As we welcome the New Year, I extend my warmest wishes to all readers of The Sun (Daily Mirror). A new year is more than a change of date, it is an invitation to renew our hopes, strengthen our resolve, and move forward with purpose and compassion. The year gone by has reminded us of the value of resilience, unity, and informed dialogue. May the year ahead bring peace to our homes, progress to our nation, and opportunity to every citizen. Let us choose empathy over division, integrity over indifference, and optimism over fear as we work together to build a more just and hopeful future. Wishing you and your loved ones a New Year filled with health, happiness, and renewed purpose.
Rishini Weeraratne, Editor,
The Sun (Daily Mirror)
Wishing you a New Year filled with love, healing, courage, and strength for a better tomorrow for all. One where both people and animals thrive together as one. Happy New Year.
Otara Gunewardene, Founder, Embark and The Otara Foundation.
Here’s to a New Year filled with hope, courage and new opportunities for us personally, and for our country. Despite the challenges faced, we must keep moving forward into the light, keeping the shadows behind us. In our journey to rebuild, let us always remember to carry the less fortunate with us into greener pastures. Wishing everyone a happy, peaceful, and healthy 2026.
Abbas Esufally, Group Director, Hemas Holdings PLC and Hon. Consul-General for Bhutan in
Sri Lanka
As 2026 begins, we look ahead with purpose and confidence. Sri Lanka’s recovery is underway, and we will continue to serve our customers and people with a renewed focus on sustainable growth that reaches every community; innovate where it improves lives and livelihoods; partner for better opportunities; and invest in solutions that protect our environment and future. Let’s take a moment to remember every moment that felt like a victory and every set back that taught us lessons. Let’s step into this new year just a little wiser, a little more hopeful and a lot more determined to do better. Thank you to everyone who stood with us. Together, let’s work towards steady progress in the year ahead. Happy New Year 2026!
Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC
As we bid farewell to 2025 and welcome the dawn of 2026, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka extends its warmest wishes for a prosperous and transformative New Year. The year ahead presents fresh opportunities to strengthen investor confidence, enhance competitiveness, and accelerate sustainable development. At the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, we remain steadfast in our mission to create a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly environment while supporting national priorities of growth, innovation, and prosperity. We extend our sincere appreciation to our investors, partners, and stakeholders for their continued trust and collaboration. Your contributions play a vital role in generating employment, expanding exports, and driving long-term value for the nation. May the New Year bring peace, resilience, and prosperity to our investors and all Sri Lankans. Together, let us move forward with confidence and purpose towards a stronger and more vibrant Sri Lanka. Warm wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2026!
Renuka Weerakoon, Director General, Board of Investments,
Sri Lanka
As we step into a new year, I am reminded that true progress is built on courage, compassion, and collective responsibility. While challenges continue to confront us, our strength lies in our ability to rise together; with resilience, dignity, and hope. For decades, I have believed that when women are empowered, families thrive, and nations move forward. The year ahead must be one where we continue to stand up for equality, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that every woman and girl has the opportunity to live with safety, respect, and purpose. Let us choose kindness over indifference, unity over division, and action over silence. May this new year inspire us to build a more just, inclusive, and compassionate society for future generations. Wishing everyone peace, strength, and renewed determination in the year ahead. Happy New Year.
Rosy Senanayake, Former Mayoress of Colombo.
As we step into a new year, let us be gentle with ourselves and with one another. The past year may have tested our strength in ways no one else could see, yet here we are, still standing, still hoping. May this new year bring healing where there was pain, clarity where there was doubt, and courage to move forward even when the path feels uncertain. Let us choose kindness, resilience, and purpose, and remember that every small step counts. Wishing you a year filled with peace, renewed strength, and meaningful beginnings.
Dr. Sulochana Segera, Chairperson, Women
in Management
As we step into the New Year, I do so with confidence and optimism for Sri Lanka. Our island has endured much, yet time and again we have proven our resilience and our ability to rise stronger. I firmly believe that 2026 will be a defining year for tourism, playing a meaningful role in our nation’s economic revival and creating better opportunities for our people. Sri Lanka has everything the world is seeking; beauty, authenticity, and heart. With unity, purpose, and pride in who we are, I am confident that the year ahead will be a positive and transformative one for
our country.
Hashan Cooray, Director, Marketing and Development, Jetwing Hotels
As we welcome a new year, we do so with renewed hope and a deep appreciation for the strength of the human spirit. The past years have reminded us of the importance of resilience, compassion, and unity; values that lie at the very heart of healthcare. At Nawaloka Hospitals, our commitment remains unwavering; to place patients first, to uphold excellence in care, and to continuously evolve to meet the needs of our communities. The dedication of our healthcare professionals and the trust placed in us by countless families inspire us to do better every day.
As we look ahead, innovation, empathy, and responsibility will guide our path. May the year ahead bring good health, reassurance, and renewed confidence to all. Together, let us continue building a healthier, more hopeful future for Sri Lanka.
Happy New Year.
Givanthi Dharmadasa, Executive Director, Nawaloka Hospitals PLC.
New Stories, New Beginnings! As we step into 2026, I find myself thinking about stories. The ones we inherit, the ones we tell ourselves, and most powerfully, the ones we choose to write.
Every New Year offers us blank pages. We become architects of our own narratives, deciding which chapters to close and which new ones to begin. The stories we lean into shape everything: our choices, our courage, our capacity to transform our lives and our communities.
This year, may you claim authorship of your story. May you write chapters filled with purpose, resilience, and hope. May you discover that the most inspiring stories are not found in books. They are the ones we live. Here’s to new beginnings. Here’s to your story. Happy New Year,
Sri Lanka.
Farzana Baduel, Founder / CEO, Curzon PR (UK)
To every soul around the world, the New Year brings the promise of hope and renewal. May this year be a gentle sunrise after the storms we have endured. Let kindness be our everyday language, hope our shared currency, and unity our greatest strength. May we heal what is broken, cherish what is precious, and craft a future where compassion triumphs over conflict. Here’s a year where humanity embraces its unity under one sky, full of endless possibilities.
Koluu, Celebrity Chef
May God’s protection and guidance be upon our beloved island, Sri Lanka, as we move forward toward economic recovery and shared prosperity in 2026. Happy New Year.
Hiran Cooray, Chairman, Jetwing Symphony PLC
As we step into 2026, may this year mark a true inflection point for Sri Lanka. It is our wish at Port City Colombo to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s journey by attracting investment, enabling sustainable development, and opening doors to global opportunity. May the year ahead see momentum, partnerships, and belief in Sri Lanka’s future, grow stronger with each step forward. Wishing everyone a bright and successful New Year!
Shalaka Wijeratne, Executive Director of Investment Promotion and Marketing, Port City Colombo.
As we welcome the New Year, Sri Lanka steps forward with resilience shaped by hardship and unity. We have faced loss, yet we continue to rise; together. Ours is a country where many faiths coexist side by side, teaching us that progress is built on respect, empathy and shared responsibility. May 2026 be a year of healing, safer communities and renewed trust in one another. Let us move ahead with humility, courage and hope, committed to rebuilding not just what was damaged, but what truly binds us as a nation.
Kimarli Fernando, Former Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism
In a world shadowed by fear and division, let us choose to be light. Let ancient wisdom guide us, reminding us that what is right never truly fades; it only waits to be rekindled. Though we see setbacks and darkness, don’t be discouraged. Stand firm with courage and compassion. May 2026 be the year that integrity prevails, where light breaks through every shadow, and hope leads us forward together. Let this be the year we shine brighter than ever.
Angeline Ondaatje, Chairperson, Tangerine Beach Hotel, Royal Palms Beach Hotel, and Tangerine Tours
As we step into a new year, I am reminded that even in our most challenging moments, hope has a quiet way of finding us. It is hope that allows us to look forward with belief, resilience that helps us rise each time we are tested, and kindness that binds us together as a community.
The year ahead will bring its own uncertainties, but it will also bring opportunity; to grow stronger, to lead with compassion, and to uplift one another. True progress is not measured only by success, but by how we care for those around us and how courageously we move forward together. May this new year inspire us to act with empathy, to persevere with purpose, and to choose kindness in all that we do. Wishing you a year filled with strength, optimism, and meaningful connections.
Happy New Year. Kasturi Chellaraja, COO, 5Hour International Corporation
I welcome the New Year with renewed optimism. Recent years have tested our resilience, yet they have also reaffirmed the strength of our people, the richness of our heritage, and the enduring appeal of our island. At Resplendent Ceylon, and through the work of the Tourism Alliance, we remain firmly committed to building a tourism sector that is sustainable, inclusive, and globally respected; one that creates meaningful opportunities for communities, safeguards our natural and cultural assets, and delivers truly authentic experiences. Collaboration, integrity, and kindness must guide our actions. Together, we have the opportunity not only to rebuild, but to reimagine tourism in a way that creates lasting value for generations to come. I wish everyone a year filled with hope, resilience, and shared success. May the year ahead bring renewed confidence in Sri Lanka and belief in its extraordinary potential. Happy New Year.
Malik Fernando, Chairman, Resplendent Ceylon and Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance
New Year, new vision, time to reflect and reinvent. Individually, in our communities, as a nation let’s build, rise, and shine. Learn from the past, dream beyond limits, and make 2026 a year of courage, purpose, and growth. Together, let’s turn hope into action.
Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, Board Director / Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC
Happy New Year! May 2026 bring you joy, good health, and beautiful moments shared with the ones you love. Wishing you a year filled with peace, positivity and new beginnings.
Ramani Fernando, Founder and Managing Director, RF Salons
As we step into a new year, I’m reminded that meaningful change often begins with small, intentional choices. At Lata Pata Vintage, we believe in celebrating individuality, sustainability, and the beauty of giving stories a second life. The year gone by reaffirmed the importance of mindful living; choosing quality over excess, purpose over trends, and kindness over convenience. The year ahead is an opportunity to continue rethinking how we consume, create, and connect with one another. May this new year inspire us to be more conscious in our choices, more creative in our expression, and more compassionate in the way we live and support our communities. Wishing you a year filled with intention, discovery, and renewed purpose. Happy New Year.
Leesha Captain and Minoli Ratnayake, Co-Founders, Lata Pata Vintage
May this be a year where trust is rebuilt through honest actions, where progress is measured not just by growth, but by fairness and opportunity, and where our collective voice reflects unity rather than division. As Sri Lankans, we all shape the narrative of this nation, through the choices we make, the values we stand for, and the stories we tell. May we choose responsibility over rhetoric, purpose over noise, and long-term impact over short-term wins. Here’s to a year of renewed confidence, shared accountability, and a Sri Lanka that believes in its own potential again so we can move forward together with clarity, courage, and compassion.
Neela Marikkar, Chairperson, Dentsu Grant Group
The year we left behind has been a year filled with ups and downs for all of us, from moments of joy and challenges that made us strong. At the beginning of these next 365 days, I wish you all the very best in every moment ahead; good health, hope, endless happiness, peace, and the courage to turn dreams into reality. May this new year be the one you achieve everything you’ve dreamed of!
Sandamini Perera, Co-Founder and Co-Chairperson, Prime Lands (Pvt) Ltd
As we welcome the New Year, we do so with deep gratitude and humility; reflecting on the resilience that has carried us through challenges and the collective effort that continues to strengthen our industry and our nation. The past year has reinforced an enduring truth: sustainable progress is built on perseverance, integrity, and an unwavering responsibility to the people and communities we serve. At Nel Farms, our purpose remains steadfast, to safeguard food security, uphold the highest standards of quality and sustainability, and support the livelihoods that depend on agriculture. We are especially mindful of the families and communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, and we extend our heartfelt compassion to those who are recovering and rebuilding. Their strength reminds us of the importance of solidarity and shared responsibility. Looking ahead, we embrace the year with renewed commitment to thoughtful growth, responsible innovation, and meaningful contribution to Sri Lanka’s long-term prosperity. Guided by our values, we remain dedicated to nurturing the land, empowering our people, and acting as a responsible partner in national development. May the New Year bring healing, peace, and prosperity, along with renewed confidence, collaboration, and kindness in all that we do. Wishing everyone good health, resilience, and continued success. Happy New Year from all of us at Nel Farms.
Noordeen Sethwala, Managing Director,
Nel Farms
As we welcome 2026, we do so with renewed optimism and a deep sense of responsibility to preserve one of Sri Lanka’s most enduring landmarks. The past few years have tested the resilience of our tourism industry, yet they have also reaffirmed the strength of the people and institutions that define it. This year marks 220 years of Mount Lavinia Hotel, a house that has witnessed colonial history, global conflict, natural disasters, and social change, yet continues to stand with dignity and purpose. Its survival is a testament to the values of perseverance, stewardship, and continuity. Four governors once called these halls home. Lady Lavinia herself walked these corridors. Through wars, tsunamis, and cyclones, this heritage property has remained a custodian of the nation’s history, a rare distinction. As tourism shows signs of recovery, we look ahead with confidence. Our focus remains on safeguarding heritage, embracing thoughtful progress, and contributing meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s tourism revival. The road ahead is clearer and better days lie ahead for the industry and the nation. Happy New Year.
Sanath Ukwatte, Chairman, Mount Lavinia Hotel
As we step into the New Year let us do so with renewed hope, resilience and a shared sense of purpose. The year gone by has tested us all in many ways, yet it has also reminded us of the strength found in unity, perseverance and responsibility. In the year ahead, let us move forward with humble hearts guided by humanity and most importantly, compassion in all that we do. May you be a blessing to everyone who crosses your path through kindness, integrity and service. May the New Year bring peace, stability and progress for all. Let us inspire and be inspired as we build a better tomorrow together. Happy and Blessed 2026.
Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, Group Managing Director at IAS Holdings.
