David Pieris Automobiles (Private) Limited (DPA), the four-wheeler automotive division of the David Pieris Group, has further expanded its presence in Sri Lanka with the opening of a new BAIC showroom in Kandy.
Situated at No. 262A, Katugastota Road, Kandy, the latest showroom gives customers in the Central Province easier access to BAIC’s growing range of modern vehicles, while strengthening the brand’s retail presence beyond Colombo.
The new outlet forms part of DPA’s ongoing strategy to broaden the availability of BAIC vehicles across the island, responding to increasing consumer interest in vehicles equipped with modern technology, advanced features and contemporary designs.
With the addition of the Kandy location, BAIC’s showroom network now includes its flagship outlet on Pannipitiya Road in Battaramulla, as well as locations at Hyde Park Corner in Colombo 02, Kurunegala, Matara, Ratnapura, Jaffna and Ampara.
Through this expanding network, customers across several key regions can explore BAIC’s vehicle portfolio while receiving dedicated sales assistance and product guidance.
BAIC’s Growing Vehicle Portfolio
DPA currently offers three BAIC models to the Sri Lankan market, addressing a variety of customer needs and driving preferences.
The range includes the BAIC X55, a modern SUV combining contemporary styling, performance, technology and everyday practicality. The BAIC BJ30 offers a distinctive SUV design aimed at customers seeking versatility and a more adventurous driving experience.
Completing the current portfolio is the BAIC X3e, a fully electric vehicle that represents the brand’s focus on electric mobility and the development of more sustainable transportation solutions.
The wider showroom network enables customers to view these models more conveniently, explore their features and identify a vehicle that matches their individual requirements and lifestyle.
Expanding After-Sales Services
Alongside its showroom expansion, DPA is also continuing to develop its BAIC after-sales support network, with a focus on providing customers with dependable assistance throughout their ownership experience.
BAIC customers can access dedicated after-sales services at the BAIC Service Centre located at Hyde Park Corner, supported by an islandwide dealer network.
The expanding service infrastructure is intended to provide customers in different parts of the country with improved access to vehicle maintenance and after-sales support.
The continued development of both the showroom and service networks highlights DPA’s efforts to build a complete customer experience for BAIC owners, supported by the nationwide capabilities and automotive expertise of the David Pieris Group.
The opening of the Kandy showroom marks another step in BAIC’s expansion across Sri Lanka, giving customers in the Central Province an opportunity to experience the brand’s vehicles and access dedicated sales support closer to their homes.
For more information, customers can contact BAIC on 0114 700678 or visit www.baicsrilanka.com and the BAIC Sri Lanka Facebook Page.
Sri Lankan-Founded Logical Develops AI Designed to Act Before You Ask
Logical, an AI startup founded by two Sri Lankan engineers, is developing a new approach to artificial intelligence that aims to assist users proactively by understanding what they are working on and identifying when help could be useful.
While AI usage for many people continues to centre around conversational platforms such as ChatGPT, Logical is taking a different approach with an AI assistant designed to operate directly on a user’s computer.
Rather than relying entirely on users to type questions and manually provide background information, Logical is developing what it describes as an “ambient AI assistant.” The technology is designed to understand a user’s work context across applications including email, messaging platforms and virtual meetings.
By building an understanding of the broader context surrounding a user’s work, the assistant can identify areas where support may be useful. These could include highlighting approaching deadlines, identifying tasks that may have been overlooked, suggesting ideas or finding opportunities to improve productivity.
Users can also interact with Logical in a conventional question-and-answer format. However, because the system is designed to already have an understanding of the surrounding work context, users may not need to spend as much time explaining the background behind their questions.
The platform is also being developed to help users carry out tasks across the applications they already rely on. Its capabilities include supporting email and document-related work, as well as generating summaries of virtual meetings, reducing the need to manually transfer information between different applications.
From Kandy to Silicon Valley
Logical was founded by Sri Lankan engineers Sam Karu and Anushka Idamekorala, who both grew up in Kandy before establishing their company in Silicon Valley, a major global hub for technology and innovation.
The founders first met when they were six years old at Dharmaraja College in Kandy. They later pursued engineering studies at the University of Peradeniya and the University of Moratuwa respectively.
The startup was subsequently accepted into Y Combinator, one of the world's best-known startup accelerators, and has secured more than LKR 150 million in initial funding.
Logical is believed to be the first startup founded entirely by a Sri Lankan team to enter the Y Combinator programme. The company is now focused on developing its AI product for users in international markets.
Moving from Reactive to Proactive AI
Logical Co-Founder and CEO Sam Karu said the company's approach stems from the limitations of the way people currently interact with AI.
“Typically, people interact with AI through a chat interface, where they pose a question and receive a response,” Mr. Karu explained. “We envision the next generation of AI to be more intuitive, capable of understanding the user's objectives, identifying opportunities to assist, and providing help at the opportune moment without necessitating explicit instructions.”
Co-Founder and CTO Anushka Idamekorala said the development challenge goes beyond simply improving AI's ability to answer questions.
“The challenge is not simply making AI capable of answering more questions. It is giving AI enough understanding of a person’s work to know what is relevant, when help would actually be useful, and what action it can take. We believe that shift from reactive AI to proactive AI will be an important part of how people work with computers in the future,” he said.
The founders expect AI assistants to increasingly move beyond systems that simply wait for users to ask questions. Their vision is for AI to better understand context, identify areas requiring attention and help users move forward with fewer manual steps.
Through this approach, Logical is seeking to develop an AI experience in which assistance becomes more contextual and proactive, rather than something users need to explicitly request at every stage.
David Pieris Automobiles Opens New BAIC Showroom in Kandy
