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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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Sohan Jayasena to take ceylon spices to the global wellness stage with Mild Earth

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Sri Lanka may give the world another refreshing beverage. Made of an original recipe, it’s brewed from some of the country’s most iconic spices, that could, in time, match the country’s best-known export, tea, thanks to the vision of the enterprising young marketing professional, Sohan Jayasena and his company mild earth

‘Wild Mist Water’ unveiled at an appropriately styled ‘quiet reveal’ in Colombo 7 a few weeks back is, in its creator Sohan Jayasena’s words, “a luxury wellness experience inspired by Sri Lanka’s botanical heritage.”

Available initially in four variants, the Wild Mist Water mixes come in canisters, and their contents must be brewed just as tea is, with each canister containing a thoughtfully curated mix of local spices that have been associated for generations with physical and mental wellbeing.

The spices that go into the mix are drawn entirely from Sri Lanka’s botanical repertoire, with each blend combining coriander seeds with carefully balanced accents of nigella, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and lemongrass. The result is a subtle, refined infusion designed not to overwhelm the palate, but to offer a calming aroma, a smooth mouthfeel and a sense of grounding that unfolds slowly with each sip, giving its patrons a time to pause a moment of calm that is much needed in a world that never pauses or stops.

At the heart of the brand is its founder’s belief that Sri Lanka’s wellness heritage does not need exaggeration or nostalgia to be relevant to modern life, only thoughtful reinterpretation.

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Araliya Group of Companies Strengthens Logistics Operations with Acquisition of 10 New Trucks from DIMO

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Araliya Group of Companies has further strengthened its logistics and transportation capabilities with the acquisition of 10 brand-new TATA LPK 1618 trucks from Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), one of Sri Lanka’s leading automobile distributors.

This strategic investment expands the Group’s existing fleet to over 200 vehicles, reinforcing its ability to support large-scale operations across multiple sectors. The newly added trucks are expected to enhance efficiency, reliability, and operational capacity within Araliya’s supply chain and distribution network.

DIMO’s comprehensive after-sales service, technical expertise, and long-standing reputation for quality were key factors behind the Group’s decision. The collaboration highlights Araliya Group’s continued commitment to operational excellence and sustainable growth, while reaffirming DIMO’s position as a trusted partner for large-scale commercial transport solutions in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka’s Largest Vehicle Investment: DIMO and Rathna Rice Pvt Ltd Complete Historic 50-Vehicle Fleet Deal

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In a groundbreaking transaction that marks Sri Lanka’s largest single vehicle investment to date, DIMO Lanka has successfully completed the delivery of 50 LPT 1615 TATA commercial trucks to Rathna Rice Pvt Ltd, setting a new benchmark for fleet acquisitions in the country.

This substantial growth demonstrated by the local business sector represents an economically significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s commercial vehicle industry.

The deal underscores the confidence and expansion capabilities of Sri Lankan enterprises, highlighting the continued strength of the domestic business community.

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