Rooted Resilience: Cultivating a Cool Future Through Youth-Driven Tree Planting

In an era where the environment demands our attention, a silent hero is working tirelessly, asking for nothing in return—a tree. Did you know that a single tree emits 260 pounds of oxygen annually, sustaining two human lives? The ecological benefits are staggering, with a tree's fifty-year lifespan contributing $30,000 in oxygen production, $35,000 in water purification, and an astounding $125,000 in carbon sequestration. Governments invest billions to achieve what trees achieve effortlessly.

This brings us to a crucial realization—we must champion tree planting. The solution lies in recognizing the worth of trees and actively participating in their proliferation. An initiative sparked by the young minds of our community can be the key to unlocking a cool and sustainable future.

In April 2021, the youth of Batticaloa took a significant step towards this vision. Underlining the importance of tree planting, they heeded the call to action. Their hands, young and eager, became the agents of positive change, sowing the seeds of a greener tomorrow.

10 Lucrative Online Business Ideas for 2023

The Future of Business: 10 Online Ideas for 2023

The online world has seen a huge surge in activity over the past few years, with millions of people now relying on the internet for work, shopping, and entertainment. The demand for online businesses has never been higher, and the opportunities for entrepreneurs are endless. In this article, we'll take a look at ten lucrative online business ideas for 2023.

1.       E-commerce Store

One of the most popular online businesses is an e-commerce store. This is where you sell physical products online, such as clothing, electronics, or home goods. The key to success is finding a profitable niche and creating a unique brand that stands out from the competition.

To start an e-commerce store, you'll need to choose a platform, such as Shopify or WooCommerce, and set up your website. You'll also need to source products, build relationships with suppliers, and develop a marketing strategy.

10 Fears hinder growth

Fears that can hold you back from making decisions that promote business growth

We all feel fear at some point in our life as humans. Fear is a normal feeling that can be brought on by a range of events and has a big influence on how we make decisions. Fear can be especially sneaky when it comes to the expansion of a business since it can keep us from taking the calculated risks and courageous decisions that are frequently necessary for success. In this article, we'll look at 10 common worries that can prevent you from taking actions that will help your business flourish.

Anjana Reddy: The Young Entrepreneur Who Made it Big in the Fashion Industry

Anjana Reddy, a former national-level badminton player, found her true calling in the fashion industry. She is the Founder of Universal Sportsbiz Ltd, which is now an Rs. 100-crore business. Reddy is a young entrepreneur in India who is experimenting with designs, and creating celebrity fashion labels, Wrogn and Imara, with Virat Kohli and Shraddha Kapoor as the face of the brands.

I had the pleasure of meeting Anjana Reddy and listening to her motivational talk a few years back. Recently, she was the keynote speaker at the forum of Young, Bold, and Daring – the spirit of young entrepreneurs for a country enriched. The forum aimed to create awareness about opportunities available for young entrepreneurs, especially women who venture into enterprises. It also discussed the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and how to overcome them.

Difficulties on accessing facilities in SME development in Sri Lanka.

 Background.

More than 50 million SMEs exist currently and over the last five decades, the SME sector has grown dynamically by contributing 40% of the country’s exports and creating millions of jobs annually.

In Sri Lankan context, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in economies in terms of their contribution to national output, employment and share of firms operating in countries and also SMEs are the backbone of the economy, which is accounting over 52% of total GDP in our economy, therefore key players in engendering regional development and inclusive growth, i.e. ensuring that the benefits of growth go to all cohorts of society. In addition SMEs provide 45% of national employment and 75% of the total enterprises in the economy. The notable one in the below figure is the SMEs are owned by the women is about 22-39%.  So these enterprises present a wealth of opportunity for domestic economic growth.

Entrepreneur development post Covid 19.

A new non-profit organization, Entrepreneur Support Lab or ENSULA, has been formed to provide technical assistance to small and medium entrepreneurs. This is an initiation by CEO and Chairman of The Advanced Design Studio Mr. Wijesinghe Dissanayake, Assistant Director of the National Human Resource Development Council of Sri Lanka Mr. Sivaguru Thanigaseelan, and Director of the Institute for Health and Social Behavior (USA) Dr. Thulitha Wickrama. The goal of the organization is to provide technical assistance to S & M entrepreneurs in formation, functioning, and management of business activities. Through the assistance provided this organization wishes to help them succeed both in Sri Lanka and abroad.  

Construction Industry employment and Covid-19

Overview of the Construction Industry

Sri  Lankan  construction  industry development  has  closely followed  the  economic  developments of the  past  decade.  The  economic conditions  of the day determined the developmental trend in the construction  industry.  The  construction sector has benefited from the recent growth in   infrastructure projects  resulting from the rapid  urban  development policies.  

Within the last eleven year, the country saw an unprecedented development of high-end residential apartments, commercial space, hotels and resorts, and infrastructure; a record growth in the construction sector. Just as the construction industry has benefited the most from the developmental policies, the economy has in turn benefited from the construction industry n terms of employment and finances. With the growth in the construction industry in recent years, its financial and employment contribution to the economy has been large. The contribution by the construction industry to the GDP and employment generation is about 8%. Gross Domestic Capital Formation has contributed about 42%.