business Sri Lanka

To share the spirit of this festive season Pan Asia Bank, has come up with a promotion where a range of valuable gifts are to be given away to its customers when they make a qualifying deposit with the bank.

This Avurudu promotion which is based on “Ganu denu”, one of our most cherished local traditions is valid from March 23 to April 30.

Fixed deposits also include Suwasavi Fixed Deposits which offer a free family medical insurance and special Senior citizen’s Fixed Deposits.

In order to honour this rich tradition of conducting Ganu Denu, all Pan Asia Bank branches except WTC branch will be kept opened on April 14, from 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon.

The uniqueness about this promotion is that, in addition to these valuable gifts, customers will also receive an attractive interest rate on their deposits. Going the extra mile the bank has added another reason for its customers to enjoy the season by offering gifts for every Western Union transaction made at any of its branches island wide.

This is a special promotion for all western Union money transfers performed at all Pan Asia Bank branches island wide throughout the month of April or until stocks last.

Pan Asia Bank hopes that this will encourage savings among customers to ensure a prosperous New Year while simultaneously allowing them to enjoy the rewards of their savings.

Reiterating its commitment to Climate Action, Nations Trust Bank (NTB) renewed its Carbon Conscious Certification for the second consecutive year for their Head Office in Union Place and two other main offices in Nawam Mawatha and Kotahena.

The bank worked with The Carbon Consulting Company (CCC) to calculate the Carbon Footprint of said locations in accordance with the international guidelines on assessing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.

The certifications were awarded by The Sustainable Future Group (SFG), which indicates the continuation of a monitored three-year programme to measure, manage and mitigate the environmental footprint of the selected offices.

“Sri Lanka, being an island-nation in the tropics, would be one of the hard-hit countries from effects of climate change. As a bank that operates to help people and businesses achieve today’s goals and tomorrow’s aspirations, we understand that we have a greater role to play in promoting positive climate action in our sphere of influence.

The work that we have undertaken with Carbon Consulting Company in identifying and managing our carbon footprint is a measure stemming from this commitment.” Renuka Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Nations Trust Bank said.

The bank has introduced multiple measures on better energy and waste management and employee commuting schemes in an effort to mitigate their overall footprint.

The bank has also invested in sourcing energy through renewable sources with a 40kW solar net metering system installed at the Millennium House facility on March 12.

Sanith De S Wijeyeratne, CEO of CCC remarked, “NTB has reinforced its place as a leading private bank from an environmental sustainability perspective. Not only have they committed towards a multi-year engagement programme to measure, manage and mitigate their carbon emissions, but their commitment towards external and independent verification of the same, goes a long way in confirming their actual performance, when compared to other businesses internal and unverified claims.” 

“Royal Cashews”, leading Cashew processing company in Sri Lanka has teamed up with New Zealand Honey Company to introduce world famous ‘Manuka Honey’ and other specialty honey products to Sri Lankan consumers.

New Zealand Honey Company that produces best honey products in the world has appointed Royal Food Marketing Company as its sales agent in Sri Lanka and Maldives from 2015.

Manuka Honey product is rich with natural UMF 5+ and UMF 10+ (Unique Manuka Factor) as it is made with natural nectar that bees collect only from Manuka flowers. Manuka flowers produce valuable enzymes that no other flower produces.

Heart ailments, cancer and ailments in the stomach are caused by micro-organisms and Manuka Honey has the capacity and ability to control these microbes. It also enhances human vigour.

Manuka Honey is rich with Ayurwedic merits and qualities. Its usage contributes towards better eyesight, reducing body weight, overcome impotence, controlling asthma and diarrhea, relief for ailments in the bladder area. For beautification purposes good quality honey is required. Manuka Honey with its special Ayurwedic goodness is best for Salons to use for beautification purposes.

Three flavours of world famous Manuka Honey can be now purchased in Sri Lanka. Lemon, Cinnamon and Ginger are these three flavours. Other honey products manufactured by the New Zealand Honey Company are; Beach Forest, Thyme, Kamahi, Rata, Clover and Eco Forest Specialty Honey.

All these products are now available in Royal Cashews outlets situated at Crescat (Colombo 03), World Trade Centre, Liberty Plaza, ODEL, Arcade (Independence Square), K-Zone (Ja Ela and Moratuwa), Kandy Uptown, Royal Mall-Kandy, Southern Highway (Welipenna stop), Negombo, Arpico Supercentres and Laksala-Colombo.

Royal Food Marketing Managing Director Dr Ruwan Wathugala said his company partnered with New Zealand Honey Company in 2015.

“I started cashew processing business in 1999 as a hobby. Within a very short span we were able to secure local market and were venturing into foreign markets. At the time New Zealand Honey Company was testing new flavours of their world famous honey products. They were in need of best quality cinnamon. We catered to that need successfully. In the process we were able to introduce best cinnamon products of Sri Lanka to the world.”

He added, “We are happy for being able to offer Sri Lankans the very best honey products in the world made by New Zealand Honey Company.”

Royal Food Marketing Company commissioned in 1999 has ISO 22000, HACCP and GMP standard certifications. It is the foremost cashew processing company in Sri Lanka conferred with ISO 22000. Royal Cashews products come in diverse mouth-watering tastes. These products are marketed with 19 tastes in 682 types of containers and in 101 containers specially made for gifting purposes.In addition to this varieties, Sri Lankan authentic cashew curry canned and exported as ‘Royal Cashew Nut Curry’ by the company has created a heavy demand by foreign countries.

The company sources and selects the best quality raw cashew nuts from Sri Lankan cashew cultivations for processing.

Royal Cashews products are exported to Malaysia, Japan, USA, UK, New Zeeland, Germany, Australia, Austria, Maldives and Saudi Arabia. 

“Sri Lanka has great potential to market the country as a destination that provides quality water-related recreational facilities said Chiranjeewa  Amarasinghe, General Manager of The Marina Bolgoda Lake Maoartuwa.

The Marina was built along this line to cater to an exclusive sector of clients by providing an exceptional experience on and off the water. 

“The club offers the best products and expertise for sports enthusiasts and a range of other exclusive amenities. It is the perfect escape for anyone who wishes to create long-lasting memories and enjoy a well-earned relaxation and savor the tranquility.”

The club offers a wide range of water sports activities  jet-skiing, tube rides, wakeboarding and boating, to name a few, making it a one-stop shop for the water sports enthusiast from every corner of the country.

The novel concept by Debug Hospitality and Leisure was started with the aim of promoting and encouraging water sports in Sri Lanka by creating a safe, private and luxurious environment for water sports enthusiasts to gather, learn and experience the lifestyle and to foster a community of likeminded individuals with a love for water and the oppurtunities to adventure it provides.

In addition to long term membership the Marina also offers a unique one-day recreational package called ‘Day Pass’ of which a total of 30 passes will be issued on any given day on a first-come first-serve basis.

The Marina Day Pass entitles customers to enjoy a plethora of fun-filled activities.

The best of the Chinese cuisine could now be savoured at Jade Restaurants in Nugegoda and Maharagama where dine-in customers can enjoy a 30% discount on Commercial Bank credit cards until the 10th of April on all food and beverages in the menu.

The ‘Laugfs Labendiyawa’ cardholders are also offered a 10% discount when they dine-in during this season, as an extension of Jade’s year-long special discount offers.

Jade Restaurants serve a delicious array of Chinese cuisine to a discerning clientele in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. The Restaurants chain, which was launched in 2006, have a seating capacity for 80 to 100 guests and also offer value added services such as take-away and home delivery for the convenience of the customers.

Jade Restaurants serve delectable cuisine prepared by highly trained chefs using original Chinese recipes and ingredients handpicked by experts to provide that authentic Chinese flavour.

Laugfs Restaurants Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ravi Dahanayaka said both restaurants have grown to become popular among customers over the past few years, because we pride ourselves in providing good value for money. I invite everyone to come and enjoy this amazing 30% discount on Commercial Bank credit cards offered to dine-in customers at both restaurants.”

Jade Restaurants at both Nugegoda and Maharagama are open for lunch from 11.30am to 3.00pm and dinner 6.30pm to 10.00pm, all seven days of the week. The restaurants also provide facilities to host events such as kid’s birthdays and anniversary celebrations, during service hours. 

Relocating to better serve its rapidly growing customer base in the Ampara district, A private sector commercial bank, HNB PLC, announced the relocation of its customer centre situated at Bandula Cinema and Shopping Complex, D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Ampara.

Open for business every weekday from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., the bank’s spacious new premises will feature extensive digital capabilities, in addition to the full range of banking services offered at HNB, including digital cheque deposit facilities, real time transactions and digital account opening facilities. The new customer centre was opened by, Nirosh Perera Assistant General Manager Network Management. Thusitha P Wanigasingha, Government Agent for the Ampara District, Candiah Jegarajah, Senior Regional Head Eastern Region and P Ramanadasa, Regional Head Eastern Region were also in attendance to witness the opening of the HNB’s new customer centre.

Addressing a gathering of dignitaries, customers and HNB employees Perera elaborated on the significant growth momentum driving HNB’s continued expansion across Sri Lanka.

“As the best retail bank in Sri Lanka, HNB has consistently enjoyed rapid growth and today stands as Sri Lanka’s largest and most profitable player in the banking industry. In addition to product innovation, outstanding service and digital innovation, one of the core strengths of the bank is our extended branch network,” he noted.

HNB’s relationship with its customers in Ampara has been extensively developed ever since HNB became the very first private sector bank to establish a customer centre in the district in 1995.

“With the continuing social and economic development taking place in the Ampara district, HNB has also taken on an expanded role, helping communities and businesses to grow and prosper and we look forward to further deepening our relationships with our customers in the area moving forward,” he added.

A new dimensional shopping experience came to life in Ja-Ela, when two of the Softlogic Group’s retail operations Burger King and Softlogic Max joined forces in a single-location with a simultaneous opening in this suburban enclave.

Offering the characteristic robust dining choices synonymous with Burger King and the panoramic range of global electronics brands represented by Softlogic Max, the two stores in one building at 150, Negombo Road, Ja-Ela epitomise the breadth of offering and convenience that only Softlogic can deliver to consumers.

The two outlets were opened by Softlogic Group Chairman Ashok Pathirage in the presence of invitees and senior staff from the two retail operations.

The opening of Burger King in Ja-Ela offers residents and passers-through a deliciously diverse menu for brunch, lunch or dinner, featuring world-renowned products like the Whopper Burger King’s signature 100% Flame-Grilled Beef or Chicken Patty with Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Fresh lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions and Pickles all inside a five-inch sesame seed bun.

The restaurant’s extensive offering comprises the complete range of burgers and sides and includes matchless deals on its rice meals.

A spacious Kids Play Area at the new Burger King Ja-ela outlet offers little visitors loads of fun on slides and other play items.

The outlet will be open daily from 10 am to 11 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to midnight on weekends.

Meanwhile, the Softlogic Max showroom at the same location will be open from 9 am to 8 pm seven days of the week, offering shoppers one of the largest possible collections of consumer electronics brands under one roof for products such as TVs, home theatre systems, audio and video systems, refrigerators, washing machines, home appliances, kitchen appliances, built-In appliances, cookers and ovens, hoods and hobs, air conditioners, rice cookers and laptops.

Softlogic Holdings PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost, dynamic conglomerates, with leading market positions in the country’s growing economic sectors: retail, healthcare, ICT, automobiles, leisure and financial services.

Banks can help make dreams come true, a point underscored by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon through its participation this month in two popular public events the ‘Kedella’ Living in Style exhibition and the Auto Vision Motor Show, both at the BMICH.

The Commercial Bank stalls at these two events drew large crowds interested in the many loan schemes available for housing and the bank’s attractive leasing products for motor vehicles. Pictured here are the Commercial Bank stalls at ‘Kedella’ (above) and the Auto Vision Motor Show.

With the approach of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a leading financial organization, Siyapatha Finance has announced the launch of its new islandwide Fixed Deposit campaign ‘AvuruduGanudenu’. The campaign is scheduled to take place from April3-30.

Customers making a Fixed Deposit during the campaign period will be gifted with a valuable traditional oil lamp. A customer can also enjoy attractive interest rates for their fixed deposits. The campaign will extend to all Siyapatha Finance branches.

With its network of twenty four branches spread throughout the country, at Colombo, Nugegoda, Wellawatte, Peliyagoda, Ratnapura, Avissawella, Negombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Kandy, Katugasthota, Kurunegala, Kurunegala Metro, Anuradhapura,Kuliyapitiya, Kegalle, Nuwara-Eliya, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Kalmunai, Sainthamarthu, Ampara and Batticaloa. Their system of service is designed in a manner that suits the needs of the customer.

The organization is known for doing its utmost to ensure that their customers are provided with nothing short of the best of services. Over the past twelve years Siyapatha Finance has generously contributed to the development of a number of entrepreneurial effort as well as the fulfillment of the financial needs of individuals across the island.

Colombo’s skyline will have a new addition as Ekroma Realtors’ Elegant 16, introduces boutique concept living to Sri Lanka. The new-age concept apartment is set to consist of 16 two- bedroom and three-bedroom apartments down Elvitigala Mawatha in Colombo 5.

Ekroma Realtors are a BOI approved real estate and development company with the vision to give Colombo a unique and new way of living that suits the needs of the modern dweller. Bringing luxury and modern living to the heart of Colombo, the company gives residents the ideal location and facilities to enjoy a peaceful and residential neighborhood.

With Elegant 16 the developers seek to introduce the newest trend in the real estate market, the concept of boutique apartments. By definition, the word ‘boutique’ simply means “a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele.” In line with this, a boutique apartment is a small and luxurious space.

Located in close proximity to Colombo’s commercial center and a world of amenities from schools to hospitals, and from malls to supermarkets; all your requirements will be a minute away at Elegant 16. Elegant 16 will be home to 16 boutique apartments with a selection of six unique floorplans.

One of the oldest financial institutions, L.B. Finance has launched another customer friendly innovative venture 'L.B. Gifts Store’ with the objective of providing a wide range of household goods to its fixed deposit and savings account holders.

Accordingly, L.B. Finance account holders could now purchase their desired household goods from 'L.B. Gifts Store’ by accessing www.lbstore.lk. The items selected by the customer will be delivered to the designated address of persons.

L.B. Finance has partnered with Mydeal.lk, a pioneer market leader in the Sri Lankan e-Commerce industry to make this novel venture a success.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, L.B. Finance, Deputy General Manager-(DGM) Deposits Marlon Perera highlighted the importance of launching such an important venture for the benefit of L.B. Finance accounts holders during this festive season.

“Our financial institution has always been in the forefront of providing superior services to customers through their island-wide branch network by introducing numerous -innovative ventures,”.

L.B. Finance, AGM Bharatha Pathirana said customers of all ages, whether they are Senior Citizens, kids or young professionals will immensely benefit from this newly implemented initiative 'L.B. Gift Store’ which is offered for the first time in Sri Lanka.

He further highlighted that customers who purchase goods will also have the privilege of purchasing the goods and services at specially reduced prices and this offering is available during the whole year.

He said this novel initiative even benefit L.B. Finance customers living in distant areas in the country .

“They could have their purchases of their choice and the selected goods will be delivered at their doorstep,”.

L.B. Finance, official Niroshan Udage unveiled the LB Gift Store and explained the media how it operates. Mydeal.lk Ltd, Managing Director Damitha Ginigaddarage said his organization is a current market leader in the Lankan e-Commerce industry and they are proud to be partners with L.B. Finance which is a leading and trusted financial institution in the country.

Nawinna has become the home for one of the largest footwear factory sales outlet. Opened by D. Samson & Sons and located at High Level Road, Nawinna.

DSI’s new factory sales outlet features renowned local and international brands under one roof, offering footwear, apparel and accessories.

Thusitha Rajapaksa, the Managing Director of D. Samson & Sons, opened the outlet in the presence of Kaushalya Perera, the Director of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd and members of the organization’s senior management.

In keeping with the vision of the organization’s founder of creating a business that is wholly centered on the customer, the new outlet boasts of a largevariety of footwear, fit for all ages, tastes and occasions, at attractive discount prices.

The outlet also offers ample parking space for its customers.

One of the largest retail networks in Sri Lanka, D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd serves as the main marketing and distributing sector of the DSI Samson Group, providing footwear, accessories and apparel to the local customer. 

Steeped in the art of tea, Zesta, Watawala Tea Ceylon’s flagship, award winning brand is creating delicious experiences for guests of the high end hospitality chain, Shangri La across all their properties, worldwide.

The ‘Zesta Connoisseur Collection’ is a range of 28 carefully curated blends that epitomise the luxury and elegance that is Shangri-La.

Part of the Sunshine Holdings conglomerate and a household name for top end, premium quality tea, the local Zesta is now a world-class brand, particularly with its partnership with the iconic hotel property. Zesta’s tea masters, together with the Shangri-La team, designed and developed the collection of teas in a range of tastes and flavours.

“That same evergreen shrub grown near sea level as compared to grown at 6,000 feet can have all these different flavour profiles,” explains Sidath Perera, one of Zesta’s Tea masters. “And then by changing elements of the manufacturing process you get even more flavour profiles.”

The collection of Zesta Connoisseur has several teas and herbal infusions English Breakfast (an exceptional, bright, black tea) Moroccan Mint (a Ceylon ‘gun powder’ Green Tea with Peppermint leaves) and Lychee with Rose and Almond (a Ceylon black tea flavoured with Lychee, Rose and Almond).

The range also features herbal infusions like Chamomile and Rosehip and Hibiscus as well as flavoured teas such as Peach and Strawberry which are iced tea favourites.

A special feature is a range of four single estate Ceylon teas from Kenilworth, Waltrim, Shannon and Uva Highlands which embody the special taste and flavour characters that made Ceylon tea special.

Sunshine Holding’s Group Managing Director, Vish Govindasamy in detailing the process that went into Zesta being handpicked by Shangri La, said, “The Zesta Connoisseur collection was developed together with Shangri La, based on guest requirements. A lot of insight into unique and exclusive taste preferences, veering towards artisan, got us experimenting with new blends, especially for the range”.

“Needless to say, our single estate teas, picked from the highest altitudes of the fabled elevations of the Nuwara Eliya region to the misty valleys of Uva and Dimbula are unparalleled in taste and lends to a perfect brew” noted Govindasamy.

 The winning team, Mahamaya Girls College receiving their award.

Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy clinched the championship of the 2017 CA Sri Lanka Business Plan competition, beating six other leading schools in the country.

he winning team will fly to Australia in May 2017 and will represent Sri Lanka at the Blue Shift International Business Case Competition organised by the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.  

The first runner up at the grand finale was Richmond College,Galle while Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo came in as the second runner up.

A total of seven schools, including Visakha Vidyalaya - Colombo, Royal College Colombo, Maris Stella College Negombo, Mahamaya Girls College Kandy, Richmond College Galle, Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya Kurunegala and Chundikuli Girls’ College Jaffna competed against each other in their bid to win the championship and the grand prize.

Deputy High Commissioner of the Australian High Commission in Colombo Tim Huggins, who was the Chief Guest at the event said that entrepreneurs were going to be critical for the future success of Sri Lanka’s economy.

“I have been here for 20 months and I have been very impressed by the vision of the entrepreneurs and business people I have met here,” he said.

Huggins noted that these entrepreneurs will be doing great things for the next stage of Sri Lanka’s growth. The CA Business Plan Competition organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Lanka) broke the competition into two rounds; the regional levels and national level. During the regional rounds, schools representing Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara and Jaffna contested to win the district level competition held in January, February and March.

Subsequently, the winning team at each district level competition qualified for the grand finale held on March 28.

The champion was chosen following a grueling judging process and the panel comprised of Saman Bandara, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Accountancy of the University of Kelaniya, Professor Peter F. Green, Head of the School of Accountancy of the Queensland University of Technology and Mahendra Jayasekara, Managing Director of Lanka Tiles PLC, Lanka Walltiles PLC and Swisstek (Ceylon) PLC.

The guest of honour at the event was Professor Green, and the special guests were D. Jeevanadan, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Kalum De Silva, President of the Sri Lanka and Australia Chamber of Commerce (SLACC) and Mr. Andrew Paltridge, Deputy Head of the School of Business, Queensland University of Technology.President of CA Sri Lanka Lasantha Wickremasinghe impressed upon the increasing need for the future generation to spearhead change by being innovative.

Kalum De Silva, President of the Sri Lanka and Australia Chamber of Commerce (SLACC) which facilitated the partnership between CA Sri Lanka and the Queensland University of Technology said that SLACC was proud to partner with the CA Sri Lanka Business Plan Competition, as it was part of SLACC focus on developing the next generation of leaders in both Sri Lanka and Australia.

International CSR Summit (ICS), Asia’s large scale and regional summit, again will gather the top CSR thought leaders, doers, speakers and practitioners for the third time.

The 2017 summit will be held on June 2 and 3 Bangkok in Thailand.With CSR thought leaders and practitioners expected to attend from across Asia, the summit and the award night will offer high-level networking, foster interconnecting and global partnerships, knowledge sharing and discussion for the CSR community.

The event will also feature a series of highlights which includes mapping UN-SDGs into operations, industrywide partnerships, CSR ambassadors, CSR innovation, sustainability reporting,intriguing real life stories from CSR pioneers.

This year’s theme will focus on “Sustainability Beyond Borders”. It is time countries come together to brave the waves of global sustainability challenges and brainstorm and define solutions. It is imperative that thought leaders need to manoeuvre the wheels of CSR transformation in their organizations. Speaking companies on-board include B. Grimm, Interface Asia Pacific, Kusaga Athletic, Bangchak Petroleum, Adidas HK, Coca-Cola, UNESCAP Thailand, SEC Thailand, Thai Union, Response Ability, and parliamentarians coming from different parts of Asia. As the summit is in conjunction with the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurs Awards, winner from the award will

present their real-life CSR projects and practices as inspirations to attendees. “We are proud to be a part of the effort and movement to promote and strengthen sustainability in Asian continent. Join us as we explore these opportunities and strategies in the summit, make it personal and invite your CSR doers and stakeholders from your organisations. We invite Sri Lankan companies too to particpate in this event,” an official from the organisers said.

ICS is a series of annual regional events in Asia where thought leaders talk CSR and sustainability. The summits aim to strength­en ties, share experiences and insights, as well as identify regional challenges and opportunities to shape Asia towards a more responsible, sustainable and progressive socio-economic market. More information could be obtained from http://ift.tt/2mTBsx5

Sri Lankan beauty and personal care history was re defined with, “Beauty in a Method’, an event and workshop that was held at Jetwing, Colombo Seven recently.

It was organized and hosted by Mosh, The Wellness Specialists, a highly reputed name in the glamorous beauty and personal care industry. The event afforded a warm welcome to the star studded international brand Dibi Milano's two novelty skin care products, Age Method and Pure Equalizer that made its debut in Sri Lanka.

Founder and entrepreneur of Mosh, Shyam Singh, a maverick at heart has watched the company burgeon over a period spanning almost 10 years. “We sell premium and high quality products that are well accepted all over the world.”

In a bid to extend their foot print in Asia he also disclosed plans to open two saloons in Dubai and Bangladesh brining in foreign exchange to Sri Lanka in a field that is new to the country. “We also have three saloons and Skin care centers in Colombo and will open more soon.”

Explaining further he said that they also open their own Beauty academy to produce beauticians creating self employment to them as well. Mosh today has rapidly grown, with 3 branches including an international skin care center and a distribution and logistics center with over seventy professional and experienced employees.

Mosh is the sole distributor for Alfaparf Group and their premier international brand Dibi Milano in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Currently the company distributes skin care products among 50 salons as well as a range of premium hair care products to over 110 salons island-wide.

The workshop was conducted by the premier Italian international skin care trainer, Paul Keegan and was attended by over 100 leading beauticians and beauty care practitioners in the country.

The first cutting edge range that made its debut is the ‘Pure Equalizer’, consisting a new and extraordinary cosmetic technology that acts simultaneously and effectively on two levels, namely, prevention and performance.

Introducing the second line, more popularly now known as the DNA facial'Age Method’, is a new global youth enhancing treatment inspired by epigenetics,a term referring to the science of genes.

An innovative formula that works at the heart of the cell, restructuring the damage caused by the negative effects of fluctuating hormones and ageing. It is effective in smoothening and minimizing expression lines, deep wrinkles and strengthening the overall structure, look and feel of the skin.

Mosh is a leading beauty and total personal care solution provider in Sri Lanka, with its centersand offices based in Ward Place, Colombo 07.

The company offers advanced skin care and non-invasive slimming solutions, and hassuccessfully ventured into the multifaceted sphere of beauty and hair care, offering reputed international premier brands and innovative concepts and solutions to its patrons. Alfaparf Group is a successful multi-national hair and skin care manufacturer,supplier and provider of unparalleled skin and hair care solutions.

The chief guest at the event was the ambassador of Brazil, Elizabeth-Sophie Balsa. 

Marina local edible oil and fat brand that is currently exported to over 40 countries worldwide, has added another wholesome and nutritious addition to their extensive array of products, Marina Spread.

This is in response and understanding the emerging trend in the consumer's preference for safe and healthy consumable oil and fat products.

Marina Spread is a fat-spread enriched with the goodness of rich vegetable oil and power packed with vitamins A, D, E while also containing Omega 3, a highly nutritious fatty acid that's been scientifically proven to benefit health in the long run. Marina Spread gives a creamy taste which kids love to have in their food and contains absolutely no harmful ingredients such as sodium benzoate and is made from all natural, edible vegetable oils, making it the ideal choice for youngsters desiring a healthy and delicious meal.Marina Spread is also a perfect substitute for margarine, may it be in a recipe or in general consumption and includes a range of essential fats beneficial for overall health.

Through the experience gained in serving international markets where consumers are very knowledgeable and demanding regarding quality standards, Marina has over the years perfected its production process and general quality philosophy. 

The Faculty of Business at SLIIT recently conducted its annual Interschool Quiz Competition and Workshop on Soft Skills for the fifth consecutive year.

The workshop was targeted towards the grade11 to 13 Commerce stream students in State, Private and International schools with the aim to spark the interest on Soft Skills; team work, problem solving, creativity and thinking out of the box etc., whilst improving the business knowledge among school children. Even though these Soft Skills are increasingly becoming the hard skills of today's work force the school curriculum had ignored this vital aspect and this Softskills+ programme tries to bridge this gap.

Initially the preliminary rounds for the competition was held in Kandy, Malabe, Kurunegala and Jaffna with a participation of 73 school teams from 42 schools representing the whole country. From these teams, 32 teams qualified for the Grand Finale. This was a highly competitive interschool quiz which covered current developments in local and international business, globalization, international trade and business communications. St. Bridget's Convent team emerged Champions while two teams from VisakhaVidyalaya were adjudged First and Second Runners-up. 

Toyota Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, formally launched the latest “Toyota Coaster” designed for premier passenger transportation at the Toyota Plaza in Wattala. The event was attended by key clientele comprising of members from the leisure and travel sector, and the senior management of Toyota Lanka.

Speaking at the launch Managing Director of Toyota Lanka Shungo Yoshioka said, “The Coaster is the only coach in the Toyota line-up and has been playing a vital part in catering to clientele who have specific transportation requirements, especially in the travel and leisure sectors. The Coaster is a name that reflects reliable, durable and trusted transportation with over decades of global acclaim. The same, I believe applies in a Sri Lankan context where Toyota Coasters from many generations can be seen on the roads daily, fulfilling transportation requirements of a well-matured vehicle market.

With this unveiling Toyota Lanka will for the very first time offer 2 specifications of the Coaster, the mid-grade and the high-grade . The all-new Coaster comes with a sleek, innovative new design while staying true to the Coaster's identity.The interior has also been significantly revamped and is now more spacious due to wider and taller cabin dimensions.Noise insulation has also been improved contributing to a quieter ride with a plush interior giving an enhanced sense of ride comfort. Both versions have semi reclining seats as a standard option. Additionally, for anyone who wants to pay extra for a bit of luxury, the high-grade Coaster has a factory fitted cool box to keep you refreshed during long journeys.

One of the Coaster's main selling points is its durability. The circular frame structure is adopted to ensure high body rigidity and strength.

Laser welding has also been used for rigid body panel bonding. All of this contributes to enhance quality, durability and reliability. The availability of safety features, which is of paramount importance in the present day context, has also been enhanced. Driver airbags and ABS are standard features on the high-grade spec while 3 point seat belts are standard on all models.

Also speaking at the launch Director-COO Manohara Atukorale noted, “With the introduction of the new Coaster, we are looking at adding more value to your business requirements with enhanced reliability and more emphasis on passenger safety. With unparalleled after-sales care, only Toyota Lanka can offer such an extensive value proposition.”

Sold with the 3 year/100,000km exclusive Toyota Lanka warranty, the Coaster available for the local market has been built to specification considering local conditions.

Toyota Lanka invites all potential customers to come and view the all new Coaster at Toyota showrooms in Wattala, Ratmalana, Negombo and Kurunegala to experience the next chapter of “Reliable Journey Making”. 

In a journey where ICT is making a strong impact towards globalization, digital transformation is the fuel to fire the engine.

Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd has taken the leadership to diversify it's business in digital space. The event was the first ever move in this nature to invite over 100 top corporate customers under one roof to share how the digital future will be better with Dell EMC & innovative Microsoft solutions.

Starting the Avian Corporate Night, Buddhika Liyanage - Director Avian Group, shared the company vision for the future. the event was appeared by over a 100 senior management level executives from leading corporates.

The event was graced by special guest Roshan Nugawela -Country Manager for Dell EMC Sri Lanka & Maldives addressing the gathering he said “Avian has won the best commercial partner award consecutively since 2014 and still growing strength to strength in their sales & technical support” and Michelle Simmons, General Manager -South East Asia New Markets - Microsoft said “Sri Lanka is the fastest growing country in South East Asia for Microsoft Cloud Solutions, according to a recent research in Asia, two key factors could impact the digital transformation, empowering employees & engaging customers, which Office 365 will enable you better”. Avian is fully geared with solutions for the digital transformation which country needs & innovative business strategies are in place to enjoy the first move advantage.

As a leading ICT solutions provider, Avian Technologies is a $5 million company at present with a staff strength of 70 people & pushing the bar to surpass $10 million annual turnover by end of 2017/2018 Financial year. Company operates in Sri Lanka & Maldives. The organization is diversifying into new ventures and partnerships, Avian have, from its inception, maintained its reputation in the ICT sector by providing the most robust and reliable services & solutions to its esteemed clientele. At the event customers endorsed the support extended by the sales and technical team at Avian over the past many years.

The Company has been a leader in the information security sector & now has expanded towards new segments. Solutions such as mobile security, ATM security, POS Security, Industrial Cyber Security, Data Centers, Storage, Security for Virtualization, Intelligence Solutions, Information Management, Cloud solutions Bandwidth Management & Managed Services are to name but a few.

Today, some of the world's leading brands have appointed Avian for it's core-competencies and values, and its proven ability to take brands to greater heights.

Avian is proud to announce the sole distributorship for Kaspersky and also the distributorship for Cyberoam-Sophos, 24 Online & Spam Titan while aggressively positioning Microsoft cloud solutions & Dell as an award winning Partner, followed by VMWare, HP, Cisco & APC for multiple ICT requirements. The company will be nurturing in to more brands in the next few years. The customer oriented sales and marketing team, dedicated 24x7 Customer support hotline for the Dell products, highly skilled technical team, has contributed greatly towards the success of the business.

The company is focused in driving innovative entrepreneurship, corporate diversity, regional expansion, in-organic growth, new partnerships and partner recognition, and is passionate about investing to increase marketing excellence to be the leading ICT solutions provider in Sri Lanka. 

Keeping with the spirit of the Avurudu season, DFCC Bank has introduced the ‘Avurudu Hat Trick’ campaign which offers families the opportunity to receive three kinds of benefits including gifts, gift certificates and special interest rates for fixed deposits, with the objective of making the upcoming Avurudu festival season a special one. Customers have a choice of not one but three exciting rewards for Avurudu deposits they make at any DFCC branch up to 30th April 2017.

Customers will be eligible for the three types of benefits based on their deposit value and type of account.

Exciting gifts are up for grabs including DFCC branded bags, LED torches, 1 Burner Gas Cookers and Gift Vouchers from Abans which can be used to redeem Washing Machines, Air Coolers, Microwaves, LED Televisions, 4-Burner Gas Cookers, Fridges, Laptops or Smart Televisions. Customers can also receive gift certificates. Furthermore, customers who open fixed deposits up to a maximum value of Rs. five million with a tenure of one year will be eligible for special interest rates enabling them to optimise their returns.

Arjun Fernando - CEO, DFCC Bank, said, “The ‘Avurudu Hat Trick’ campaign offers an exciting ‘Ganu Denu’ scheme for the season, where customers can save with DFCC Bank and get rewarded at the same time. We encourage our customers and their families to deposit new funds with us during this period which we believe will help them achieve their future goals and aspirations.

True to DFCC's values, all Bank branches will be open on 14th April from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. during the traditional ‘Ganu Denu’ period and we welcome customers and their families to visit us and carry out transactions on their savings accounts and fixed deposits.”

Families can visit any of DFCC branches located across the country during the promotional period, to make their deposits and be eligible for these three types of benefits.

Special offers are also available for those who use their Vardhana Virtual Wallet to transact this Avurudu.

In operation for over six decades, DFCC Bank remains dedicated to advancing financial inclusivity whilst supporting the growth and development of the nation and is rated AA- by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Limited.

The Bank continuously strives to create sustainable value for all stakeholders and provide its valued customers with a comprehensive range of innovative financial solutions. The Bank has been rapidly growing its footprint across the country with a network of 138 service points and 95 fully fledged branches.

Now connected to the LankaPay Common ATM Switch, all account holders can access over 3,500 ATMs island-wide and perform zero cost cash withdrawals and balance inquiries via connected Banks. 

CIM Sri Lanka hosted its first Networking Event for 2017, titled ‘Evolution of Music in Sri Lanka’ on March 17 at the CIM Office, in Colombo.

Organized as an evening of networking and fellowship exclusively for CIM Members, the event featured an eminent panel from the country's music industry namely Vijaya Corea, Annesley Malewana, Raj Senewiratne, Naresh Sathasivam and Dilan Irugalbandara.

The panelists at the event were a combination of renowned veterans in the music industry and a younger generation of musicians who together contribute to the vibrant music scene in the country.

During the discussions, the musicians shared their experiences and thoughts about the prevailing music landscape in the country and their contribution over time in changing it. The panelists also educated and entertained the participants with many compelling stories about their careers. The event concluded on a high note with the musicians present entertaining the audience with a light repertoire. The fellowship and camaraderie after the event facilitated further networking among CIM members enabling them to encounter like-minded and creative people. 

Global Living Emporio, India's largest International decor Mall was recently launched at Hosur Road, Bangalore.Global Living Emporio is a complete home decor destination store conceptualised and curated by Shubha Sunil and Sunil Suresh - the founders of Stanley Lifestyles Ltd.

At the launch of Global Living Emporio, Founder Sunil Suresh said, “We are happy to get an opportunity to launch India's largest International Decor Mall in Bangalore. With the experience of having built the Stanley Boutique chain of stores across 10 cities in India and the requests to cater to the demands of architects and home makers to offer complete home furniture solution under one roof, the Global Living Emporio concept was born. Spread over 100,000 sq.ft Global Living Emporio is a purpose built store, housing over 60 top Indian and international brands.”

Global Living Emporio has over 150 appointed room settings, consisting of kitchens, living rooms, dining and bedrooms, complemented with decorative lighting, rugs and accessories - offering customers a total touch and feel experience like never before. The friendly sales staff have been trained to recommend decor solutions and assist the customers in choosing the perfect furniture and furnishing from the extensive collection.

Not only does Global Living Emporio offer the designers and the home maker the very best decor solution from across the world, but for the first time it offers the most competitive and honest pricing which are definitely the lowest in the industry anywhere in the world. 

Faucet and Minutery range, Remer Rubinetterie Spa has named Invo Lanka International, as the exclusive local agent for its family of products.

Remer Rubinetterie is Italy's leading manufacturer of faucets and plumbing minutery. Manufacturing all its products at state-of-the-art factories in Italy, Remer uses high quality materials and the most advanced technologies offering the ultimate in comfort, safety and relaxation.

Remer Products are distributed in 130 countries globally through its channel partners showcasing 100% ‘Made in Italy’ designs which are set to transform local bathroom designs with its exciting range.

“We're extremely pleased to appoint Invo Lanka as our sales partner in Sri Lanka. Our association with Invo provides us a very solid footing in the market, and I'm confident that our partnership will be valuable for all concerned,” said Antonio Repici, Chairman Remer.

Invo Lanka Internationa's parent company, Ceramic Homes International Group, was established in the country over 20 years ago. While Invo is a fledgling two-year old company it accounts for an impressive portfolio including the mantle of Exclusive Sri Lankan Agents for other world reputed sanitary fittings manufacturers such as ‘Goman’, ‘TPH’, ‘KDK’ and ‘Britain'.

“Italy's Rubinetterie Remer are at the forefront of design innovation for the luxury bath market. Having built its reputation on high quality world renowned cutting edge design, we are thrilled that they have chosen Invo Lanka to expand their local presence. Remer faucets and minutery perfectly matches our product range and philosophy and in today's demanding market, we strive to offer solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations,” said M. M. M. Naleem, Managing Director -Invo Lanka.

Catering to a diverse range of customers, Invo Lanka markets the Remer range through three sales divisions; an impressive Dealer Network accounting for over 100 dealers island-wide, a Project Sales Division with an experienced team of executives who serve all small and large apartment and commercial projects, hotels etc., and the Retail Sales Division which coordinates the supply of Remer products among the seven Ceramic Homes showrooms.

The Remer product range can be sourced through Invo Lanka's own head office and design center in Colombo.All Remer products provide a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. 

Munchee the flagship brand of Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) as a part of its CSR initiatives has once again organized its annual treat of offering biscuits for Sri Pada Pilgrims.

As in the past, from a special stall establish at the KalparukshaViharaya near Nallathanni, serving of biscuits to the Sri pada pilgrims is done during the weekends and poyadays.

This activity was started on the poya day of month of January and will continue till early April for the benefit of thousands of Sri Pada pilgrims.

This treat is organized on Weekends and the poya days to target more number of devotes. While enjoying biscuits from Munchee , pilgrims also have the opportunity of receiving a leaflet on Sri Pada free of charge .This leaflet has been designed to provide information such as historical background, directions to Sri Pada from the main two routes and the words specially used during the pilgrimage in brief and as such it can be useful to all walks of pilgrims and specially for those who come for pilgrimage first time.

Munchee organizes similar initiatives during the other annual religious festivals such as Kandy pereharaNallur Kovil, Kataragama, Nallur and Talawila. 

Fashion Bug, opened their seventeenth store in Wellawatte in time for the season.The new Fashion Bug located on three floors is stocked with a wide range of ladies, gents, and kids wear, useful home ware as well as accessories to suit every occasion for the discerning shopper.

In addition, a dedicated counter for a range of ethnic and fusion wear which includes sarees, shalwars and kurthas will also be available, while closer to Avurudhu, yet another new consignment of goods will be on sale.Director Shabier Subian said “Wellawatta has become a shopping hub. As we don't have an outlet between Colpetty and Katubedda we decided it was high time we do so and open up in ‘Shoppers Paradise'”.

Fashion Bug was founded in 1994 in Bandarawela with a 7 member team, the first shop being a mere 500 square feet in Bandarawela town.The brainchild of Founders Rizal and Ashan

Subian and A.C.M. Thariq, today it has evolved into a household brand that has18 outlets islandwide. Fashion Bug currently numbers over 1250 Sri Lankan men and women amongst its staff, who hail from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities; hence they constitute a truly Sri Lankan corporate entity. An equal opportunity employer, Fashion Bug prides itself on the fact that they invest in their employees, which they believe is a key to their success.Very high on the Company's list of priorities is the preservation of racial and ethnic harmony and unity which is evidenced by the fact that all communities and religions work side by side at Fashion Bug's outlets and factories.

“Not just Fashion Bug, but for any business to prosper and go forward we must all act as one united country and as one people,” Fashion Bug Deputy General Manager Dr S.H.M Faraaz said.

Macbertan (Private) Limited marked its 20th milestone in company history by recognising long service employees at an awards ceremony held recently.It was a function filled with glamour, where long Service Employees were rewarded for their contribution to the Company.

Long standing customers of Macbertan, some of whom had been doing business with the company from the inception were also recognised.

Macbertan Limited Founder Managing Director and McLarens Group Chairman Rohan De Silva was recognized for his vision and entrepreneurship by the shareholders who presented him with a plaque of appreciation. Past Directors and Management of Macbertan who had contributed to taking the company forward were also present.

Launched in the year 1997, Macbertan is a joint business venture of McLarens Holdings, Alliance Finance and two individual shareholders.

Beginning its operations Macbertan (Private) Limited pioneered the manufacture of expanded polyethylene foam products and polyethylene air bubble sheets in Sri Lanka.

The Company launched its prestigious product range of McFoam, McFoil, McFoil Ultra and McWrap which became popular brand names in quick succession.These products are mainly used for thermal and impact insulation and have limitless applications.

The company expanded its production line by introducing a Manufacturing facility that manufactures ABL and PBL tubes of high quality standards, in Sri Lanka.

Macbertan Director and CEO Cheminda Amarasinghe thanked all the stakeholders behind company's success story of 20 years. He said that the company believes that all these innovations were made possible due to its commitment towards quality, environment, occupational health and safety of its own workforce. 

Over 45 Sri Lankan companies are billed to participate in the annual Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) from April 24 to 26 in World Trade Centre Dubai.

In its 22nd edition, Arabian Travel Market 2015 witnessed a year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 15% to over 26,000, with exhibiting companies increasing by 5% to 2,873. Business deals worth more than US$2.5 billion were signed over the four days.

The 2016 ATM posted a 7% year-on-year rise in visitor numbers with more than 28,000 trade visitors attending the show, which took place from 25-28 April at Dubai World Trade Centre. The 2016 edition boasted an additional hall, with 423 main stand holders representing 86 countries, 64 country pavilions and over 100 new exhibitors making their debut.

Leading with a topical mid-market theme, the initial results for the 23rd travel and tourism industry showcase, released by organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions, also recorded a 9% increase in the number of Buyers’ Club members, with a similar percentage hike in the number of other quality visitors such as VIPs, sponsors and speakers, compared to 2015.

“The initial estimated figures for this year's show highlights ATM's significance as a leading exhibition for the region's travel and tourism sector, as an increasing number of destinations ramp-up efforts to drive travel and tourism as part of economic diversification and sustainability,” Arabian Travel Market Exhibition Manager,Nadege Noblet-Segers said .

“The overall increase in visitor numbers and specifically the 9% rise in key buyers (those with budget responsibility for regional and international contracting) underscores ATM's importance to trade buyers and also means ATM 2016 is poised to top last year's record US$2.5 billion in business deals facilitated.

“This year's popular mid-market theme also resonated with the region's travel professionals - with many exhibitors leveraging opportunities to launch mid-tier brands as well as discussing strategies, developments and future trends during the ATM seminars,” added Noblet-Segers. 

The Aditya Resort Ratgama was recently recognized in three categories by internationally recognized travel review site Tripadvisor.

This years win marks the fifth consecutive year the resort has been recognized by Tripadvisor as one of the top 5 Best Hotels for Romance, top 5 Best Small Luxury Hotels and one of the top 5 Hotels for Best Service.

Speaking on the win, Director and General Manager Shamindra Fernando said, “We are delighted to be recognized by Tripadvisor for the 5th consecutive year. At Aditya our focus remains on offering experiences that seduce the soul, this goes beyond offering excellent cuisine, the highest standards in luxury and impeccable service – it consists of predicting and catering to each need and desire our guests may have. Our staff will go the extra mile to make sure each customer that walks through our doors leaves relaxed, rejuvenated and delighted with their experience with us”.

Widely recognized as an oasis of tranquility and bliss, Aditya excels in delivering service that resonates with each guest simply by merit of attention to detail. By making it possible for each guest to truly experience unrivalled luxury, Aditya offers incredible experiences that are truly one of a kind.

A guest endorsement from Valerie. B who stayed at the Aditya Resort in March 2017 reviewed her experience with the resort on Tripadvisor, “Our second four day stay at this exquisite boutique hotel exceeded expectations. The property is airy, spacious and beautifully appointed.

Guest areas are elegant with stunning flower arrangements and soft furnishings. Maid service is sensitive with staff appearing to sense your next need. 

Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort and Spa is geared to celebrate its first Avurudu season in Sri Lanka with a number of special culinary experiences and festive activities.

Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort & Spa will transform its artisan village into a typical village Avurudu market, or ‘AvuruduPola’ on April 13 and 14.

The grounds will feature peddlers with clay pots, brassware, wood carvings, paintings, ornamental fish and plants, and cane ware. In addition, there will be food stalls with traditional ‘kevili'. The Pola will also have a ‘Kopi Kade‚’ set up to serve village style coffee to shoppers.

In keeping with the April festivities, Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort & Spa will offer guests a traditional Aluth Avurudu lunch at its Bojunhala restaurant and authentic sweetmeats or ‘k evilimesaya’ including kavum, kokis, kaludodol, and even achcharu and tropical fruits at its Gimanhala restaurant in the evening.

For those who want a change from the traditional fare, the resort's signature SERA restaurant will host a Spice of Asia brunch buffet featuring dishes such as sushi and sashimi, lobster rendang with coconut rice, wok sizzling prawns, vietnamese vegetarian pho and a selection of delicious desserts like pandan cake and lapis surabaya.

The highlight on both days will be the Avurudu games conducted by the staff of Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort & Spa. Celebrations call for traditional village style games, which include kottapora, kamba adeema, sack race, kanaa mutti bindeema as well as rabangaseema.

During the two-day celebration, Shangri-La's CHI Ayurveda Spa will offer 30 minute complimentary head andscalp or foot massages for guests that book a 90 minute Pizhichil Ayurvedic therapy, that combines rich oil massage with a special heat treatment that stimulates the senses through a coconut spices body scrub.

Entire families can be assured of a warm welcome with a range of services catered to each family member. For example, the Cool Zone will be open on both days and will feature plenty of activities like a 7m high trapeze, painting workshop, magic show, outdoor movie, outdoor water park, children's’ pool and childcare facilities to keep younger guests happy throughout the celebrations. 

The Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI), Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne, has been invited to join the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN) for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

The APLN aims to inform and energise public opinion, especially high-level policymakers, to take seriously the very real threats posed by nuclear weapons, and to do everything possible to achieve a world in which they are contained, diminished and eventually eliminated. The APLN works together with comparable leadership networks in Europe, Latin America and the United States, all of which are supported by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

The APLN includes approximately 80 invited members from 15 countries across Asia and the Pacific, consisting of former political, official and military leaders in senior executive positions as well as opinion leaders and shapers from other sectors of society. Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne is one of three members from Sri Lanka, along with Ambassadors Jayantha Dhanapala and H.M.G.S. Palihakkara.

APLN members contribute to the nuclear debate by making public statements from time to time, engaging in direct advocacy with regional governments as both public and private opportunities arise, commissioning research and hosting regional seminars and conferences as resources permit. The Secretariat of the APLN is based in Seoul, South Korea.

On her acceptance of the invitation to join the APLN, Dr. Panditaratne said, “I’m honoured by the invitation to participate in and contribute to APLN. I look forward to learning from its distinguished members, and working together to fulfil its worthy mission; including to inform policymakers and energize public opinion of the threats posed by nuclear weapons, and to strive for a world in which they are contained, reduced and eventually eliminated.”

As well as being Executive Director of LKI, Dr. Panditaratne is an Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she also serves on the Executive Committee of the Centre for Rights and Justice. She was previously a Visiting Fellow at the University of Hong Kong and is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. A graduate of the University of Oxford with first class honours, Dr. Panditaratne obtained her doctorate from Yale Law School.

Continuing in its pioneering efforts to inculcate the savings habit in children, Sri Lanka’s premiere private sector commercial bank, HNB PLC announced the opening of a new Student Savings Unit at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.

Timed to follow recent celebrations of the school’s 121stanniversary, the new unit was declared open by St. Joseph’s College Rector, Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel together with prominent past pupil of the school and Managing Director/CEO of HNB, Jonathan Alles.

Addressing a gathering of students and teachers, Alles said: “It is my distinct pleasure to be here with you all today to celebrate the 121stanniversary of this prestigious school, and the establishment of HNB’sstudent savings unit at St. Joseph’s College. HNB was first established in 1888, nine years before St. Joseph’s, hence this new partnership is constituted of two of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most respected institutions.

“Our primary goal with this unit is to help students to gain a better understanding of how to save, and the importance of saving so that when you need to fund your higher education or make other important investments, you can do so without stressing your parents.”

“We will also augment this unit with unique technology so that all transactions will be carried out digitally. This will assist you as you progress in a digital world that is driven by automation. We sincerely hope that this early experience will go a long way towards securing a prosperous future for all of you,”

Student savings units were first introduced to the Sri Lankan banking landscape by HNB in 1994. Since then, the bank has expanded its service to cover 153Students Savings Units across Sri Lanka. Through the units, student managers are groomed to take leadership in running a mini bank in school and get actively involved in promoting the savings habit among fellow students. The bank trains over 1,000 students annually in this capacity.

PickMe; Sri Lanka’s home grown technology based taxi hailing service is well into its second successful year of operations. Whilst they have expanded their network and introduced more user friendly features to their app, their success story lies not just in their daily increasing fleet but their young and dynamic staff. PickMe is the ideal place for techno geeks i.e. app developers to let loose their skills.

The Company is constantly on the lookout for talented young people who can find ways to make their App even smarter. As a tech based operation PickMe, gives priority to young people who are skilled in developing software.

When the Company first launched the hailing service with their app, there had been only 15 people on their staff and they achieved the goal of becoming a credible, established service in a very short time.

Another significant aspect about PickMe is that they are not looking for highly qualified app developers when they are looking to recruit. According to CEO, Zulfer Jiffrey all comers are welcome provided they make the cut.

Some of the PickMe staffers were eager to speak about the opportunities they had to advance themselves within the Company. Rishoban Jeevamohan, who started out as a beta passenger, joined PickMe as a Customer Communications Executive.

According to Keshan Fernando who is a software engineer, PickMe for a one year old start-up has grown rapidly. “We keep working towards taking the Company to the next level. We are given many opportunities to grow with the company. Regular appraisals and the training we get help us to succeed in our career. Zulfer says that there is a common misconception that PickMe is a place for tech-wiz’s and IT professionals. “That is far from the truth, technology plays only a 50% role in the business. Operational activities are of equal importance.”

This is further confirmed by staff members who say that company operations are a ‘nice mix.’ They believe that the success of their app is due to giving the operations side of the business equal importance, as the satisfaction of their passengers and drivers has helped the PickMe’s rapid growth.

Given the relaxed yet lively office atmosphere, all of PickMe’s employees seem to love their jobs. “I want to work here for as long as I can,” says Neerja Vimaleswaran, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer. She says as a woman in what is considered a male dominated industry; she does not feel unequal to her male co-workers. “I don’t feel any gender inequality here; everyone is just equal.” 

Galle Face green took a spectacular sight last Sunday with a magnificent fleet of exotic cars assembled there to parade the streets of Colombo.

he Exotic Motor Parade with Exotic car club of the Automobile Association of Ceylon organized as a project provided an amazing and a colorful experience by showcasing a wide variety of cars of all types and sizes taking to the streets. More than 100 exotic cars were expected to participate in the parade.

A rare collection of vehicles coloured the parade, ranging from vintage cars to classic and sports cars. Nevertheless, it will include popular models such as Renault, Porsche, Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes Benz. The rally commenced from the AAC headquarters at Galle Face after breakfast and ended in the Wet Water Resort Private Ltd, Gampaha . It was a captivating sight and a new experience to see a wide range of motor vehicles parading down the streets with the greatest enthusiasm.

Sri Lanka tourism made its contribution by endorsing and facilitating the event through public and social media campaigns, promoting the event to attract a large crowd, both local and foreign. Vignattes of the event - MFJ

Pictures by Wimal Karunathilake

AFC Motorbike Show 2017 - organized by Alliance Finance Company PLC will thrill the motorbike enthusiastic on 8th and 9th April 2017 at the Race Course Round Road, Nuwara Eliya.

The world of biking under one roof, first of its kind Motor bike show is made up of all the franchise holders representing the leading global motorbike brands from classic motorbikes, lubricants companies, motor insurance companies, spare parts, tires, batteries and a number of stalls in motor related areas.

Alliance Finance Company PLC who enhanced this enthusiasm through this show, is now poised to become a significant player in the world of bikes.

The event is open to presenters of all appropriate motorbikes, including vintage, classic, modern, modified, and motor bikes, we welcome all. Exhibits are judged by a panel and awards are given for various categories.

Fun competitions are held on the day and prizes will also be won in lucky draws for the public.

Live shows, a good range of food and refreshments are available. Motor industry and related trade displays will be at the show.

This year’s event will exhibit the world’s number 1 and 3 stunt riders Sarah Lezito and Romain Jeandrot with many other local super stunt riders.

Fairfirst Insurance the amalgamated entity of two prominent general insurance companies of Sri Lanka namely, Union Assurance General and the former Asian Alliance General Insurance entered into a strategic partnership with Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt) Ltd. the sole distributor for Honda.

This tie up will expand the wing of Honda Protection which is a value addition offered by Honda to their customers. The cover exclusively designed and underwritten by Fairfirst Insurance for Honda customers includes an unlimitedthird party body injury cover. This unique insurance cover will be offered to Honda customers at no charge.

Commenting on this partnership Tarindra Kaluperuma - Executive Director of Stafford Motor CO. (Pvt) Ltd said,"The Honda Protection cover is a great add on benefit to customers. We are confident about partnering with a brand like Fairfirstwhose lineage in Sri Lanka and global expertise in insurance ensures we offer a solid cover to our customers"

Today, Fairfirstserves individuals, businesses and institutions across this beautiful island through a versatile workforce of 1400 spread across their well knitted network of comprehensive service centers, affinity partners and leading brokers in the market. Their holding company - the Fairfax Group, headquartered in Toronto, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management across the world. Niranjan Nagendra - General Manager Sales and Marketing added "We are very enthusiastic about partnering with Honda on this initiative. Despite Fairfirstbeing a new name, the combined strengths of the former Union Assurance General and Asian Alliance General allows us to offer some great value for money products" 

Following in the footsteps of the unprecedented success of the Renault KWID in Sri Lanka, Renault launched the AMT version of the KWID with a 1000 CC engine, Yasantha Wijesekara, Deputy General Manager - Renault at AMW said.

The AMT Version affirms the original philosophy of the Renault KWID an attractive, affordable and an innovative car that is also reliable and efficient in performance.The Easy-R Gear Box of the Renault KWID presents an all-new 5-speed AMT technology that is the heritage of Renault's well versed expertise in Formula 1 racing. The Innovative Shift Control Dial with three modes Reverse - Neutral - Drive is efficiently designed to incorporate ease of use. As an advanced control unit that automatically optimizes gear shifting in accordance with driving conditions, it ensures a smooth and a regular rhythm of acceleration that provides a comfortable and stress-free driving experience.

In keeping with its outstanding features, Renault sustains a unique appeal as a stylish car to first time buyers, confirming its aspirational status as an outstanding value proposition. The power of the Renault KWID AMT is derived from a new, one litre Smart Control Efficiency (SCe) engine with four valves per cylinder and Double Over Head Camshaft (DOHC) arrangement.

In taking safety as a concept to the next level, the KWID AMT offers first-in-class pro-sense seat-belt pretensions with load limiters as an important safety feature that is usually found cars catering to the upper segments of the market.

"The Renault KWID AMT is available in the RXL and the top-end RXT-O variant with five colour options - Fiery Red, Ice Cool White, Moon Light Silver, Outback Bronze and Planet Grey," Wijeyesekera added.

Renault has acquired a unique slot in the small car segment as a SUV lookalike that offers an attractive, innovative, yet affordable choice which is likely to positively impact the overall cost of ownership. The car combines unbeatable best-in-class maintenance part costs, which reinforces the decision making process. 

 In a calculated bid to enhance automotive maintenance services of hybrid vehicles in Sri Lanka, Hybrid Hub, the only facility in Sri Lanka which specializes in hybrid vehicles and McLarens Lubricants Limited, authorized distributors of Mobil Oil in Sri Lanka have entered a strategic partnership.

The new venture heralds good news to the country’s hybrid vehicle owners as it brings together the expertise of two industry leaders in the automotive maintenance industry to offer unmatched products and services.

The strategic partnership is set to usher in a level of service and product offering that is unmatched elsewhere in the country’s automotive maintenance industry and in particular the hybrid vehicle market.

To ignite the unique benefits of this partnership, Hybrid Hub and McLarens Lubricants Limited will conduct a series of hybrid car clinics from 25th March 2017 to give opportunities to customers island-wide to avail themselves of the combined wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Commenting on the partnership, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Hybrid Hub, Sanka Edirisinghe said, “McLarens Lubricants Limited is not only a local industry leader but their product, Mobil, is also a prominent player in the global arena. We are extremely happy to tie up with a Company of this caliber and given our own 70 year long expertise in the local automotive engineering market, the partnership would usher in success to both business entities as well as our customer base in Sri Lanka.”

“It is a privilege to partner with Hybrid Hub, a Company that continues to prove its strong position in the local hybrid vehicle diagnostics and maintenance market through its progressive business process and expertise.

We are confident that this partnership will enable our customers in Sri Lanka to enjoy best in class services,” commented Head of Marketing at McLarens Lubricants Limited, Dilan Seneviratne.

McLarens Lubricants Limited is the market leader with over 70% market share amongst synthetic motor oils in Sri Lanka.

The Company’s key product offering ‘Mobil’, is the most sought after motor oil brand in the world, let alone Sri Lanka and consists of a variety of products that cater to diesel and petrol vehicles, motorcycles and even hybrid vehicles. Currently, Mobil Lubricants offers services as a leading ‘Oil Specialist’ in Sri Lanka with solutions for any queries with regard to motor oil.

The Peugeot 3008 SUV was launched in Colombo on Thursday a head of other regional counterparts by Carmart (Pvt) Ltd.

The Peugeot 3008 which was launched in October in Europe was planned to be unveiled in the region in July 2017 but Carmart has been able to launch the car in Sri Lanka in front of countries like Japan Malaysia and Singapore which was a significant achievement, said Yasendra Amerasinghe, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Carmart addressing the gathering at the launch.

Amerasinghe said after the successful launch in Europe in October 2016 over 100,000 orders throughout the continent has been received for the vehicle and has been voted the car of the year in 2017.

Carmart was proud to be one of the first countries in Asia Pacific Region to launch this model, he said.

"The new 3008 SUV marks a jump of several generations forward in terms of style, technology, and design for Peugeot, putting it at the forefront of its category and winning the Car of the Year 2017 award cements this assertion. This is the most prestigious award in the automotive industry as it is judged by a panel of 58 impartial, veteran motoring journalists from a multitude of countries" added Amerasinghe, he added.

The new Peugeot 3008 was named the 2017 Car of the Year (COTY) on March 6 in Geneva by a judging panel comprising 58 European journalists. The judging panel acclaimed its style, interior design and performance. This prestigious trophy joins the 20 other prizes the new Peugeot 3008 has already won. The vehicle is the fifth Peugeot to win Car of the Year and the first SUV honoured in the history of the COTY prize.

The new Peugeot 3008 SUV appeals to choosy customers who want to stand out and have new experiences, aiming to become a major contender in the SUV category.

The new Peugeot 3008 offers a unique blend of style, comfort and road handling. The spectacular Peugeot i-Cockpit(r) is state of the art and gives new meaning to being in the driver's seat.

It offers a more intuitive and intense driving experience, with a compact steering wheel, 12.3 inch head-up instrument display and central 8 inch capacitive touchscreen console with ergonomic piano keys to top it all off. The new Peugeot 3008 also offers several driving aids and other high-tech equipment, as well as seamless connectivity.