Biz-BRIEFS

Serendib Flour Mills enters retail market

Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd, manufacturers of the ‘Seven Star’ brand flour launched four varieties of flour. Consumers will buy household wheat flour, wholemeal flour and atta flour in one kg packs and Semolina in a 500 g pack.

The launch was held under the patronage of chief guest Minister of International Monetary Co-operation Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando Chairman Al Ghuriar Foods, Dubai. Essa al Ghurair and other VIPS.

Cinnamon as a functional food

Research is being carried out at the Medical Faculty of Peradeniya University on the healing power of cinnamon and as treatment for diabetes and cholesterol, Xinhua reported quoting a food scientist and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, D.B.T. Wijerathne.

Cinnamon is already being used as a functional food,” and it would be a natural medical product once the experiments are successful. The research began in 2011, the government has allocated $ 70,000 for experiments and that it is a long process where it would be first tested with the animals, Wijerathne told the Chinese news agency.

Sri Lanka commands more than 85 percent of the world's market share for real cinnamon and it brought in a revenue of $ 85 million in exports in 2010, Xinhua said.

Lankan team to study modern dairy farming in Kerala

A group of 25 veterinarians and animal husbandry officers from Sri Lanka are touring Kerala to study the state’s initiatives in dairy farming.

During the five-day tour, the delegation will interact with veterinary and animal husbandry experts in Kerala. They will also undergo training at the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) international training centre in Mattupatty.

KLDB Managing Director, Ani S. Das said the objective was to observe the functioning of the high-tech dairy farm at Kulathupuzha and the Milk City project involving satellite farms. Sri Lanka, he said, was looking to equip its small dairy farms with modern technology for profitable operations.

BIA Christmas Shopping Festival 2011

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited will launch the BIA Christmas Shopping Festival 2011, an annual Christmas shopping fiesta. It was launched in November 2010, in partnership with the Arrival Duty Free shops and Departure/Transit shops with the objective of promoting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Opportunity for small and medium enterprises in China

“China is the fastest growing economy in the world, which provides tremendous opportunities for small-and medium-sized enterprises. This is not possible in other countries,” said Eric D. Landheer, head of Asia Pacific division of NASDAQ OMX Group, recently.

“We would like to help SMEs reach resources and incubate them, and then allow them to get financing on a higher level capital market,” said Meyer S. Frucher, vice president of the NASDAQ OMX Group. He was addressing the fourth China international private equity forum held in Tianjin last week.

- Xinhua

New SEC Chairman

Former MP and Chairman of Multiform Chemicals, Dr. Thilak Karunaratne was appointed Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) by the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

BIA Christmas shopping fest

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited will launch the BIA Christmas Shopping Festival 2011, an annual Christmas shopping fiesta.

It was officially launched in November 2010, in partnership with the Arrival Duty Free shops and Departure/Transit shops with the objective of promoting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Cargills Food City’s ‘Special Christmas Surprise’

The ‘Special Christmas Surprise’ by Cargills FoodCity is extending the offer of turning 10 lucky shoppers into millionaires by spending just Rs.500/-. The promotion which commenced on December 1, will run for 45 days until January 15. Ten thousand instant gift vouchers worth Rs.500/- can be won by shoppers.

‘Diplomat’ re-launched

The ‘Diplomat’ brand started in the early 1950s a flagship brand of Hirdaramani Group.

By 1965, ‘Diplomat’ supplied school wear, ladies blouses and dresses and two categories of menswear (luxury and casuals) to tourists and domestic consumers.

The re-launch of Diplomat targets a new generation of young trendsetters and is inspired by a combination of classic designs from Sri Lanka’s colonial heritage and contemporary elegance.

DMS panel discussion

DMS Electronics (Pvt.) Ltd

(DMSE) organised a panel discussion with Citrix, Microsoft and HP on “Client Virtualisation: Can it work for you and your organisation” in Colombo recently.

Charter House rewards dealers

Charter House, authorised distributor of Grohe bathware products, recently held a felicitation ceremony to recognise and reward islandwide dealers who had performed well during the year. All dealers were given a list of targets that they had to reach. Eighteen Charter Houses dealers reached the targets and were rewarded with a four-day trip to Bangkok. During the trip, dealers were treated to the Thai capital’s tourist attractions including the crocodile and tiger shows.

Lowe LDB wins eight awards at Effies

Lowe LDB won eight awards at the Effie awards 2011. It was the highest number awarded to any advertising agency. Lowe LDB were also finalists in two other categories.

Their major clients Unilever Sri Lanka and Ceylon Cold Stores, the marketeers of Elephant Brand products joined them on stage as the Agency teams walked up to receive the awards.

Lowe LDB, the Superbrand Ad Agency is best known for building brands to market dominance. They have to their credit some of the landmark advertising in the country.

'Earth Essence' Gallery in Colombo

Link Natural Products opened the “Earth Essence” Gallery in Colombo. It offers the latest Link range of herbal personal care products. LINK products are scientifically formulated by Link’s teams of qualified scientists. The Gallery is at Deal Place. Here the first transaction at the Earth Essence Gallery between Ms. Priyanga Nugawela (left) and Manager, Personal Care Products of Link Natural products Achini Dharmasiriwardene .

Mobitel, the national mobile services provider won five prestigious awards including a bronze for the Overall Winner of the show at the recently concluded National Business Excellence Awards 2011 organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.