The Students Visa has been honoured with the Navitas UK – New & Emerging Agent Award (Sri Lanka) 2025/26, marking a key milestone in its growth as one of Sri Lanka’s rising international education consultancies. The award was presented by Navitas UK at a recent ceremony held at Amari Colombo, in recognition of the organisation’s strong performance, commitment to excellence, and increasing contribution to supporting Sri Lankan students pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom.
Navitas UK is a leading global education provider offering academic and English-language pathway programmes, direct-entry undergraduate and postgraduate certificates, and postgraduate degrees in partnership with universities across the United Kingdom. This recognition highlights The Students Visa’s dedication to connecting aspiring students with globally recognised education opportunities while maintaining high standards of professional guidance and student support.
Founded by CEO Raees Ul Haq, The Students Visa has quickly established itself as a trusted name in overseas education consultancy. Through strong leadership, operational efficiency, digital innovation, and a student-focused approach, the organisation continues to expand its presence in the international education sector and strengthen partnerships with leading global institutions.
Headquartered at Hatch Works, No. 14 Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha, Colombo 1, The Students Visa offers end-to-end support for students pursuing studies abroad, including university selection, application assistance, visa guidance, and pre-departure services. The consultancy is also supported by British Council-certified counsellors, ensuring ethical, informed, and professional advice throughout the admissions process.
Commenting on the achievement, Founder and CEO Raees Ul Haq said the recognition from Navitas UK represents an important milestone for the organisation and reflects the dedication of the entire team. He noted that the company remains committed to providing students with trusted guidance and access to quality international education opportunities while continuing to raise standards in Sri Lanka’s education consultancy sector.
COO Nuzri Munsoor, CTO Charindu, and CGO Thilina Rajapakse also described the award as a proud moment that validates the company’s ongoing focus on student success, digital innovation, and service excellence. They reaffirmed their commitment to delivering transparent, ethical, and technology-driven services while strengthening global partnerships with leading education providers.
CMTA Calls for Policy Reforms on Used Vehicle Imports
The easing of vehicle import restrictions has provided much-needed relief to the Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), restoring confidence in the automotive trade sector, CMTA Chairman Andrew Perera said at the association’s 106th Annual General Meeting held on Friday (26), following his re-election.
However, he cautioned that significant revenue leakage—estimated at around Rs. 80 billion by year-end and potentially rising to Rs. 100 billion—could emerge due to issues such as under-valuation and other regulatory gaps.
Perera noted that while the CMTA has identified several policy areas requiring stronger enforcement, it is currently focusing on two key concerns: the 15% depreciation allowance granted to used vehicle importers and persistent under-valuation practices that have long challenged the industry. He stressed that reforms are necessary to ensure a level playing field for all operators, adding that revenue losses to the government are estimated at Rs. 40 billion in 2025 alone.
He further explained that these estimates are based on import statistics of used vehicles from the previous year, though actual leakage may be higher due to additional unaccounted factors such as under-invoicing, improper tax filings, loopholes in individual imports, and weak monitoring of EPF and ETF compliance, as well as high thresholds affecting services and spare parts.
Perera warned that if current issues are not addressed, total revenue leakage could approach Rs. 100 billion by year-end, representing a significant loss to both the government and the public.
He also highlighted an improvement in the new-to-used vehicle sales ratio, which shifted to 43:57 last year—the strongest in a decade. The CMTA hopes to further shift 5–10% of buyers toward brand-new vehicles in the future.
The Student Visa has earned prestigious recognition from Navitas UK
