In brief

Hiran Cooray PATA chairman

Chairman Jetwing Hiran Cooray made history when he was ceremoniously inducted as the Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the first Sri Lankan to be appointed to this position.

PATA, the regions most representative tourism body has 900 direct members from the international and regional tourism industry, plus other tourist organisations as well as nearly 8000 local members from 40 world wide PATA country chapters. This includes the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Hiran said the leadership role in PATA reflected the fact that Sri Lankan could be a force to reckon with in the global tourism arena. ‘On behalf of Sri Lanka, I am proud, privileged and honoured by the responsibility cast on me’ he said.

Rajendra receives QFC - Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Award for 2010

Rajendra Theagarajah, Managing Director/CEO of Hatton National Bank (HNB) was awarded The QFC Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Award for Sri Lanka 2010.

The award is part of Asian Bankers commitment to promote the importance of leadership in developing a sound and sustainable financial services industry.

The research study for the award programme is backed by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).

The award is testimony to the pivotal role Theagarajah had in building HNB as one of Sri Lanka’s best performing banks with a sophisticated business that straddles a broad range of business lines with strong fee generating capabilities.

HNBs well paced expansion, a leap that has challenged all other financial institutions and its dedication to financial education and other social initiatives have been key factors in winning this award.

Commercial Bank branch in Kalmunai

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has opened a branch in Kalmunai, Batticaloa Road. The new branch, the Bank’s 173rd in Sri Lanka is linked to all other Commercial Bank branches and Supermarket Banking counters islandwide permitting online real-time banking. It is also equipped with two ATMs linked to 360 ATMs of Commercial Bank and over one million ATMs belonging to the Cirrus (Mastercard network) and Visa networks worldwide. The Commercial Bank offers year-round banking through 24 Supermarket Banking counters and six 365-day banking Centres, covering major towns including Jaffna.

Cashew cultivation to be increased

Sixty thousand cashew plants will be distributed among cashew cultivators in the Hambantota district.

The Rs. 9,500 subsidy per acre will be increased to Rs. 25,000, Cashew Corporation revealed. According to the Corporation sources, this step was taken to encourage cultivators in the Hambantota district to take to cashew cultivation and cultivators.

They have also been advised to grow green gram and ground nuts to earn income till they derive an income from cashew cultivation.

It is expected to bring 50,000 acres of land under cashew cultivation by 2016 and the total requirement of cashew in the country is 14,000 tons but at present only 12,000 tons are produced.

Government to purchase paddy

The Government has allocated ten million rupees to purchase paddy in the Moneragala District. The funds will be provided to the Co-operative Societies through the District Secretary.

The Government hopes to purchase paddy in a proper manner at the rural level. According to the Co-operative Societies, the Paddy Marketing Board will purchase all stocks. Deputy Minister Jagath Pushpakumara has instructed the co-operatives and the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase the paddy at the price fixed by the Government sans causing difficulties to the farmers.

Dengue awareness campaign in Jaffna

Astron one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lanka Army launched a Dengue awareness and prevention campaign in the Jaffna peninsula on March 29, which continued till April 4.

The mosquito borne Dengue fever was spreading rapidly in the Jaffna Peninsula with a sharp increase in the number of patients according to data released by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.

During the first two months of 2010, the Jaffna district reported the highest number of Dengue cases with 1,557 patients and 14 deaths.

Public help in destroying breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes is essential to control the spread of the disease.

Astron who is always ready to lend a helping hand to the public having understood the gravity of the situation considered this endeavour as a social responsibility and came forward to sponsor the campaign said Sirimal Fernando, Director Marketing, Astron (Pvt.) Ltd.

Commercial Bank increases withdrawal limits

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC announced an increase in the standard cash withdrawal and point-of-sale limits on its ATM and Shopping Debit Cards, effective April 1, 2010.

Accordingly, all such cardholders will be entitled to withdraw up to Rs. 40,000 from ATMs and make purchases of up to Rs 100,000 per day, using their Commercial Bank cards. However, higher limits can be made available at the request of the cardholder, the Bank said. The Bank offers customers the option of setting their own ATM withdrawal limits up to a maximum of Rs 100,000 a day, and a point-of-sale limit of up to Rs 500,000, provided funds are available in their accounts.