HNB PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, hosted The Connoisseur’s Collective, an exclusive lifestyle event for its private banking clients, on 17 October 2026 at 1864, the fine dining restaurant at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The event marked the first anniversary of the launch of its Club Elite Metal card and featured a special guest shift by Toronto-based award-winning bar Cry Baby Gallery.
The exclusive gathering reflects HNB’s approach to private banking, which extends beyond traditional financial services by combining tailored wealth management solutions and investment opportunities with distinctive lifestyle experiences for its premium clientele through the Club Elite Metal card.
Commenting on the occasion, HNB Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte said: “Our private banking clients expect us to bring them sound financial solutions and access to experiences they value, delivered with discretion. Our proposition combines curated wealth solutions and investment opportunities with lifestyle events such as The Connoisseur’s Collective, and the first year of Club Elite has shown how closely the two work together. We will continue to develop both to the standard our clients expect.”
Positioned at the highest tier of HNB’s premium card portfolio, the Club Elite Metal Mastercard is available exclusively by invitation. Introduced in February 2025 as Sri Lanka’s first Mastercard World Elite metal card, it offers a range of premium privileges, including worldwide concierge services, luxury travel upgrades, exclusive golf access and carefully selected retail partnerships.
HNB Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne highlighted the importance of delivering distinctive experiences through carefully selected partners. “Behind each Club Elite experience is a dedicated service team and a group of partners selected for the standard they deliver. For this evening, we worked with Cry Baby Gallery and Galle Face Hotel to bring that standard to Colombo. Events like this also give us a direct way to hear from our clients in person about what they would like the proposition to include next.”
The Connoisseur’s Collective brought internationally recognised mixology talent to Colombo, featuring senior mixologist Dalton Welsh of Cry Baby Gallery (CBG), an acclaimed speakeasy-style bar located behind a contemporary art gallery in Toronto’s Dundas West neighbourhood. Cry Baby Gallery secured sixth place on Canada’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list and ranked 69th on the extended list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026.
For the exclusive one-night experience, HNB Private Banking partnered with Cry Baby Gallery to present a special guest shift for Club Elite clients. The event showcased signature mixology creations incorporating ingredients specially flown in from Toronto, complemented by premium spirits and gourmet delicacies.
The Connoisseur’s Collective forms part of HNB’s ongoing programme of exclusive, experience-led engagements, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to delivering a distinctive private banking proposition that brings together financial expertise, personalised service and exceptional lifestyle experiences.
SLT-MOBITEL Secures 17 Honours, Including Four Gold Awards, at SLIM National Sales Awards 2026
SLT-MOBITEL, Sri Lanka’s National ICT Solutions Provider, has achieved a significant milestone at the 25th edition of the SLIM National Sales Awards (NSA) 2026, winning a total of 17 awards, including four Gold accolades. Organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the prestigious awards ceremony was held on 27 October 2026.
In a notable achievement, SLT-MOBITEL emerged as the only telecommunications operator to secure Gold awards in all four major categories: Frontliner, Sales Executive, Sales Supervisor and Territory Manager, highlighting the exceptional performance and capabilities of its sales force.
Across its Fixed and Mobile operations, the company received four Gold, three Silver, five Bronze and five Merit awards, recognising the dedication, expertise and consistent contributions of its sales professionals.
The achievement also marks a significant success for SLT-MOBITEL’s Consumer Sales Division, which demonstrated outstanding performance by securing four Gold awards, alongside one Silver, three Bronze and three Merit accolades. The recognition underscores the division’s strong sales culture and commitment to delivering consistent business results.
The National Sales Awards featured a comprehensive evaluation and selection process, with an eminent panel of judges identifying and recognising some of the country's most accomplished sales professionals. The competition serves as a national platform for celebrating excellence in sales performance, leadership and professional development.
Commenting on the achievement, Sugath Abeysinghe, Senior General Manager – Consumer Sales & Distribution, Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd, said: “Team success is never accidental. It is the product of persistent execution, disciplined focus, a shared vision, and the courage to move forward together. I am incredibly proud to lead a high-performing, goal-driven team whose precision, patience, and commitment have set a new benchmark for sales excellence. Recognition of this calibre at a national level is a strong endorsement of our team’s commercial capability. This win was built through sustained effort and an unwavering focus on performance. On behalf of our leadership, I extend my sincere congratulations to every member of the team for the outstanding and well-earned achievement.”
Celebrating 25 years of recognising outstanding sales professionals, the SLIM National Sales Awards remains one of Sri Lanka’s leading platforms for honouring excellence in sales performance, leadership, innovation and business development. The NSA continues to promote professional standards within the country's sales industry while inspiring the next generation of sales leaders.
SLT-MOBITEL’s 17-award achievement further reinforces its commitment to developing high-performing sales teams and maintaining excellence across its business operations.
HNB Club Elite Hosts Exclusive Mixology Experience for Private Banking Clients at The Connoisseur’s Collective
