November 6, 2023
WhatsApp-Image-2023-11-06-at-1.05.38-PM-1-LBN.jpeg

6min

 



 

 

Sri Lanka’s premier non-banking financial institution (NBFI), People’s Leasing & Finance PLC (PLC), recently celebrated World Children’s Day in a heartwarming fashion, highlighting its commitment to the community. The PLC Sports & Welfare Society, for the second consecutive year, hosted a vibrant Talent Show Competition for the children of PLC employees across the Island, showcasing the company’s dedication to nurturing the creative talents of the future generation.

The competition, held in celebration of World Children’s Day 2023, featured an array of categories, including Art, Singing, and Dancing, with participants divided into five age groups: below 05, 5-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-17. A total of over 100 entries were received for the art category, 63 for singing, and 42 for dancing, reflecting the enthusiasm and creativity of these young and budding talents.

To ensure a fair evaluation, PLC appointed an independent panel of judges comprised of nine experienced teachers, with each category being assigned three teachers with specialized expertise in the relevant category. These educators played a crucial role in assessing the participants and providing objectivity, transparency, and professionalism to the competition. The panel of judges then carefully selected 45 children from across the competition categories as winners.

To recognize the winners, a special Award Ceremony was held on the 3rd of November 2023, at the Orchid Auditorium – BMICH, Colombo where PLC’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Mr Shamindra Marcelline, was present as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by the 45 young winners, their proud parents, representatives from PLC’s Corporate Management Team, the distinguished Panel of Judges, and representatives from the PLC Sports & Welfare Society, along with other special guests.

Commenting on the initiative, CEO and General Manager, Shamindra Marcelline said, “The theme of our program this year – “Reimagining a Better Future for Our Children” – emphasizes the vital role that the younger generation plays in safeguarding our planet for future generations. It is a poignant reminder that our children are the future stewards of the planet, and responsible for ensuring its wellbeing. We are pleased to have engaged the kids, supported their passions, and provided them with an unforgettable experience to mark World Children’s Day.”

To kickstart the event, every child was presented with a thoughtful gift; red, blue, and black ‘eco-plantable’ pens, symbolizing PLC’s commitment to nurturing a sustainable future. This gesture echoes PLC’s dedication to protecting the planet, as the pens, which are made of biodegradable materials and contain seeds, can be planted once they have been used. Each of these pens also contributes towards less plastic added to the environment.

The winners of the competition received a range of accolades, including certificates, gold, silver, or bronze medals, and valuable gifts, acknowledging their exceptional creative and artistic skills. In a heartwarming gesture, every participant was also honoured with a Certificate of Appreciation to recognize their enthusiasm for being a part of this initiative.

The ceremony was further elevated by a captivating live performance by the renowned singer, Harshana Dissanyakae, adding a delightful vibe to the event. Additionally, the winners of first and second place in the 14–17 age group singing competition performed a duet, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained.

Following an engaging morning session at PLC’s Head Office with the CEO/GM, the 45 winners and their parents/guardians were also taken on the delightfully iconic Colombo City Tour on the much-loved open-air double-decker bus. This tour included visits to major landmarks such as the Colombo Lotus Tower and Port City Colombo, making the occasion truly unforgettable for the kids.

In hosting its annual Kid’s Talent Show Competition, PLC has once again demonstrated its strong sense of responsibility towards the community, and its focus on sustainability, nurturing the creative spirit of the younger generation and envisioning a brighter future for our children. Through initiatives like these, PLC is setting a remarkable example for corporate social responsibility in Sri Lanka and beyond.

 


 

 


November 1, 2023
Image-01-LBN.jpeg

3min

 



 

 

Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (VBL), a leading carbonated beverage manufacturer and the official bottling and distribution franchise of PepsiCo beverages in Sri Lanka, recently held a memorable event in celebration of World Children’s Day. The event, organized by the dedicated 5S committee, aimed to foster togetherness and exemplify the company’s values of caring, community engagement, and fostering a positive work environment.

The event brought together employees and their children, along with their families, for a day filled with fun and educational activities. It was a testament to Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.’s dedication to its workforce, recognizing them as the most important assets of the company.

Mr. Ranil Silva, Secretary of 5S Committee. Highlighted the significance of this event, stating, “At Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., we believe in the well-being of our employees and their families. They are the bedrock of our success, and their happiness and development matter deeply to us. This event is just one of the many ways we show our commitment to them.”

Activities included games designed to educate children about 5S principles, such as quizzes, speeches, and friendly competitions, all with the underlying theme of learning and growth. Employees and their families actively participated, underscoring the strong bond and unity within the Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. community.

This event was not only an opportunity for the company to reinforce its values but also a chance to give back to the local community. Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. actively engages in events that promote the togetherness of employees, their families, and the local community.

As the official franchise holder for PepsiCo beverages in Sri Lanka, Varun Beverages Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. is not only dedicated to delivering exceptional products but also to creating a work environment that values its employees and their families. This is just one example of the company’s ongoing commitment to these principles.

 



 

 


October 3, 2023
Childrens-Day-2023-LBN.jpg

2min

 



 

 

Wholesome fun and games were the order of the day when more than 3000 children were hosted to a colourful World Children’s Day celebration by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon in partnership with ITN on 1st October. The event at the Leisure World theme park was supported by Commercial Bank’s popular children’s savings accounts ‘Arunalu’ and ‘Isuru.’ Children participated in a series of activities which included an exciting mix of brain stimulating games and fun games, and the winners and the participants received attractive gifts.

Commercial Bank’s flagship children’s savings account ‘Arunalu’ offers a higher interest rate than comparative products in the market and rewards account holders with special cash prizes if they score the first, second or third highest aggregate marks in their schools at the Year 5 Scholarship Examination.

The Bank’s Isuru Minors’ Savings Plan includes both a monthly deposit and a lump sum deposit scheme with a guaranteed balance when the child reaches 18 years of age.

Pictured here are some of scenes at the Commercial Bank – ITN Children’s Day event at Leisure World.

 



 

 


October 3, 2023
pexels-naomi-shi-1001914.jpg

5min

 



 

 

3rd October 2023, Colombo. Every parent aspires to provide the best possible education for their children and to fulfil their hopes and dreams. Considering the rising cost of education, parents have to have a plan in place for being able to afford higher education or for sending the child to a university overseas when the time comes. However, it can be confusing even for adults to identify the best savings plan for their child’s future. This is where child insurance plan comes in which ensures protection and to save for your child’s higher educational aspirations.

In the Sri Lankan insurance market, the importance of having coverage is critical given the rupee devaluation, high inflation and rising cost of living. In such a stressful climate, sending children abroad for higher studies could remain a pipe-dream. However, when parents purchase an education insurance policy, they secure their child’s dreams for their careers.

Education insurance policies enable you to invest a particular amount of money which comes in very useful years later when you have to finance your student’s education within the country or overseas, thereby protecting the parent too from having to cough up a large sum at one time. The uncertainties witnessed during the economic crisis brought home the need for financial planning for the long term.

Educational costs in particular can be crippling and the unfavourable exchange rate means sending your children to their dream universities overseas will be a challenging task financially, putting the family under financial strain – unless of course you have been forward thinking and purchased education insurance. Some of the benefits of an education insurance plan are: in case of untimely demise and disability of the parent, the insurance company continues to pay your premiums on your behalf, ensuring that your child will receive the education fund you planned for in your absence; unique dividend system ensures that your fund grows continuously, providing a substantial education fund at maturity; and a Life cover for your child. The educational fund for your child will grow with the accumulation rate the company declares on a monthly basis. At the end of the term the policyholder can obtain the fund as a lump sum and utilize it for their child’s university education.

In today’s highly competitive world, children need a competitive edge and foresight of parents to invest in education plans for their children when they are young which will help them in fulfilling their career aspirations. It’s the best gift that parents can give to their children. In order to raise awareness on education plans, the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) the representative body of the insurance industry in the country, invites parents to look for the most suitable education plans for their children to invest and secure their future. There are a range of products in the insurance market from which parents can select and this would be the best way parents can celebrate their Children.

Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends’.

 



 

 


August 23, 2023
Image-1-Paata-Siththam-logo-LBN.png

4min

 



 

 

23rd August 2023, Colombo: Vision Care, Sri Lanka’s largest vision and eye wear solutions provider, is celebrating World Children’s Day 2023 by organizing “Paata Siththam”, an islandwide art competition for children of all ages where over 100 cash prizes can be won.

The theme of the art competition is ‘Tomorrow’s world through my eyes’ and will be held under five age categories – Primary (Grades 1-3), Intermediate (Grades 4-6), Junior High (Grades 7-9), Senior High (Grades 10 and 11) and Senior Secondary (Grades 12 and 13). Winners of the final round can take home cash prizes, certificates and other exciting gifts while cash prizes will be awarded to winners of each of the five categories.

Vision Care has built a reputation as a company dedicated towards fostering the creativity and talent of children across Sri Lanka. This unique World Children’s Day art competition provides the ideal platform for children of any age to demonstrate their creative talents, express their views of the future of the world through the medium of art. While the competition encourages and supports the dreams of young artistic minds, the exciting gifts and prizes on offer will serve as an added incentive for them to participate and enter their best creations.

The competition encourages children to think from a new perspective about the future world they want to live in and transfer those visions in a creative manner into their artworks. They are given the freedom to choose the mediums they are most comfortable with to bring out their best creative work and visions to life. An expert panel of judges will be picking the winners based on creativity, originality, and interpretation of the theme.

Participating children can submit their drawings using any colour medium of their choice such as water colour, pastel, poster paint, acrylic, oil paint or any others. Drawings need to be 18-inches by 14-inches in size in either Portrait or Landscape. They can use any type of material including paper, board, canvas or any other surface for their creations. All drawings need to be certified by the school principal, class teacher or subject teacher and handed over to any Vision Care branch on or before 20th September 2023. The date, time and venue of the final competition will be notified later.

Vision Care has always been at the forefront of promoting eye care and vision wellness in Sri Lanka. Through this art competition, the company seeks to engage with the younger generation and raise awareness about the importance of vision care from an early age. Vision Care encourages parents, teachers, and guardians to support their children in participating in this exciting art competition.

For more information on Vision Care’s ‘Paata Siththam’ Art Competition visit https://visioncare.lk/

 



 

 


November 15, 2022
PLC-World-Childrens-Day-Celebration-2022-LBN.jpg

2min

 



 

 

Sports and Welfare Society of People’s Leasing and Finance PLC (PLC), the pioneer Non-Bank Financial Institution (NBFI) in Sri Lanka, marked the World Children’s Day themed “Sihina Dakina Ape Lowak”.

As a responsible employer, the event was organized as an initiative to recognize and reward the talents of the children of PLC employees from islandwide branch footprint in five different age categories up to the age of 17 years.

Accordingly, demonstrated singing, dancing and artistic talents of over 250 children were independently evaluated by six teachers from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya and D.S. Senanayaka College.  The award ceremony was ceremoniously held on the 27th of October 2022 at the BMICH with the participation of 45 winners. Winners were rewarded with medals, certificates and gift vouchers at a ceremonial event graced by the Chief Guest of the event, Shamindra Marcelline Chief Executive Officer / General Manager of PLC and the corporate management team. Prior to the ceremony, the winning children were able to enjoy a sightseeing tour on a double-decker bus in Colombo city.

PLC is a subsidiary of the People’s Bank, one of the largest state-owned banks in the country. Commencing operations in 1996 as a specialised leasing company, PLC was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2011. PLC has six subsidiaries in allied areas of specialization including an overseas venture in Bangladesh.

 

 



 

 


November 14, 2022
Image-4-LBN-2.jpg

4min

 



 

 

14th November 2022, Colombo: Eric Rajapakse Opticians, Sri Lanka’s leading eyecare specialist with over 100 years of expertise, celebrated World Children’s Day by conducting an art competition under the theme “Lama asin lowa andimu” for children from Grades 1 to 10 recently. The competition was organised to provide a platform for school children to showcase their artistic talents and have the chance to win attractive prizes for their education.

The prize giving ceremony of the competition, which drew around 1,500 entries from across the island, was held recently at the Malabe branch of Eric Rajapakse Opticians. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Rajeev Rajapakse- Managing Director, Eric Rajapakse Opticians, Sudharshana Wickramarachchi- Head of HR, Eric Rajapakse Opticians, Lahiru Deshan- Sales and Marketing Manager, Global Vision Lanka, Piumal De Soysa- Sales and Marketing Manager, Essilor Lanka along with the winners of the art competition and their parents.

Grade 1-3 entries were held under the topic “Sundara udesana mage asin” (A beautiful Morning) with Deneth Perera (1st place), Ovindi Ashinsa Ratnasuriya (2nd place) and Kiyasha Shanmi Purasinghe (3rd place) being picked as the 3 winners. The topic for Grade 4-7 was “Ma dutu ira basa yana sandewa” (Sunset) and the 3 winners were Lewmini Limansa (1st place), Hashindi Hemaya (2nd place) and Nethum Sansana (3rd place). Grade 8-10 children’s entries were submitted under the topic “Anagatha Lokaya Dakimu” (Future World) with Herathge Imalya Karunarathne (1st place), Methuki Mindara Udugama (2nd place) and Ishan Namina (3rd place) taking home the top 3 prizes. In order to encourage the creative and educational pursuits of these highly-talented children all prize winners were presented with school supplies while 500 certificates were also given for selected participants.

Eric Rajapakse Opticians offers eye and hearing testing services carried out by highly-qualified and well-experienced professionals using state-of-the-art equipment. Having completed the testing, customers can then choose from a comprehensive range of international brands of frames and lenses. Additionally, for customers with hearing difficulties Beltone hearing aids from Denmark are also available. Eric Rajapakse branches are located at Colpetty, Wellawatte, Dehiwela, Malabe, Kiribathgoda, and Kandy. The convenient locations and ample parking available at all branches provide customers easy access to attend to their requirements.

 

 



 

 


October 21, 2022
310670254_5779483565478574_6389375398457100236_n-LBN.jpg

4min

 



 

 

Prima Stella celebrated World Children’s Day this year by joining hands with the non-profit volunteer group, ‘The Samaritans’ in its ‘3000 Smiles’ meal programme. The initiative was implemented and mobilised by The Samaritans with the aim of providing a meal to children across the nation.

Ceylon Agro Industries Limited (Prima Group), provided Prima Stella Cup Noodles and other additional nutritious food ingredients for the students at the Boralasgamuwa Maha Vidyalaya, Boralesgamuwa. In addition, students who stayed after school for the classes conducted by the school to prepare them for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination were provided with a lunch packet each courtesy of Prima Stella.

The meal programmes organised by The Samaritans were carried out primarily in schools, but also included religious places and community centres to reach a wider audience. The programme has covered many parts of the country, including but not limited to Colombo, Kandy, Kilinochchi, Pottuvil, Baddegama, Maskeliya, Palmadulla, Monaragala, Hikkaduwa and Godagama. In addition to providing meals and other gift items, a range of educational and entertainment activities were organised in selected locations to lift the children’s spirits.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries –   Prima Group Sri Lanka, Mr. Sajith Gunaratne stated, “This initiative undertaken by The Samaritans is commendable, as a group that has won the trust and patronage of many generations, we’re pleased to be a part of this programme that strives to improve the health and nourishment of the next generation.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Ricky Simms from The Samaritans noted, “The Samaritans have carried out meal drives since June 2022; so far, we have provided 9,712 meals to children and elders across the country and hope to do many more continuously going forward. The Samaritans is thankful to Ceylon Agro Industries, Prima Group Sri Lanka for coming forward to help in this initiative and we hope to work together going forward in this worthy cause.”

Furthermore, over 10,000 cups of Prima Stella Noodles were distributed in lieu of many World Children’s Day celebrations across the country in collaboration with local government authorities. Committed to giving back to the community it operates in, Ceylon Agro Industries of Prima Group hopes to pursue more initiatives of similar nature to assist the nation’s fight against food insecurity among vulnerable communities of the country.

 



 

 

 


October 18, 2022
Image-2-LBN-Fill-8.jpg

3min

 



 

 

18th October 2022, Colombo: Mount Lotus Eye and ENT Hospitals, the newest hospital of its kind in Sri Lanka, marked World Children’s Day and World Elders’ Day with a health camp at the hospital premises in Mount Lavinia recently.

During the all-day health camp around 500 children and elders had the opportunity to have their eyes and hearing checked by the hospital’s experienced healthcare professionals. In addition to basic eye and hearing tests, all elders underwent tests that checked their blood sugar, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index (BMI) after which the MLH team provided them advice on to how to lead a healthier lifestyle. Fifty children who underwent tests and required further eye examinations were given the chance to get a free eye consultation from specialist eye doctors at MLH while special discounts were also given to all patients for spectacles and hearing devices.

Dr. Saman P. Basnayake – General Manager of Mount Lotus Eye and ENT Hospitals stated, “Since the official unveiling of the hospital last year, we have attempted to give back to those who are unable to access quality eye and hearing care. This is why we organized this health camp to celebrate World Children’s and Elder’s Day. We are happy to witness the hundreds of children and elders who came for the health camp and I am grateful to the hardworking MLH team for making this initiative a great success.”

Located at No.102, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia, Mount Lotus Eye and ENT Hospitals is a specialized hospital dedicated to providing world-class range of Eye and ENT medical solutions to local and international patients. The hospital is fully-equipped with modern medical technologies and highly-acclaimed, skilled professionals to provide medical and surgical solutions for any kind of Eye and ENT impairment. The hospital’s well-trained specialists have years of experience and are backed by a professional, friendly support team who are knowledgeable in taking good care of patients. By using state-of-the-art equipment, they are able to carry out a wide range of Eye and ENT services that will provide patients with highest quality care in Sri Lanka.

 



 

 

 


October 18, 2022
CMO-Softlogic-Life.jpg

5min

 



 

 

18th October 2022, Colombo: Unleashing yet another ground-breaking initiative, Softlogic Life the fastest growing life insurer in Sri Lanka, recently commemorated World Children’s Day with their “Heta Rata Daru Nalawili” campaign, in an effort to inspire and positively contribute to Sri Lanka’s future generations.

Centred on the strength of the mother-child bond, the initial phase of this campaign took place during International Mother’s Day earlier this year. It is widely understood that lullabies are one of the first forms of communication between a mother and her child especially during a child’s early development stages. Recognizing the power that these lullabies hold, Softlogic Life invited the whole of Sri Lanka to submit their own creative lullabies, written in a manner to better suit the children of the modern age.

The response was encouraging, with nearly 300 submissions received from mothers, fathers, poets, writers and profiles of varying nature who had a love for the written word. And then on World Children’s Day, the “Heta Ratata Daru Nalawili campaign came to full circle, out of which 10 were shortlisted and produced as original lullabies, and for the 1st time in Sri Lanka a brand enlisted a playlist of lullabies to Spotify for the general public to access.

With a keen, long-term focus on inspiring future generations, this initiative falls in line with this year’s theme for Children which is to create ‘A Better Future for Every Child’, helping parents filter out all negativity and pass on good values to our children. By leveraging on the power of lullabies, the hope is that future generation of Sri Lankans will be instilled with the right values, mindset and the resilience to keep progressing and reaching for the stars and inadvertently – creating a better and brighter Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the innovative campaign, Softlogic Life Chief Marketing Officer, Kavi Rajapaksha stated, “We are a brand that’s truly committed towards driving a great quality of life among all Sri Lankans, and with Sri Lanka facing one of its most challenging periods, we felt that there was no better time than now to infuse positivity to the nation. We would like to thank everyone who partook in this campaign and helped with crafting of these beautiful and time relevant lullabies”

She further went onto to state “I must also touch upon the science behind the creation of the lullaby tracks that we chose to incorporate during production. So according to research things like Alpha Music can calm the senses, help with sleep and adjust thought waves to access the creative universe of the mind. Delta wave music is also another element that helps your infant feel as though they are still inside the womb and simulating this environment can help babies sleep better leading to good brain development.  Since a parent uses lullabies to put their child to sleep and keep them calm, we wanted to make sure these lullabies would do the job right and was created in a manner that was benefitting to parents.

 



 

 

 



About us

Lanka Business News is amongst the leading online Business News portals in Sri Lanka, unique for its focus on contemporary business news relevant across multiple industries operating in the country. We present not only the news, but a perspective based on observations and possible implications of a prevailing news item. LBN also provides an insight to the impact of a global economic or industrial development, thus helping stakeholders make informed and calculated decisions.




Follow Us


Newsletter