BIZ- Briefs

New vistas on taxation to be launched

A taxation qualification will be launched for the first time in Sri Lanka by the School of Taxation under the faculty of Taxation , Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. It will be launched within the next three months and will be modeled in line with the Chartered Institute of Taxation, UK.

The faculty will conduct three examinations over 18 months and those who qualify will be awarded the certificate Chartered Tax Advisor.

CILT conference in October

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) International Conference will be held in Sri Lanka in October. It will be graced by the International President of CILT Professor Allen Waller.

The 2013 International Council Meeting a part of the Annual Convention of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International will be held in Sri Lanka.

More than 200 participants will attend the Meeting.

NITF to be expanded to SAARC

The National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) established in 2006 plans to expand to the SAARC region. As the first step NITF will start a branch in the Maldives before December.

Already the company provides reinsurance cover to Maldivian insurance companies. NITF chairman Senaka Abegoonasekara said that "there is a demand and already two private insurance companies have established branches. NITF understanding the need for trained staff will establish a training school before November.

The chief minister of the Uva province Shashindra Rajapaksa has already volunteered to give a building. The students who have completed the Advanced Level examination in the Commerce stream can apply.

NCE Export Awards on September 16

The 19th Annual NCE Export Awards will be held on September 16 at Hotel Hilton. Organised by the National Chamber of Exports (NCE) to honour and encourage exporters. There were 186 applications, a growth of 15 percent over the last year. The NCE Export awards trophy was unveiled last week by President NCE Sarath De Silva in the presence of the main sponsor of the event Senior General Manager, Corporate Planning, Marketing, International Services & Value added services Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd Janaka Jayalath.

ILO to support Co-operative Societies in North

The International Labour Organisation will support industries in the North and East to restart. Under the program ILO will support co-operative societies in northern Sri Lanka to rebuild war-damaged rice mills, which will process paddy produced by 2,000 farmers in the area.

Accordingly the Nadunkerni rice mill in the Vavuniya district will be renovated with Rs.10.7 million financial assistance from ILO.

The mill operated by the Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) of Vavuniya North can process 4,000 metric tonnes of paddy a year.

Etisalat, Openarc introduce 'SkyPay'

Etisalat in partnership with OpenArc introduced 'SkyPay', the Unified Payment Platform, to Sri Lanka recently. Products that SkyPay will be making available include deposits, withdrawals and payments through mobile phones, from anywhere, at any time.

The services are protected through the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technology instead of single channel SMS technology, making it much safer and easier to protect.

'Marketer Pulse' July/August issue out

The 'Marketer Pulse' magazine was created to educate, foster confidence, shape thinking and deliver voice - this is originally reflected on the tagline of the Magazine - 'Open Knowledge. Delivered'. The July/August issue has the CEO of Cornucopia Lanka Limited Dinesh Weerakkody on Evolving HR globally, a profile on Sri Lankan waste recycler - Neptune Papers who goes through the 3Rs - Reuse, Reduce and Recycle, industry, and brands and organisations in Sri Lanka.

UA calls upon public to say no to dengue

Union Assurance (UA) staff took to the streets recently to distribute pamphlets, put up signboards and spread awareness on a one - to - one basis with various segments in society regarding dengue and its prevention. There is no vaccination or preventive method other than to eradicate mosquito-breeding habitats.

UA staff stressed the issues to the people they spoke to and took steps to ensure cleanliness of the environment.

Dellogistics International launched

Dellogistics (Pvt) Limited recently launched Dellogistics International (Pvt) Limited to reach higher standards in the global freight logistics operations.

To make its regional presence more effective, the company has opened its first full fledged representative offices in Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh. Additional satellite representative offices in the United Kingdom and Australia, have been set up.

The management of Dellogistics International will provide more competitive freight services to Companies that are involved in imports and exports, said the Managing Director of Dellogistics International (Pvt) Limited, J.Chandrasekera. He said that Dellogistics (Pvt) Limited, is known for shipping and logistics (airfreight and sea freight) and related operations. It originally began as a part of the business conglomerate Delmege and Forsyth Limited.

Multilac introduces colour card

Multilac manufactured by Macksons Paints, recently introduced a vibrant range of colours with their Shades of Singapore colour card. Multilac which pioneered the concept of a multi-hued colour palette that gave customers a rainbow of shades to choose from, has created yet another innovative range of colours, inspired by the shades of the tropics. The new Singapore colour palette introduces an innovative take on the usual shades of reds, green, purple, blues and yellow, giving them an infusion of vivacity.

"In today's complex world, colour on your walls means creating whole new vistas of living spaces" said, Head of Business Development of Multilac, Nilrukshi De Silva.

AMW provides specially-designed bus for differently abled children

An Eicher bus specially designed to transport differently abled children was handed over to Equality Based Community Support and Training (ESCAT) organisation by the Eicher Vehicles Division of Associated Motorways Limited (AMW), recently.

ESCAT, a Sri Lankan non-governmental organisation, which provides welfare facilities and training to disabled children, is expected to use this purpose-built bus at its training centre in Galle.

Body Kerves International opens store

Body Kerves International, which pioneered high quality body shapers in the Sri Lankan market, recently opened its flagship store in Colombo. The outlet, first in Colombo, has on display some of the finest foundation garments manufactured to meet international standards, said Director of Body Kerves, Mihiri Karunaratne. Karunaratne said that Body Kerves products ensure that the wearer has confidence and the right form of shape when wearing their products. The Body Kerve flagship store will provide a very high level of service with individual attention provided to customers in the privacy of a personalised space.

CBL 'star' awards

Ceylon Biscuits Limited(CBL)had its annual Dealer Convention and Star Awards ceremony at The Water's Edge, Battaramulla, recently. Of the three sales representatives selected from the three main brand categories of CBL - Munchee Biscuits/Ritzbury Chocolates and Tiara Cakes/ Samaposha and Lanka Soy, Nayana Prabodha was selected as the overall star of CBL. Roland Fernando of KRS Traders received a gold award in appreciation of his 20-year affiliation with CBL, making him a member of the exclusive 14-member team of gold award winners in the distributor category.

Medical Equipment for five Hospitals

Alliance Development Trust (ADT) donated medical equipment to five selected hospitals of the Northern Province.

Two containers of medical equipment were handed over to be distributed among these hospitals. The equipment includes a complete set of dental equipment, hospital beds (children/adult), mattresses, bed sheets, hospital clothes, hospital chairs, hospital wall cupboards, medicine cupboards, X-Ray light board, wheelchairs, operation tables and computers.

UCL uses rail transport for the first time

by Sapumali GALAGODA

Union Cargo Logistics (UCL) has introduced a new dimension to the logistics industry by using rail transport as a method to transport goods for the first time in the country.

"The logistics industry is booming, while the business atmosphere encourages companies to venture into innovative operations", said Manager Sales and Marketing Sajitha De Mel. He said that this operation materialised for the first time in the history of the logistics industry.

Aitken Spence brings first passenger vessel to Hambantota port

Logos Hope docked at Hambantota port

MV Logos Hope, the goodwill passenger cruise liner cum book exhibition vessel docked at the Hambantota port recently, as the first ever passenger vessel to call at the port. A spokesman for the vessel agent Aitken Spence Shipping said that they were keen on making the Logos Hope call at the Hambantota port, to showcase the new picturesque port and secondly to explode the myth that vessels could not call at the Hambantota port.

The vessel which is 132.5 metres in length and 21 metres in breadth sailed into the Port of Hambantota under Capt. Pat Tracy who was a former US Naval Frigate Master. The vessel was taken into the port by Capt. S.C. Wimalasiri, the Deputy Harbour Master of Galle.

The vessel has 450 passengers onboard and a crew of nearly 45 nationalities.

Litro's 'Hikka Fest' for tourism development

Litro Gas was the official LP Gas sponsor of 'Hikka Fest' held from July 29-31 at Hikkaduwa. The proceeds of the festival will be used for tourism development, coral restoration, and development of infrastructure.

The company gave away prizes to winners of the Rotti Festival while the entire rotti making session was powered by Litro Gas.

Litro Gas Company Ltd., was setup after the shares of Sri Lanka Shell Gas Company and Shell Terminal Lanka Company was purchased.

Abans launches Australian migration service

Abans, will launch its Australian migration service with an Australian Law Firm, Australian Migration Lawyers. To assist Sri Lankans who wish to migrate to Australia.

Abans is aware that many people have been duped by fraudulent 'agencies'. Abans Australian Migration will work with Australian Migration Lawyers to assist in the processing of Australian Visa applications.

Australian Visa procedures and formalities are complicated and cumbersome. Those making a visa application without sufficient knowledge of the correct procedure may find their applications being rejected with no refund of visa fees.

Abans Australian Migration will assist all those who are qualified to apply under the categories of Skilled Migration, Employer Sponsorship, Business Migration, Family Migration and Temporary Residence Visas.

To coincide with the launch of the new company, Abans will host free Australian migration seminars conducted by Peter Kuek-Kong Lee.

Lee was previously a professional officer with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship for 24 years.

Sisil World at Kurunegala