Channa De Silva is the face behind the Techno Dad YouTube channel YouTube.com/@TechnoDad and the founder of Atmos AV Consulting with a deep passion for home theater systems, audio technology, and immersive sound experiences he has spent years honing his expertise in these areas. Techno Dad was a Main Sponsor of Sri Lanka Day 2024 and the Sri Lanka Foundation thanks him immensely for this contribution.   He is originally from Sri Lanka and has always been fascinated by how technology can transform how we experience entertainment. Professionally, he specializes in Dolby Atmos mixing, home theater consulting, and helping brands leverage social media to drive sales. He is also a gigging DJ, blending genres and eras to create unforgettable moments on the dance floor.   Techno Dad is a popular YouTube channel where he explores the latest in home theater systems, audio setups, and immersive sound technologies. Through in-depth reviews,
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J Med is a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) distributor and wholesale company founded in 2016. Like so many stories of humble beginnings, the company President and CEO, John Amirthiah, started J Med operations from the confines of his garage and used his personal vehicle to deliver medical products to his early clients. With his diligent work ethic, dedication, and willingness to jump through hoops for his clients, John grew the business while transforming J Med’s internal processes into a well-oiled machine committed to quality and customer satisfaction. SLF is thrilled to announce that J Med has opened its newest distribution center in San Diego, CA, making them the only DME distributor in San Diego. This is a testament to their commitment to exceptional service and their promise to Jump Through Hoops and go the extra mile for their customers Today, J Med Supplies proudly occupies a large warehouse in Buena
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The upcoming Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation (CDF) Annual Gala Fundraiser will be held in Sydney, Australia, on August 10th, 2024, at the 5-star venue, Epping Grand in The Epping Club in NSW. This black-tie gala is one of the key events in the Sydney Sri Lankan event calendar. Sydney is a place where high-profile Sri Lankan expatriate professionals live, and this annual event makes a major contribution to sustaining Sri Lanka’s first and only non-emergency ambulance service, which is run by the CDF Charity. The Founder and Chairman of CDF, Binara Dharmawardana, spoke with SLF. He mentioned that the 2023 event raised over $70,000, demonstrating the significant impact this gala has on supporting underprivileged individuals battling cancer in Sri Lanka. As the first event of the new financial year, scheduled for August 10th, 2024, in Sydney, it sets the stage for a series of upcoming events in London, Melbourne, Brisbane, and
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Rowan Bandaranaike, M.D., is a dedicated and resilient individual who began his residency in Internal Medicine in Alabama. His journey to this milestone has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and the support of those around him, especially the team at J Med. SLF had the opportunity to speak with Rowan, and he said, “I would like to thank both of my parents Primal and Rashika Bandaranaike. I would not be where I am today without their sacrifices, support, and unconditional love. Through their courage, perseverance, and strength, I learned to follow my dreams and have faith in myself. Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself. The love and encouragement of my parents have been my compass; they have guided me through every obstacle and achievement.” Rowan also thanked the J Med team and said, “John and his staff were very welcoming when I joined J
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Sri Lanka America Chamber of Commerce (SLACCOM) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with chapters in other metropolitan cities. The chamber is a premier business forum to facilitate and develop trade, commerce, and investment between the United States of America and Sri Lanka. Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) promotion is one of their key initiatives, and they have been working closely with SLASSCOM, DIGIECON, and the Tech Industry, in general, to find new business opportunities, channel investments, and promote Sri Lanka as a destination for IT and BPO. Their first Tech Startup Invest Forum was held on Saturday, June 22nd, and the event saw a large turnout of potential investors who joined via SLACCOM’s portal and various social media channels where the event was live-streamed. The panel featured industry leaders who discussed the sector’s current state and its growth over the past decade into
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Meet Dr. Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, a celebrated technologist and scientist with an extensive three-decade career in Silicon Valley. As the VP of R&D and ML at Analog Inference, Dr. Yasantha is a leading authority in Artificial Intelligence, renowned for his innovative contributions that have culminated in 130 patents. More recently, he has partnered with the Taiwanese semiconductor chip giant to research and develop Artificial Intelligence chips and algorithms, including using AI techniques for cancer detection. On its merit, he has personal algorithms that can detect lung cancer with over 95% accuracy, and they have reached the top 10 in the world in terms of public dataset accuracy. His achievements were recognized in 2022 with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sri Lanka Foundation. A brilliant mathematician, Dr. Yasantha has adeptly transferred his expertise in optimizing space and time into the world of board games. His latest invention, Vediic, is a
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Sri Lanka Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sanjeev Nandakumaran as a Physician Director, Professional Development at Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park. He is the oldest son of Mr. Navaratnam Nandakumaran, who is well-known in the Sri Lankan American community in Los Angeles. In this role, Dr. Nandakumaran will build upon the incredible foundation he and Dr. Teri Kim, his partner, have established as Co-Chairs of the Pathways to Partnership Program for the last twelve years in Baldwin Park. Dr. Nandakumaran begins this role with a background that includes serving as a Physician in Charge of Family Medicine at Baldwin Park Medical Office Building. Additionally, he was a facilitator and panelist for the Regional South California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) University sessions and a decade of Co-Chairing the Clinical Patient Communication Committee. Outside of Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Nandakumaran teaches at the USC School of Medicine as a
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Hatch and its network of startups raised $1 million in funding in 2023, demonstrating they have a blueprint that demands our attention. Amidst the economic turbulence that has engulfed Sri Lanka, a beacon of hope emerges. Hatch, co-founded by Brindha and Jeevan Gnanam and Nathan Sivagananathan, and its startup community have raised an impressive $1 million in 2023 (as of September). This achievement isn’t just a financial milestone, and $1 million is not much compared to other businesses – let alone sectors – in the economy. However, it embodies what it will take for Sri Lanka to change its economic fortunes. “We started this year with the ‘Troubled Nation to Startup Nation’ initiative,” said Brindha, recalling the origins of their journey. “In the last six to nine months, we’ve witnessed a resurgence in the startup ecosystem. Through problem-solving, these startups can offer solutions that have global relevance. That’s the essence
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Four Hatch startups: Hyperglade, Miris by Islandmom, True by Tina, and Feelo have acquired funding to take their businesses to the next level. The most significant of these funding opportunities came from Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper who funded Hyperglade with USD350,000 proving that the local entrepreneurial talent among Hatch startups is capable of making a global impact. Hatch prides itself on being the center of gravity for all things startup empowering entrepreneurs, through its startup incubator and accelerator programs and co-working space. Hatch strives to connect entrepreneurs by creating a collaborative environment that provides equal opportunity to all, with the goal of creating a thriving startup ecosystem that powers Sri Lanka’s economy. At the start of 2023, Hatch launched an initiative titled ‘Sri Lanka: From Troubled Nation to Startup Nation’ to highlight how Sri Lanka’s top entrepreneurial talent could pave the path to recovery. The first part of this
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