BIZ

Sri Lankan start-ups ace at SolarX Startup Challenge

Published

6 months ago

December 11, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has emerged as the country with the highest number of winners at the SolarX Startup Challenge (Asia-Pacific Chapter).

The Challenge launched at COP 28 by the International Solar Alliance in collaboration with Invest India is committed to identifying and fostering innovative solutions in the solar energy sector.
This year, the Challenge has identified top 20 startups from across Asia-Pacific, including Sri Lanka, Australia, Papua New Guinea, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Four of the twenty selected start-ups are from Sri Lanka. These start-ups were introduced to the Challenge in a workshop organised by High Commission of India earlier this year, in partnership with Invest India and the International Solar Alliance.

The following winners from Sri Lanka have been awarded grants of USD 15,000 each, alongside acceleration support encompassing mentorship, investor connections, and market access opportunities.

Bio Lanka Exports (Pvt) Ltd : Bio Lanka Exports offers eco-friendly, solar-powered container homes, minimizing material use and construction waste for residential and commercial needs.
Magicbit Pvt. Ltd. : Magicbit provides an open-source, real-time monitoring and analytics platform for solar energy, integrating IoT, cloud, and AI technologies for high scalability and real-time visibility.
Syntax Genie (Pvt) Ltd : Syntax Genie’s AI-driven platform optimizes solar mini-grid management, addressing energy poverty in remote Asia-Pacific areas with scalable and sustainable solutions.
Bluechip Technologies Asia : Bluechip Technologies leverages AI, IoT, GPS, and drone technology to optimize solar project deployment across the entire lifecycle, ensuring efficient site selection and planning.

Invest India is organising the second round of the SolarX Startup Challenge workshop in Colombo on 12 December 2024. This Physical Acceleration Workshop will be a capacity-building event to further empower startups in the renewable energy sector with mentorship sessions, interactive discussions, and pitching opportunities. It will also feature field visits to solar and renewable energy facilities in Sri Lanka, providing startups with hands-on exposure to the local ecosystem.

BIZ

1st stock of imported coconut milk to undergo clearance, lab testing today

Published

1 day ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The first consignment of imported coconut milk under the Government’s raw material importation programme is scheduled to undergo clearance and laboratory testing today (31), as part of a coordinated initiative by the Plantation Industries Ministry.

This initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to supply essential raw materials to industries linked to the coconut sector, aiming to reduce domestic coconut prices and support local manufacturers. The consignment currently under clearance includes products equivalent to 200 million coconuts. They are in the forms of frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder and chunked coconut with testa (non-copra), imported as part of the programme initiated in March 2025. The stock will be used primarily in the coconut milk powder industry, which has been facing raw material shortages. The Plantation Industries Ministry expects this move to reduce the pressure on local coconut supplies and contribute to a drop in retail coconut prices.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

BIZ

BoC employees to strike over unpaid incentives

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2025

editor

Employees of all Bank of Ceylon (BoC) branches have decided to walk out of service at 12.30 pm today (May 29).

The decision has been taken over the current management not taking the initiative to provide them with the 06-month incentive package approved by the Board of Directors, according to the Bank Employees’ Union.

Central Committee member of the Bank Employees’ Union – Najith Wijeratne, stated that they will initiate a token strike if this issue is not resolved by June 06.

BoC employees have also held lunchtime protests yesterday (May 28) in front of 22 branches in major cities islandwide.

BIZ

Imported salt released to market

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2025

editor

The National Salt Ltd. says that 2,800 MT of salt imported from India have been released to the market.

It says the food-grade salt stock, which arrived on May 23, is being distributed to the market through local salt sales agents for consumer sale.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development states that Lanka Salt Ltd. is importing 10,000 MT of salt, while over 100 importers, including those from Pettah, are bringing in an additional 100,000 MT.