. His achievement highlights his personal excellence and the rising standards of the local security workforce.

Supported by a strong commitment to professional training, the Hikvision Skill Quest reflects the company’s vision to elevate Sri Lanka’s technical community. The company continues to invest in installer development through regular training programmes, certified workshops, hands-on product configuration sessions, and technical capacity-building initiatives conducted across the country.

The event was attended by key members of the Hikvision Sri Lanka Country Office Management Team including Mr. Yasantha Hennayake, Director and General Country Manager, Mrs. Jenny Chen, Head of Marketing, Hikvision South Asia, and other distinguished members of the Hikvision Sri Lanka team. Their presence inspired confidence and added credibility to the initiative, which today has become one of the most anticipated skills events in the national security industry calendar. The event also featured Hik-Tech brand ambassadors and leading technology influencers, expanding its reach and engagement with young technicians, students and the broader tech community across social media platforms.

Mr. Yasantha Hennayake, Director and General Country Manager for Hikvision Sri Lanka stated, “At Hikvision, we believe that Sri Lanka’s future in security technology depends on the strength of its technical professionals. Continuous learning is no longer optional, especially in today’s fast-evolving landscape of AIoT technology. We appreciate the passion shown by all participants, judges, partners and our training community, whose commitment continues to elevate the industry.”

The Hikvision Skill Quest reinforced the brand’s evolution from a security product provider to a national leader in AIoT technology, technical training, and installer empowerment. The competition is a testament to the company’s belief that investing in people is just as important as investing in innovation.

With interest continuously growing across Sri Lanka, Hikvision aims to further expand its training programmes and the Skill Quest platform in the years to come, further strengthening the industry and empowering the next generation of local technical talent.

Captions – Hikvision Sri Lanka awarded those who successfully completed the Hikvision Skill Quest at Hilton Colombo Residences recently. The Organizing Committee of Hikvision Skill Quest.

GNEXT Sri Lanka has been awarded the prestigious Best Distributor in the South Asian Region title at the Xiaomi Global Partner Conference held in Beijing, China. This recognition from Xiaomi Global one of the world’s leading smartphone and technology brands—celebrates GNEXT’s outstanding performance, distribution excellence, and strong strategic partnership in the region.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Steffan De Rosario, General Manager of GNEXT Sri Lanka, stated: “We are truly honoured to receive this recognition from Xiaomi Global. This milestone reflects the dedication of our entire team and the unwavering support of our partners. It is a proud moment for Sri Lanka, proving our ability to perform and lead on a global stage.”

This award reinforces GNEXT’s role as a trusted distributor with a strong dealer network, exceptional operational standards, and a deep commitment to market growth and customer satisfaction.

Sharing his appreciation, Vidya Sagar, Head of Sales Android – GNEXT Sri Lanka, added: “We extend our sincere thanks to all our partners whose contributions made this global recognition possible for Sri Lanka.”

The accolade marks a defining moment for GNEXT Sri Lanka, reflecting its evolution into a globally recognised strategic partner and highlighting the growing influence of Sri Lankan companies in the regional technology landscape.

Caption:Receiving the award: Mr. Kailesh Gupta, Group Chief Executive Officer – GNEXT.
The award was presented by Xiaomi’s global leadership, Ms. Xu Fei (VP/CMO).

(Left to Right) Rajesh Bhimsaria – Group Chairman, GNEXT/ Kain Wang – Country Head, Xiaomi Sri Lanka/ Kailesh Gupta – Group Chief Executive Officer, GNEXT