Business News

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

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2024

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.

Business News

Elon Musk’s Starlink now in Sri Lanka

Published

6 days ago

July 2, 2025

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced that Starlink, his satellite-based internet service, is now available in Sri Lanka.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Musk posted, “Starlink now available in Sri Lanka!”, confirming the official launch of the high-speed satellite internet service in the country.

Starlink received regulatory clearance in August 2024 after the Sri Lankan government amended its telecommunications laws to accommodate satellite-based internet providers.

Business News

Eshana and Sarva appointed to the Global advisory council of the commonwealth Enterprice and Investment Council (CWEIC)

Published

2 weeks ago

June 23, 2025

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At the recent meeting of the Global Advisory Council of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), held at Pewterers’ Hall in the City of London, Eshana De Silva, Group Chairman of Esna Group, and Sarva Ameresekere, Group Chairman of George Steuart & Co., were formally appointed to the Council.

Chaired by Lord Marland of Odstock, with Lord (Hugo) Swire as Deputy Chair and contributions from Chief Executive Rosie Glazebrook, the meeting brought together senior figures from government, business, and civil society across the 56 Commonwealth nations. Discussions focused on CWEIC’s evolving programme of work, recent initiatives, and the strategic direction of its global partnerships.

Esna Group and George Steuart & Co. have also joined CWEIC as Strategic Partners, further strengthening the Council’s global business network.

The meeting saw strong participation from companies with a presence in Sri Lanka, including Eshana De Silva of Esna Group; Sarva Ameresekere of George Steuart & Co.; and Thilini Ekanayake, Chief People Officer at Shoretree Group.

CWEIC has an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 56 Commonwealth member nations. The role of CWEIC is to use the convening power and trusted network of the Commonwealth, which is led by His Majesty The King, to drive trade and investment.

Business News

Sri Lanka Moves to Fast Track Japanese Backed E-Gate System Project

Published

2 months ago

May 18, 2025

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A special committee meeting was recently held at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation to accelerate the implementation of an electronic gate system project, funded through a grant from the Japanese government.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala, Secretary to the Ministry Senior Professor Kapila C. Perera, Acting Chief of Staff of Japan Kamoshida Naoki, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Christine Parko, and representatives from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Airports, Customs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The committee reviewed the current progress of the e-gate system installation and explored practical steps to expedite the project. Discussions also focused on identifying potential challenges and implementing context-specific adjustments to ensure timely completion.

The electronic gate system aims to modernize border control infrastructure and improve efficiency in passenger processing at key ports of entry in Sri Lanka.