Product & Service Launches / Business Expansions
View all(116)✈️ Emirates & Boeing Explore Bringing Boeing 777-9 to Sri Lanka
• Strategic Engagement: Key officials from Boeing, Emirates, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) met to initiate preliminary talks on introducing Boeing 777-9 aircraft operations to Sri Lanka. • Regulatory Alignment: Discussions centered on meeting regulatory, airworthiness, safety, and airport infrastructure requirements necessary to accommodate the next-generation wide-body aircraft. • Advanced Features: The long-haul Boeing 777-9 features advanced fuel-efficiency technology and folding wingtips, allowing its large wingspan to operate within existing airport gates and taxiways. • Economic Impact: CAASL confirmed its positive intent to facilitate access upon safety approval, a move set to boost the aviation, tourism, and logistics & freight sectors while improving national air connectivity.
Chance Fashion Launches High-Tech Integrated Facility in Moratuwa 📈
• Facility Launch: Leading Sri Lankan apparel & textiles supplier Chance Fashion has opened a new high-tech manufacturing plant, showroom, and factory outlet in Moratuwa (No. 73/13, New Galle Road). • Operational Integration: The investment integrates manufacturing, retail, and showroom operations under one roof, marking a milestone in the firm's 18-year history. • Strategic Expansion: Designed to enhance production capabilities and scale up retail, e-commerce, and wholesale distribution across the country for women's fashion. • Leadership Insight: Owner Maheshani Henricus highlighted that the expansion underscores a commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainable growth within the local market.
💎 Gem Sri Lanka 2027 Unveiled in Bangkok to Boost Trade Ties
• Trade Performance: Sri Lankan exports to Thailand more than doubled in 2025, reaching over US$ 90 Mn (up from ~US$ 41.6 Mn in 2024). • Key Sector: Gem and jewellery remains the primary driver, with precious and semi-precious stones accounting for nearly 70% of total exports to Thailand. • Strategic Partnership: Event highlighted opportunities for bilateral cooperation in gem cutting, processing, jewellery manufacturing, design, and technology transfer, leveraging Sri Lanka's raw gemstone resources alongside Thailand's processing and global marketing expertise. • Upcoming Event: Organized by the Ceylon Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), the 4th edition of "Gem Sri Lanka 2027" is set to take place in Sri Lanka in January 2027 to connect international buyers and drive industry diversification.
⚡ GS EVO Motors Launches JMEV EWIND Electric SUV in Sri Lanka
• Market Entry & Focus: Authorized distributor GS EVO Motors Ltd. has launched the all-new JMEV EWIND compact electric SUV, expanding local adoption in the electric mobility and automotive sectors to support sustainable transportation. • Performance Specs: • Power Output: Up to 108 kW • Max Torque: 210 Nm • Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in 8.9 seconds • Battery Capacity: 70.38 kWh • Driving Range: Up to 610 km (NEDC) • Design & Safety Features: Equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic moonroof, lightweight steel-aluminum body structure, 6 airbags, ABS, ESP, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). • Warranty & After-Sales: Includes an 8-year or 150,000 km battery warranty, a 5-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty, and free labor and materials for the first 5 services.
🚗 Hayleys Mobility & HDFC Bank Partner to Provide Flexible Vehicle Leasing
• Strategic MoU Signed: Hayleys Mobility Ltd. has partnered with HDFC Bank of Sri Lanka to offer customized financing facilities across its multi-brand vehicle portfolio. • Product Portfolio Covered: Covers passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers, including four-wheelers from OMODA & JAECOO, KAIYI, SRM, and King Long, plus CFMOTO and ZEEHO two-wheelers. • Financing Terms: Offers flexible repayment tenors, specialized leasing options, and tailored credit packages subject to HDFC Bank's prevailing credit guidelines. • Sustainability Focus: Drives adoption of fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric options, aligning with national goals to lower reliance on fossil fuels and curb carbon emissions. • EV Ecosystem Integration: Supported by parent company Hayleys Fentons, the partnership connects electric vehicles (EVs) with charging infrastructure, installation, and after-sales care to expand nationwide mobility access.
☕ Kahawatte Plantations & Australia's MDF Partner to Boost Specialty Coffee Exports
• Project Overview: Kahawatte Plantations PLC (KWPL) and Australia's Market Development Facility (MDF) have launched a new Coffee Processing Centre and Smallholder Farmer Network at Craighead Estate, Nawalapitiya. The initiative aims to expand Sri Lanka’s specialty coffee sector alongside established tea, rubber, and cinnamon operations. • Processing Facilities: The newly commissioned processing centre features advanced processing machinery, including a disk pulper and washer, an African huller, a flat-deck grader, a gravity separator, and a modern 1,000-square-foot drying house. • Smallholder Farmer Impact: • Supports 169 smallholder farming families, surpassing the initial target of 100 families. • Plans to expand the network to 500 smallholder farmers by 2030. • Farmers receive quality planting materials via the MJF Charitable Foundation alongside technical extension support. • Market & Export Targets: • Aims to export premium green beans to high-value international markets, including Australia. • Strategy includes in-house roasting for domestic premium consumer and business markets in Sri Lanka.
Infomate Expands Sri Lanka’s BPM Footprint to Kurunegala 📈
• Strategic Regional Expansion: Infomate Ltd, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC, opened its second regional office in Kurunegala to expand the national ICT/BPM footprint beyond Colombo. • Talent Retention & Inclusion: The move aims to retain local talent by providing international career pathways and global market exposure for youth in the North Western Province without requiring relocation. • Proven Regional Track Record: Builds on Infomate’s rural BPM/BPO delivery models previously established in Mahavilachchiya, Seenigama, and Jaffna. • Global Reach: As Sri Lanka's first ISO 27001-certified accounting BPO, Infomate currently serves clients across 10 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.
🛡️ Kaspersky Partners with Vietnam to Boost Cyber Security
• Strategic Partnership: Kaspersky signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam’s Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department under the Ministry of Public Security to strengthen national cybersecurity capabilities. • Core Scope of Cooperation: • Exchange of threat intelligence, cyberthreat data, and international experience. • Capacity building to prevent, detect, and proactively respond to cybercrime and high-tech crime. • Policy development support to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable digital ecosystem. • Institutional Context: • Supports Vietnam’s accelerated digital transformation amid rising cyber-risk scale and sophistication. • Follows nearly 20 years of Kaspersky’s collaboration with Vietnamese state agencies, enterprises, and research bodies, complemented by opening its official Ho Chi Minh City office in 2025. • Aligns with broader regional efforts to fortify national critical infrastructure and drive capacity building in the ICT/BPM and digital economy sectors across Asia.
☀️ Hayleys Solar Commissions 3MW Veyangoda Solar Project
• Project Launch & National Targets: Hayleys Solar, a unit of Hayleys Fentons under the Hayleys Group, has commissioned its 3MW Veyangoda Ground-Mounted Solar Project. Opened by Energy Minister Hon. Anura Karunathilake, this marks the first installation under the company's planned 300MW ground-mounted solar portfolio across Sri Lanka to drive the nation's renewable energy transition. • Technical Specifications & Generation: • Installed Capacity: 4,143.36 kWp DC / 3MW AC featuring 640W bifacial solar panels. • Annual Output: ~6.35 Mn kWh (6,351,770.88 kWh) of clean electricity, enough to power ~2,700 average Sri Lankan households. • Carbon Reduction: Offsets ~4,339.53 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. • Climate-Resilient Design & Agrivoltaics: • Built adjacent to Aththanagalla Oya, the plant features an elevated mounting structure (~2.7 metres ground clearance) to resist local flooding based on historical Irrigation Department data. • The elevated layout allows dual land use via an agrivoltaic initiative, supporting the cultivation of agriculture crops like brinjal and Scotch bonnet pepper beneath the solar panels.
🤖 Salesforce Unveils Trusted Enterprise AI Harness 📈
Salesforce has introduced its Trusted Enterprise AI Harness, a unified architecture designed to help enterprises securely build, manage, and scale autonomous AI agents across core business operations. • Core Architecture & Control Plane: Features a centralized AI Control Plane alongside six core capabilities: Trusted Context, Trusted Agency, Trusted Action, Trusted Governance, Trusted Security, and Trusted Models. • Platform Integration: Integrates technologies across Data 360, Informatica, MuleSoft, Agent Fabric, Tableau, Agentforce, Salesforce Guardian, and Salesforce Platform. • Ecosystem & Interoperability: Extends across third-party platforms and tools including Claude, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. • Timeline & Availability: Key foundational technologies are currently available, with the full experience planned for rollout starting early fiscal FY28. Upgrade paths and pricing are to be announced.
Dialog Launches South Asia’s First 5G eSIM MiFi 📶
• Key Highlights: Dialog Axiata PLC introduced South Asia's first 5G MiFi featuring eSIM technology and Wi-Fi 6, expanding Sri Lanka's telecommunications & digital infrastructure. • Network & Reach: Backed by over 1,000 live 5G sites across all 25 districts, supporting both Dialog 5G Ultra and 4G networks. • Device Specs: • Supports up to 16 simultaneous devices. • 5000mAh battery providing up to 16 hours of continuous use. • Equipped with Type-C USB connectivity. • Pricing & Plans: Retails at LKR 39,990 with installment options up to 60 months. Compatible with Dialog Ultra plans (LKR 1,495 to LKR 3,999).
🚘 GAC Expands Sri Lankan Footprint with New 3S Facility & EMKOO SUV Launch
Chinese automaker GAC, alongside local distributor Automobile Technologies Ltd., has strengthened its local operations by opening a integrated 3S facility in Union Place, Colombo, while officially introducing the all-new GAC EMKOO SUV. • 3S Facility Launch: The new Union Place venue consolidates Sales, Service, and Genuine Spare Parts under one roof to enhance post-purchase support and customer experience in the domestic automotive market. • GAC EMKOO SUV Specs: • Engine & Power: 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 177 PS and 270 Nm of torque. • Transmission & Performance: 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission; accelerates 0–100 km/h in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 190 km/h. • Cabin & Tech: Features a dual-screen setup (10.25-inch LCD cluster + 10.1-inch infotainment screen) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. • Storage: Cargo space offers 638 litres, expandable to 1,586 litres. • Key Stakeholders Present: Event led by GAC South Asia Region GM Daniel Zhou, GAC Country Manager Raymon Wang, Asia Region Director Faisal Sharif, alongside Automobile Technologies Ltd. Directors Chandri Jayathilake and Suren Karunakaran.