RUZAIK FAROOK

The Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Associations in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and Industrial Development Board (IDB) had organized 15th Edition of Footwear and Leather Fair 2025 at BMICH, Colombo on Thursday February 6. It was held under the patronage of President of the Associations Nevil Perera .

Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi was present as chief guest at the opening ceremony.

It will continue on 07th, 08th and 09th February 2025 at the BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ambassador of Viet Nam, Trinh Thi Tam visited the stalls and viewed the products. 

Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga  Abeysinghe, Secretary Mrs. J. M. Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman – IDB  Ravi Nissanka, Ambassadors and Foreign Delegates were also present.

This fair is the pinnacle event in Sri Lanka held every year for the Footwear and Leather Sector and this year displays their products in 260 stalls and large number of Importers, Traders, Designers, Wholesalers and Agents, Brand Owners, Industrialists and the General Public were present during the fair.

Canadian investor pumps in Rs. 200 Mn

In an effort to enhance tourism, disseminate Buddhist teachings, and promote animal welfare, the Sirin Park Eco Guided Tour in Horagampitiya, Hikkaduwa has been established with an investment of Rs. 200 million. The mentor and investor associated with the initiative, Visita Sirin Leelaratna stated that since relocating to Canada and establishing his own business, he has consistently aspired to contribute positively to Sri Lanka.

“In pursuit of this objective, I acquired a 22-acre parcel of coconut land in Horagampitiya, subsequently transforming several of the bungalows into luxury villas to initiate this project. In an effort to offer both tourists and local residents an immersive coconut experience, I have curated a comprehensive coconut tour that includes live demonstrations. This tour encompasses various activities such as coconut plucking, counting, husking, toddy tapping, and the creation of coconut-based products, including brooms, toothpicks, and numerous other items. In my endeavor to provide financial assistance to the community, I also extended an invitation to Village, who possess expertise in these domains, to participate in live demonstrations.” Leelaratna stated. The tour also includes a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast and lunch.

“We have also retrofitted an antique vehicle to transport tourists within the park and are collaborating with the community to develop a riverboat safari, ensuring that all safety measures are implemented. In conjunction with the coconut tour, visitors are also afforded the opportunity to observe the life cycles of various animals and their overall well-being. These animals were either rescued from the threat of slaughter, sustained injuries, or faced abandonment; they now reside in a secure and nurturing sanctuary.” He added. Guests can also stay in one of their newly built and remodeled luxury rooms, “Sirin Park Palace” or in their six standard “Plantation” rooms. The Sirin Park Eco Tour will serve as a tangible manifestation of humanistic Buddhism, through ‘Buddhist Embassy’ that advocates and imparts the principles of Buddhism without any political agenda. “We also have a revered Bo Tree situated within the premises. We also facilitate workshops focused on Buddhist philosophy and customs and provide meditation sessions and spiritual counselling services.” Leelaratna said.

The tour is comprehensively promoted among travel agents, online booking platforms and hotels in proximity to Hikkaduwa, resulting in a highly favorable response. “We also aspire to promote this offering to the corporate sector as a daily excursion or an overnight experience for groups of up to 20 participants.” Leelaratna stated. Marijan Zlobec from Slovenia, who participated in the tour for the first time, remarked that it offered an experience that conventional excursions do not provide, specifically a firsthand insight into the process of coconut cultivation. “The verdant atmosphere, culinary offerings, and activities during the tour are exceptional.” Sean Rohan from the United Kingdom also expressed his endorsement, stating that this tour offers substantial knowledge not only for international visitors but also for local residents.

Premium International, Sri Lanka’s only turnkey healthcare solutions provider, celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Cinnamon Life Hotel recently, in the presence of senior leadership, staff and stakeholders. Over the past two decades, the company has redefined the healthcare sector and successfully positioned itself as a trailblazer in delivering integrated solutions that combine innovation, resilience and unmatched expertise.

Chairman and the Managing Director, Prasantha Kularatna remarked, “Premium International was founded with the vision of transforming healthcare in Sri Lanka. Over the past 20 years, we have responded to various crises and pioneered projects that have redefined the standards of care and infrastructure in the country. We are proud of the trust we have earned, the innovation we have driven and the lives we have saved,” reflecting on the company’s illustrious journey over two decades.

Premium International began its journey in 2004 amidst the devastating tsunami that left the nation’s healthcare system in ruins. While hospitals were destroyed, equipment from international donors arrived but remained unusable due to a lack of infrastructure. Premium International stepped in as a vital engineering bridge between the donors and local healthcare facilities, going beyond the supply of equipment to rebuilding essential infrastructure. This marked the beginning of the company’s role as a market leader in turnkey healthcare solutions.

In 2007, Premium International spearheaded a nationwide medical technology upgrade project that modernised 24 hospitals across Sri Lanka. Funded by Austria, this ambitious initiative introduced advanced technologies such as CT scanners, digital X-rays, video endoscopy systems, ventilators and emergency backup power generators, laying a foundation for enhanced healthcare services. Five years later, in 2012, the company raised the standard of cardiac care in Sri Lanka by modernising catheterisation labs at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, equipping them with state-of-the-art cath labs and echo-Doppler units.

Premium’s impact further extended to the nation’s blood banks in 2014, when the company executed a landmark project that transformed the role of these facilities. By establishing 19 regional centres and equipping 96 blood banks with cutting-edge technology, the EUR 25 million project elevated blood storage and transfusion standards, ensuring greater efficiency and reliability in saving lives.

A key differentiator for Premium International is its commitment to innovation and local capacity building. Reflecting this, in 2012, the company partnered with the University of Moratuwa (UoM) to establish Sri Lanka’s first biomedical research and development laboratory, paving the way for the country’s first biomedical engineering degree programme while fostering local expertise in healthcare technology. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Premium once again demonstrated its market leadership and innovation by designing and donating a modular ICU unit. Transportable and operational within 24 hours, the unit provided a critical lifeline during the crisis and gained recognition both locally and internationally.

The company’s achievements in infrastructure development are equally remarkable. Premium played a pivotal role in completing South Asia’s largest maternity hospital, the German-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital for Women. When construction delays and challenges had stalled the project for over a decade, Premium stepped in to complete it within mere 24 months. Beyond construction, the company supplied and commissioned more than 65% of the hospital’s medical, laboratory and industrial

central facilities, including the CSSD, laundry and kitchen, were equipped with the most advanced technology available, making the hospital a benchmark for modern healthcare infrastructure in Sri Lanka.

Through exclusive partnerships with globally renowned healthcare brands, Premium International has consistently introduced groundbreaking technologies to Sri Lanka. Sakura histopathology systems now enable 80% of cancer detection and diagnosis in the country, while Fujifilm and Erbe provide the most advanced endoscopy platforms for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Blood collection and processing have been revolutionised by German and American technologies from Fresenius Kabi, Hettich and Werfen, which ensure that over 95% of collected blood is processed daily.

Additionally, over 300 operating theatres rely on Shinva’s cutting-edge infection control solutions, operating around the clock to meet the country’s critical healthcare demands.

Premium International’s contributions extend to the pharmaceutical sector where it has driven advancements in local production. Initially supporting the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) with technology, the company later took on the challenge of constructing Sri Lanka’s most advanced private-sector aseptic pharmaceutical plant in collaboration with LAUGFS Holdings. In 2023, Premium launched its own pharmaceutical production facility “Seregen” in partnership with George Steuart, marking a significant step towards greater pharmaceutical independence in Sri Lanka.

As it celebrates two decades of excellence, Premium International remains committed to shaping the future of healthcare in Sri Lanka.

Image caption- Executive Committee of Premium International at the 20th Anniversary Celebrations

Sri Lankan seafarers are in high demand internationally and there shoud be a proper mechanism for catering to that ever increasing demand, Seraya Shipping Private Limited and Serayav Maritime Service Limited Founder amd Managing Director Sujeewa Senaratne said.

According to him, it can be identified that over 1,000 new employment opportunities are available for Sri Lankans, annyally.

He made these remarks while participating in an inauguration of a new operational office complex of the company, which have earned a reputation since 2013 for providing merchant seafarers or seamen required for the international shipping industry, in Nugegoda recently (30).

Speaking at the event, Senaratne noted that at present, approximately 800 seafarers assigned to Seraya Shipping Private Limited are continuously engaged in service on approximately fifty ships around the world every day, and that there is a demand for approximately one thousand Sri Lankan merchant seafarers per year in shipping companies around the world. He pointed out that his company, which was established in 2013, has employed approximately 20,000 seafarers in the shipping industry.

The services of seafarers have become an essential factor in maintaining maritime services, which have become the strongest means of transport in the world’s import and export sector today. Since many shipping companies in the world are interested in recruiting Sri Lankan seafarers to serve on their ships, the attention of state and political authorities should be focused on resolving the various existing problems and taking steps to safeguard the job demand for seafarers in Sri Lanka, he added.