Thursday, November 6, 2025
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Riyad Hussain and Layman Sanjeev win Indonesia Badminton Cup 24.

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The Indonesian Badminton Cup organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia was held recently (11) at the Kalalgoda Raising Badminton Academy premises. It was chaired by Director General Acharya Shemal Fernando.

There, Shenuk Samararatne along with the Indonesian Ambassador and Sri Lanka’s former National Badminton National Champion Clarence Homer and Indonesian National Badminton Champion Tony Waheed joined in an exhibition match. In this tournament which was held as an open competition, nearly a hundred Indonesian and Sri Lankan athletes of different age groups participated.
G. Beating G.Matheesla and Sakri Ibrahim (21/15 21/17)

Reyad Hussien and Layman Sanjeev
They won this open tournament.
Mrs. Dewi Tobin, the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, said that the awarding of victory symbols in the tournament will be done on August 17th (17) at the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo on the Indonesian Independence Day.

The Election Commission explains the facts about acceptance of nominations, depositing of security and polling.

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” AIR FORCE COMMANDER’S CUP RUGBY SHOWDOWN BEGINS UNDER THE BANNER OF SRI LANKA SPORTS FIESTA 2024″

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The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, is set to host the Sri Lanka Sports Fiesta 2024, powered by Dialog Axiata PLC, from August 16 to 18 at the Race Course Ground in Colombo. This grand event will showcase over 3,000 athletes competing across seven exhilarating team sports: cricket, rugby, football, volleyball, netball, hockey, and basketball.

The highlight of the Fiesta, the Air Force Commander’s Cup Rugby Tournament, will kick off on 16 Aug 24 at the Race Course Ground Colombo. The Air Force Commander’s Cup Rugby Tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Air Force, stands as a cornerstone event in both the Air Force sports calendar and Sri Lanka’s rugby calendar. This highly anticipated tournament showcases the Air Force’s deep involvement in promoting rugby and is regarded as a key highlight in the Rugby landscape in Sri Lanka . This year the tournament will feature top ‘A’ Division men’s clubs, including CR & FC, Havelocks SC, CH & FC, Army SC, Navy SC, Air Force SC, and Police SC, alongside ‘A’ Division women’s clubs such as Army SC, Navy SC, Air Force SC, and CR & FC.

In a bid to nurture emerging talent, the tournament will also include a Schools Under-16 category, with 14 schools confirmed to participate. These schools include Isipathana College, St. Peter’s College, St. Thomas’ College, St. Joseph’s College, Thurstan College, Science College, Zahira College, Vidyartha College, Dharmaraja College, St. Anthony’s College, D.S. Senanayake College, Wesley College, St. Thomas’ Prepratory School and Kingswood College.

The Sri Lanka Sports Fiesta 2024 promises a thrilling weekend of high-octane sports action and a celebration of athletic talent.

Fund Raising Project for the People of Gaza

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RUZAIK FAROOK

The Nina Skin Care and Eyes on Gaza in collaboration with Dolci Falasteen Restaurant organized a fund raising project for the people of Gaza at the restaurant premises, Havelock Road, Colombo recently. 

Various items such as food, mehendi, face painting, cosmetics, spices and many more stalls were displayed.  

More than 1500 people of all faiths including local and foreign were present from 9. 00 am to 5. 00 pm during the day. The organizers said that the collection of money from this project will be sent to the people of Palestine.

The visitors of this event praised the organizers and condemned the killing of the innocent women and children in Palestine.

The organisers along with founder of the Dolci Restaurant Bashar Hisham Abu Taha and Israa Abu Taha were also present. 

Members of the House Democracy Partnership of United States visit Parliament of Sri Lanka

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Members of the House Democracy Partnership of the United States Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, former Minister of Finance and Planning of Jamaica, Hon. Ndiritu Muriithi, former Member of Parliament of Kenya, and Ms. Christy Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of the Congressional Budget Office, United States visited the Parliament of Sri Lanka recently (01).

The delegation engaged in a cordial discussion with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Chaminda Kularatne and Assistant Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Hansa Abeyratne.  During the discussion, attention was paid to the three-day workshop held with the contribution of this delegation for the staff members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka on Public Debt Management.

The discussion also focused on the parliamentary system and the legislative process, the parliamentary committee system, women’s representation and public outreach activities in the Parliament and the activities related to the upcoming presidential election.

Two (02) Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters seized

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A coordinated operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard led to the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters and apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen. The special operation was conducted off Kudiramalei Point, south of Mannar seas on 05th August 2024.

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.   

As an extension of these efforts, the Northwestern Naval Command had spotted a cluster of Indian trawlers engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. In response, a Coast Guard ship attached to the Western Naval Command was dispatched to send away those Indian trawlers poaching off Kudiramalei Point, south of Mannar seas. The operation resulted in the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers and apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The trawlers (02) and Indian fishermen (22) were brought to SLNS Kalpitiya and they will be handed over to Kalpitiya Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action.

Hemas Holdings delivers stable FY25 Q1 performance amidst market challenges

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Hemas Holdings PLC announced its financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2024, demonstrating resilience in a challenging economic environment.

The Group’s consolidated revenue was Rs. 25.5 billion alongside operating profits of Rs. 1.9 billion and earnings of Rs. 0.9 billion. The revenue decrease compared to the previous year was largely due to downward price adjustments and subdued consumer spending, exacerbated by extended holidays in the first two months of the quarter. Despite the revenue dip, the Group’s profitability margins benefited from efficiency improvement initiatives and reduced finance costs.

The Consumer Brands sector reported revenue of Rs. 8.9 billion, with operating profits of Rs. 0.8 billion and earnings of Rs. 0.6 billion. Despite lower revenue, margins improved due to supply chain efficiencies and productivity initiatives.

The quarter saw a successful emphasis on personal care, with notable market presence in Baby and Feminine Hygiene segments. Innovations included the launch of Baby Cheramy Liquid Soap and new variants of Goya Soap. ‘Atlas’ maintained its market leadership, expanding its share in both the premium and value-for-money segments. ‘Kumarika’ increased its market share in the VAHO market, driven by new value-for-money and pure coconut oil products, while ‘Actisef’ continued to be an essential part of the portfolio.

The Healthcare Sectorperformance delivered revenue of Rs. 16.0 billion, with operating profit of Rs. 1.3 billion and earnings of Rs. 0.8 billion. Profitability increased due to overhead optimization, improved working capital management, and lower interest rates.

In addition, the sector sustained its market-leading position despite market contraction and regulatory price reductions. Focused efforts on cost optimization, efficiency improvements, and effective working capital management enhanced profitability. The Healthcare segment also witnessed increased inpatient and outpatient volumes due to more surgeries and medical screenings.

The Mobility Sector‘s revenue grew 14% to Rs. 475.9 million, driven by maritime volume growth. Operating profit and earnings both more than doubled, reaching Rs. 455.3 million and Rs. 269.7 million respectively.

The segment’s performance improved with higher freight rates and volume growth, while the Aviation vertical benefited from improved yield and higher cargo volumes, despite intense competition affecting the passenger segment.

Hemas continued its commitment to the environmental, social and governance agenda, focusing on plastic waste offset, water usage reduction, and increased renewable energy use. Partnerships, such as with Eco Spindles, have been pivotal, with over 720,000 kg of plastic collected to date. The Group’s social initiatives positively impacted over 56,800 families, including professional training for educators and the opening of the 66th Piyawara preschool, supporting underserved communities.

Looking ahead, Hemas is committed to expanding its footprint domestically and globally, executing strategic priorities from its Long-Range Plan, and maintaining strong liquidity and efficient resource allocation. The Group continues to drive operational transformation across all business segments, aiming for sustained growth amidst ongoing market challenges.

COYLE Pioneers Green Entrepreneurship and Mangrove Restoration in Sri Lanka.

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The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) hosted “The Big Lunch,” along with iLEAD International Academy and Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF); a groundbreaking event aimed at bringing together stakeholders for the promotion of green entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. This gathering marked a significant step towards positioning Sri Lanka as a leader in environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth. The event was attended by the members of the Business Chambers, government officials from the Ministry of Environment, representatives of various UN agencies, International and National NGOs/ Civil Society Organizations, Academic and Research Institutions, independent Environmentalists and youth.

The focus of ‘The Big Lunch’ was to generate action ideas to protect and enhance Sri Lanka’s position by fostering a stronger approach to nature conservation, after being selected as one of the seven UN Flagship programs for mangrove restoration. The initiative on Green Entrepreneurship for Mangroves employs a tripartite approach, uniting local communities, businesses, and research institutions to coordinate mangrove restoration efforts effectively.

BY NELUM BUDDHADASA

COMMANDER OF THE AIR FORCE GRACES THE COMMISSIONING OF NEW OFFICERS AT SLAF COMBAT TRAINING SCHOOL DIYATALAWA

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The Sri Lanka Air Force proudly marked the commissioning of the No. 78 Direct Entry Student Officers Course and the No. 35 Officer Cadets Course of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University today (29 July 2024) at the SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, took the salute as the Chief Guest during this esteemed eventෙ
The Commissioning Parade was led by Officer Commanding Training, Wing Commander Kanishka Jayasekara. A total of 28 Officers, including six male Student Officers and 10 female Student Officers from the No. 78 Direct Entry Student Officers Course in the Medical, Legal, Civil Engineering, IT Engineering and Aeronautical and General Engineering branches, along with 12 Officer Cadets from the Medical branch of No. 35 KDU Intake , received their commissions as proud members of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, members of the Air Force Board of Management, officers, other rankers and the parents of the newly commissioned officers.

Empowering Active, Informed Citizens: Good Citizens’ Latest Initiatives

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RUZAIK FAROOK

The Good Citizens Movement, funded by USAID and the International Republican Institute, hosted a significant event aimed at fostering an informed and active citizenry recently.  This initiative focused on educating citizens on crucial topics such as law, economics, international relations, media, and politics, marking a vital step towards building a more engaged and knowledgeable society.

The event featured a law workshop titled “Know the Law,” conducted by Miss Eranga Dissanayaka, an esteemed Attorney at Law and Lecturer in Law at NSBM Green University. This workshop successfully trained over 40 individuals on advocacy law, equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate and influence legal frameworks effectively. The training aimed to empower citizens with the knowledge to advocate for their rights and contribute meaningfully to societal change.

In addition to the workshop, Good Citizens launched a Guided Syllabus for citizens. This comprehensive educational resource is designed to provide in-depth knowledge on various essential topics. By offering this syllabus, Good Citizens aims to equip individuals with the information and skills required to participate actively in civic life and contribute to the nation’s development.

A highlight of the event was the announcement of the winner of the “If I Were President 2024” Ideathon Competition organised in Collaboration with  Rotaract club of Faculty of Medicine, Leo Clubs of Colombo Knights, Alumni University of Colombo, Faculty of Arts University of Colombo, Anuradhapura Royals.This competition encouraged participants to present creative, innovative, and sustainable solutions to pressing national issues as if they were the president. The winner, Sachini Navodya, a Lecturer in International Relations, delivered an inspiring inaugural speech on her proposed strategy to end period poverty in Sri Lanka to improve the quality of life for women and girls across the country.

Dr. Thanuja Kotawalagedara, Project Lead of Good Citizens expressed his enthusiasm for the event’s success, emphasising the importance of empowering citizens with knowledge and skills. He stated, “Our goal is to create a society where citizens are informed, engaged, and capable of driving positive change. Through initiatives like the ‘Know the Law’ workshop and the Guided Syllabus, we are taking significant steps towards achieving this vision.”

The Good Citizens Movement invites all interested individuals to visit their website, www.goodcitizens.lk, to register for the Guided Syllabus and join the growing community of informed citizens dedicated to making a difference. With continued support and participation, Good Citizens aims to foster a culture of active citizenship and ensure a brighter future for Sri Lanka.

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