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The Public Relations Association of Sri Lanka, the national industry body, successfully completed conducting a new 3-month ‘Certificate Course in Public Relations and Corporate Communications’ in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute. All members of the inaugural batch passed the course, with a majority gaining Merit and Distinction grades. The Graduation Ceremony was held on the 17th of September.
The course largely drew young working adults who wanted to learn more about this professional field or wanted to broaden their skills in the field. In a feedback survey, they expressed their satisfaction about the course as follows: 84% indicated that the course met or exceeded expectations and were satisfied or very satisfied. 100% indicated that the course was relevant to them and 74% said they would recommend the course to others.
The course was curated by PRASL president Nimal Gunewardena, who has significant experience in teaching and putting together such courses for SLIM, SLFI and others. SLPI CEO Kumar Lopez recalled a similar course on Advertising & Communications done with SLPI over 10 years ago with Nimal’s involvement. The Course was coordinated by PRASL Directors Sheranga Rajasuriya and Nevindee Amarasinghe and SLPI’s Dineshika Udyangi. PRASL and SLPI are planning to repeat the course in 2027.
This course reflects the new strategic direction PRASL has set itself, to reposition PR as ‘The Vital Strategic Communications Discipline that Drives Initiatives and Protects Reputation’. Hence, the course drew on senior industry professionals to teach a wide range of topics with case studies and practical experience. Interactive sessions included Issues & Crisis Management, Campaign Development, Execution & Evaluation, Digital PR and Content Development, Corporate Communications, Social Responsibility & Ethics, Event & Account Management, Internal Communications, Media, Target Audiences and Media Relations and more.
An end-of-course examination tested the participants’ thinking and presentation skills where they had to answer questions on all 20 topics covered, and do a written paper on a campaign to drive a passion project, and present advocacy campaigns on trending topics such as mitigating plastic pollution and road accidents, and against deforestation and sexual harassment.
As the next level up, PRASL is planning masterclasses with foreign and local trainers, customized training for corporates, and a higher level Diploma programme.
Those who wish to join PRASL as Professional, Associate or Graduate Members, gain professional recognition and contribute to the Association’s initiatives and projects may learn more from their website www.prasl.lk and Facebook page or write to [email protected]
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Dialog Axiata PLC announced its consolidated financial results for the nine months ended 30 September 2026 on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Financial results included those of Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) and of the Dialog Axiata Group (the “Group”).
The Group delivered revenue growth of 8% Year-to-Date (“YTD”) underpinned by robust performance across the Mobile, Fixed and Digital Pay Television businesses, with Group Revenue reaching Rs 144.1Bn for the first nine months of 2026. On a Quarter-on-Quarter (“QoQ”) and Year-on-Year (“YoY”) basis, Group Revenue grew 1% and 6% respectively to Rs 48.5Bn in Q3 2026, supported by growth in Data and Home Broadband revenues.
The Group Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) grew 20% YTD to Rs 75.8Bn, supported by strong revenue growth and continued operational efficiencies. The Group EBITDA margin expanded by 5.4 percentage points (“pp”) compared to the first nine months of 2025, supported by continued efficiency gains. For Q3 2026, Group EBITDA was recorded at Rs 25.9Bn, up 1% QoQ and 15% YoY.
Group Net Profit After Tax (“NPAT”) grew 92% YTD to Rs 28.5Bn for the first nine months of 2026, supported by strong EBITDA growth and lower net finance cost. Q3 2026 NPAT reached Rs 9.2Bn, representing a 62% YoY increase despite declining 9% QoQ. Excluding unrealized forex losses, underlying NPAT increased to Rs 10.2Bn for the quarter, growing 6% QoQ and 67% YoY and demonstrating continued strength in underlying earnings. On the same basis, NPAT for the first nine months of 2026 reached Rs 28.9Bn, recording 82% YTD growth.
Supported by strong operational performance, the Group recorded Operating Free Cash Flow (“OFCF”) of Rs 30.5Bn for the first nine months of 2026.
More details are available at the following links:
Dialog Axiata PLC direct weblink: https://www.dialog.lk/financial-report-archives#quaterly-reports
CSE direct weblink: https://www.cse.lk/company-profile?symbol=DIAL.N0000
Dialog sustainability: https://www.dialog.lk/sustainability
The National Eye Hospital observed World Keratoconus Day on Nov.10, highlighting advanced diagnostic and treatment options available to help young patients maintain clear vision and secure stable futures.
Keratoconus – a progressive eye condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape – poses a growing threat to young people across the island. Speaking on the impact of the disease, Dr. Kusum Ratnayake noted that the condition predominantly impacts children and youth, disrupting their education and preventing many young people from even obtaining a driver’s license.
“When advanced-stage keratoconus takes hold, entire families feel the strain through frequent hospital visits, while the economic productivity of affected young individuals is significantly hampered,” he said.
was told that the doctors at the hospital were not happy with current early detection numbers, which has prompted a renewed drive to broaden public awareness about the condition across the island.
Specialists stressed that timely screening and modern intervention strategies can effectively arrest the progression of the disease, safeguarding both educational prospects and long-term quality of life for Sri Lanka’s youth.
To combat late diagnoses, Dr. Ratnayake strongly advised all schoolchildren to make full use of periodic school vision screenings and get their eyes tested whenever the opportunity is offered.
Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to develop the technical expertise required to enter the emerging green hydrogen economy, with four state universities joining an international collaboration to introduce a specialised Master’s degree programme in Hydrogen Enabling Technologies.
The initiative, supported by the European Union (EU), is expected to strengthen the country’s academic, institutional and technical capacity to explore green hydrogen and green ammonia as potential components of its future energy mix, while opening opportunities in emerging domestic and export markets.
The launch of the international collaboration project, GREEN-HET, took place in Colombo, November 10, with Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka attending as chief guest. Energy Ministry Secretary Russell Aponso, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority chairman Prof. Wijendra J. Bandara and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation chairman D. J. Rajakaruna were among those present, alongside EU representatives, academic partners and stakeholders from government, industry and the wider community.
The proposed postgraduate programme will be jointly developed and delivered by the Universities of Moratuwa, Peradeniya, Ruhuna and Jaffna, bringing together academic expertise from across the country to build a specialised knowledge base in hydrogen-related technologies.
The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), which coordinates the GREEN-HET project, will work with the Sri Lankan universities and other European academic partners in developing the programme.
The three-year initiative is funded through the European Union’s Capacity Building in Higher Education programme. Its European consortium also includes the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, OTH Regensburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Virumaa College of Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia.
The collaboration comes at a time when green hydrogen is attracting growing international attention as countries seek alternatives to conventional fossil fuels and accelerate their transitions towards low-carbon energy systems.
For Sri Lanka, the initiative has particular significance given the country’s considerable renewable energy potential, including solar and wind resources, which could provide the electricity required for producing green hydrogen through electrolysis.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity generated from renewable sources. Unlike hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, this process can significantly reduce carbon emissions when the entire production chain is powered by clean energy.
The GREEN-HET project is aligned with priorities identified in Sri Lanka’s National Green Hydrogen Policy and National Hydrogen Roadmap. These include assessing the potential of renewable energy resources for green hydrogen and green ammonia production, strengthening energy security and exploring opportunities in both domestic and international markets.
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