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Sri Lanka’s Piyumi Wijesekara among new NASA crew for next simulated Mars journey

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Sri Lanka’s Piyumi Wijesekera has been selected as one of NASA’s four new volunteer crew members for a simulated mission to Mars, taking place within a habitat at the agency’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston.

Joining Wijesekera are Jason Lee, Stephanie Navarro, and Shareef Al Romaithi. The team will enter the agency’s Human Exploration Research Analog, or HERA, on Friday, May 10th. Over the course of 45 days, they will live and work like astronauts before exiting the facility on June 24th, simulating their “return” to Earth. Jose Baca and Brandon Kent serve as alternate crew members for this mission.

HERA provides scientists with insights into how crew members adapt to isolation, confinement, and remote conditions, crucial for preparing astronauts for deep space missions to destinations like the Moon and Mars.

During their simulated mission to the Red Planet, the crew will conduct scientific research and operational tasks, including virtual “walks” on Mars’s surface and experiencing communication delays with Mission Control Centre lasting up to five minutes each way as they “approach” Mars.

This crew marks the second group of volunteers to participate in a simulated Mars mission in HERA this year, with two more missions planned before the end of 2024. Piyumi Wijesekera, a postdoctoral research scientist at NASA Ames Research Centre in California’s Silicon Valley, specializes in developing tissue models to study the effects of spaceflight stressors on the human respiratory system.

Wijesekera holds a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, and master’s and doctorate degrees in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her doctoral research focused on stem cell and organ engineering, particularly in engineering lung models to study respiratory diseases.

Living in San Francisco, Wijesekera enjoys spending time with family and friends, running along the San Francisco Bay, reading, hiking, volunteering at the food pantry, and attending concerts and musicals.

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LUXN (Pvt) Ltd Marks 4 Years of Transforming Professional Networking in Sri Lanka

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LUXN (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s leading NFC-based solution provider, celebrates four years of innovation and growth this October. Since launching Sri Lanka’s first NFC-powered Smart Business Card in 2021, LUXN has transformed how professionals and corporates connect – offering seamless, app-free, and eco-friendly digital networking.

Over the years, LUXN has empowered more than 25,000 professionals and 50+ leading corporates, including DFCC Bank, Prime Group, Toyota Lanka, City of Dreams, and Cinnamon Hotels, positioning itself as a key player in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation journey.

Beyond its flagship product, the company has introduced several NFC-powered innovations, including LUXN Reviewy, a customer feedback solution now used by brands such as Barista, Celsius Bedding, and Kangaroo Cabs. In 2024, LUXN further expanded with the launch of LUXN IT, a subsidiary specializing in custom software, web, mobile, and IoT solutions.

Co-founded by Sahan Muramudalige (CEO), Limashi Karunasekara (COO), and Kalhara Gunawardhana (CTO), LUXN continues to pioneer smart, connected, and sustainable technology solutions, driving Sri Lanka toward a more digitally empowered future.

While LUXN was officially incorporated as a private limited company in April 2023, the company proudly recognizes October 23, 2021, as its true founding date marking the moment its flagship product transformed from concept to reality and began reshaping Sri Lanka’s digital networking landscape.

Today, LUXN remains committed to its founding vision to empower people and businesses through smart, connected, and sustainable technology paving the way for a new era of innovation and digital progress in Sri Lanka.

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Ceylon Tea Sets Guinness World Record

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Sri Lanka has secured a place in the Guinness World Records after the New Vithanakande Tea Factory was officially recognized for producing the world’s most expensive tea.

The milestone was achieved with its premium Ceylon Black Tea (FFExSp), which sold in Japan for Rs. 252,500 per kilogram (around ¥125,000).

Industry experts noted that this accomplishment underscores the global appeal of high-quality Ceylon tea while boosting Sri Lanka’s image in the luxury tea market.

New Vithanakande is already renowned for setting record-breaking auction prices, especially for its OP1 grade, but this latest achievement marks a new era in branding Ceylon tea at the highest international level.

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From Muddy Paths to Mountain Views: The Story of the Pekoe Trail

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Arjuna Samarakoon and team pictured at the completion of the Pekoe Trail

Arjuna Nayanka Samarakoon, better known as Arj Samarakoon, has built a reputation as an investor, reform advocate, and philanthropist. For him, Sri Lanka’s most ambitious long-distance walking route, the Pekoe Trail, is not simply a path through the hills but a reminder of how persistence and preparation shape both journeys and reforms.

The Trail as a Teacher

In his Pekoe Trail Guide, Samarakoon reflects on the lessons he drew from the experience. Keeping a light pack, setting a steady pace, and learning to embrace discomfort all became reminders that progress comes step by step. He often describes how conversations with villagers along the way were just as meaningful as the sweeping views, a reminder that development is most powerful when it connects people.

A Shared Journey for Communities

As highlighted in the Daily Mirror Feature the Pekoe Trail offers more than scenery. It creates opportunities for communities across the central highlands, from tea estate workers to small guesthouse owners. Samarakoon has consistently stressed that reform is not only about policy but about real benefits for families and villages who carry Sri Lanka forward every day.

500K Steps of Endurance

The The Financial Times reports that the Pekoe Trail is now the focus of the 500K Steps campaign, aiming to raise LKR 20 million for conservation and community development. For Samarakoon, joining this effort is both personal and symbolic. Every kilometre walked represents the persistence needed to reform systems, rebuild credibility, and create opportunities.

Reform as a Long Walk

Samarakoon often frames reform as scaffolding, delivery as the building, and competitiveness as the stage where people choose to live and invest. In many ways, the Pekoe Trail reflects the same truth. It is not conquered in one stride, but by consistent steps, preparation, and resilience.

Looking Ahead

By sharing his experience on the Pekoe Trail and supporting the 500K Steps campaign, Arjuna Nayanka Samarakoon highlights that Sri Lanka’s future will not be built overnight. It will take the same qualities the trail demands — endurance, patience, and a willingness to walk together. His message is simple but powerful: progress begins when people commit to the journey, one step at a time.

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