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Sri Lanka leads South Asia in women in banking but barriers remain: IFC Report

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A new International Finance Corporation (IFC) report reveals that Sri Lanka surpasses its regional counterparts in recruiting women at the entry level in the banking sector, with women comprising 46% of new recruits.

The report, supported by the Women in Work program—a partnership between IFC and the Australian government—also highlights Sri Lanka’s leadership in board-level gender diversity, with women holding 27% of board positions, compared to 20% in Nepal and 14% in Bangladesh.

The pioneering report, Women’s Advancement in Banking in Emerging South Asian Countries, aims to optimize opportunities that enable women to advance to senior roles in the banking industry across South Asia. This multi-country study, among the first of its kind in the region, focuses on private-sector commercial banks in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, where women constitute 30% of the banking workforce compared to the global average of 52%.

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SriLankan Airlines unveils ‘Yaana’ the AI-powered chatbot

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SriLankan Airlines has unveiled ‘Yaana,’ an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance customer support and streamline passenger interactions.

Developed in collaboration with CodeGen International (Pvt) Ltd., Yaana utilizes advanced AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies to provide intelligent assistance for a wide range of inquiries.

Now live on SriLankan Airlines’ corporate website, the chatbot aims to deliver faster, more efficient, and personalized support to passengers worldwide.

Chamara Perera, Group Head of Information Technology at SriLankan Airlines, commented on this latest advancement in customer engagement technology stating, “Yaana features a generative AI virtual assistant powered by GPT-4 technology and is equipped with sophisticated retrieval capabilities to enhance customer interactions and efficiently address inquiries. The system also utilises a conversational AI framework and custom AI algorithms to deliver rapid, accurate, empathetic and contextually relevant responses. By cross-referencing multiple policy documents, real-time data sets, including flight schedules, Yaana ensures that passengers receive reliable, tailored information.”

Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales and Distribution at SriLankan Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm about Yaana’s potential, stating, “Since going live, Yaana has handled close to 12,000 inquiries with remarkable efficiency, autonomously resolving 88% of them. Furthermore, with its scalability, we anticipate Yaana will manage five times the current volume. By providing 24/7 assistance, including real-time updates during disruptions, streamlined booking guidance and personalised support for complex queries, Yaana will significantly enhance customer service every step of the way.”

The chatbot will prove especially indispensable during unplanned flight disruptions, a common occurrence in the airline industry, by assisting passengers in swiftly finding alternative travel options.

Available globally, Yaana also has multilingual capabilities, making it accessible to SriLankan Airlines’ diverse, global customer base. 

For SriLankan Airlines, an airline committed to using technological advancements to elevate the travel experience for passengers, Yaana marks a significant milestone in its digital evolution.

With this launch, SriLankan Airlines reaffirms its commitment to being one of South Asia’s most innovative and customer-focused airlines. Experience Yaana firsthand by visiting www.srilankan.com 

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Stasshani Jayawardena appointed chairperson of Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence

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Stasshani Jayawardena, daughter of Harry Jayawardena, has been appointed chairperson of Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence, and group companies Browns Beach Hotels and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings.

“Ms. Jayawardena has over 15 years of experience in the management of companies under the guidance of her late father Deshamanya D H S Jayawardena,” the company said in stock exchange filing.

“She has been managing and providing strategic direction to Aitken Spence Group Companies including the leisure sector and carries with her a wealth of knowledge and experience which is imperative for the continuous growth of the Aitken Spence Group of Companies adhering to the vision of late Deshamanya D H S Jayawardena.”

Jayawardena is a graduate of St James’ and Lucie Clayton College and Keele University in the United Kingdom, Emeritus Institute of Management, Singapore and an Associate Alumni of University of Cambridge (Judges Business School), United Kingdom. 

Jayawardena also interned under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and former US President Bill Clinton in 2003.

She is a Director of Melstacorp, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka, Lanka Milk Foods (CWE), and serves as the Joint Deputy Chairperson and Joint Managing Director of Aitken Spence and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings.

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Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda crowned 1st Runner-Up at Mrs. World

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Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda has etched her name in history by becoming the first runner-up at the 40th Mrs. World pageant held in Las Vegas, USA

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