Biz Briefs

Lanka’s first interactive career site online

Jobs4thebest.lk, an interactive online career portal was launched. Being the first career website with an online live video interview facility. The portal can also be accessed through jobs4thebest.com, jobsforthebest.lk and jobsforthebest.com URLs.

An innovation by WWWDESIGN a web design, development and hosting company operating in Australia, the portal allows any registered employer to screen and recruit suitable employees through a matter of a click.

SLASSCOM , BASL to promote legal outsourcing industry

The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM), partnered with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to develop the capacity of the legal outsourcing industry in Sri Lanka and promote Sri Lanka as an outsourcing destination for outsourced legal services.

The MoU was signed between Chairman SLASSCOM Sujiva Dewaraja and the President of the BASL, Shibly Aziz, PC.

JWT wins Lotus Roots Award at ADFEST 2012

JWT Colombo won the Lotus Roots award at the recently held ADFEST 2012 in Pattaya.

Lotus Roots is an award category unique to ADFEST, created to recognise and reward work that is rooted in the legacy, history and traditions of local cultures in Asia.JWT Colombo won this award for the Vesak Pandal on ‘gender based violence’ created for Care International.

The agency commissioned paintings done in traditional style and using the ancient art of story telling, reminded people about the Buddhist philosophy of treating people with equal respect.

Ceylinco Insurance emerges people’s choice

Ceylinco Insurance emerged as the people’s choice. Ceylinco Insurance, has been recognised as the “People’s Insurance Brand of the Year” for the sixth consecutive year.

Initiated in 2006, the concept of a People's Award is where people are the primary and only source of deciding who the winners are across the brands, organisations and personalities.
 

Standard Chartered Bank conducts financial literacy session in Jaffna

Standard Chartered Bank, in furtherance of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed with Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL) conducted a session on financial literacy around the theme "Generating Business Ideas", for women entrepreneurs in Jaffna recently.

CEO Anirvan Ghosh-Dastidar said, "Micro-finance is a key area for development of entrepreneurship, essential for Sri Lanka's overall economic development. We are enthusiastic that these businesswomen will lead the way in their generation of young entrepreneurs, engendering self reliant, successful enterprise."

The credit scheme, managed by YBSL will help entrepreneurs disadvantaged through lack of access to capital, to enhance their businesses while start-ups will gain from the several workshops and seminars jointly organised with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce.

The session was conducted by Standard Chartered's Country Head of Audit, Siva Marimuthu,. It was attended by 19 businesswomen. Commenting on the program, Siva said: "As a bank, we were privileged to be afforded the opportunity to speak to young entrepreneurs and share financial planning insights and guidance, which will assist them to maximise the use of funds obtained via credit schemes."

Lanka IOC sponsors 'Sri Lankan Master Minds Quiz'

Lanka IOC PLC sponsored the recent 'Sri Lankan Master Minds Quiz' conducted by the Moratuwa -Ratmalana Lions Club annually to bring out the talents from various segments of society.

The proceeds from this project will be their to provide medicine to help needy patients at the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama.

"We're happy to join with the Moratuwa - Ratmalana Lions Club and sponsor events of this nature. In our own small way, we are confident we can raise sufficient funds to purchase medicine for these less privileged cancer patients and thereby ease their financial burden", said Lanka IOC PLC's Managing Director, K.R. Suresh Kumar.

Dulux futuristic technology showcased at 'Architect 2012'

Dulux displayed useful customer-centric features at the Architect 2012. This year the Dulux exhibit was spectacular as it was filled with high-tech elements and features which attracted many visitors to the stall.

There were no products on display at the stall, instead state-of-the-art video mapping technology was used to convey details regarding the existing Dulux and new products and their benefits.

The 2012 colours in vogue that suit interiors and exteriors were also featured.

Diva detergent powder title deeds for winners

Diva re launched its products with a new formula under the Kirala manila wadakarana nuwanakkariya theme. Hemas FMCG rewarded its consumers by having a promotion. The 'Ravumata Idamak' promotion started in May last year.

Prizes worth over Rs 5 m were on offer.

A ceremony was held at Hemas' head office recently where the four winners were awarded title deeds to plots of land at an event organised by Hemas management.

Raids against corporate software pirates continue

Raids against corporate software pirates continue As part of the country's goal in promoting a more vibrant IT industry and the country as a strong offshoring destination for foreign direct

investments, efforts are ongoing to improve the levels of awareness and adherence to intellectual property rights. The Business Software Alliance

(BSA), in partnership with various stakeholders, continues to raise awareness unabated. Recently, yet another company was visited by the

CID as part of a routine process of checking for software licence compliance within the business sector. Behind the scenes, BSA has been busy in providing advice to the business sector, from vendors to corporate end-users, on the intellectual property laws and what it means to be

compliant. , Consultant to the BSA Sri Lanka Committee Shalini Ratwatte, said, "In

light of the Government's efforts in promoting greater respect for intellectual property rights, I advise all businesses to conduct a software audit as soon as possible to ascertain the legality of its software. Copyright infringement is a criminal offence.

The BSA welcomes the support over the past few years from businesses who have been heeding its advice in legalising their software use. Sri Lanka has seen good momentum in the reduction of its software piracy rate in recent years, and this certainly paves the way for more ICT related investments and partnerships to blossom within the country."

Pan Asia Bank's Rs. 750 m debenture issue fully subscribed

Pan Asia Bank's debenture issue of 750,000 rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable debentures of Rs. 1,000 each was fully subscribed.

Funds from this issue will strengthen Pan Asia Bank's tier 2 capital which will enable the bank to further expand its asset book.

Amana Bank receives 'Best Islamic Bank in Sri Lanka'

Amana Bank was adjudged the Best Islamic Banking Service Provider in Sri Lanka at the Islamic Finance News (IFN) poll conducted in December 2011.

MD and CEO of Amana Bank, Faizal Salieh received the accolade from Andrew Morgan, Managing Director of the Malaysia-based REDMoney Group at the IFN Award Ceremony held in Dubai. The IFN poll, held for the seventh consecutive year takes an unbiased, transparent and all-encompassing approach in selecting the best Islamic banking service providers in the world.

Salieh said, "It is indeed an honour to have won this international award and to be recognised as the best Islamic bank in Sri Lanka. Last year we were able to achieve many milestones, of which commencing commercial banking operations was the most significant."

Technip optimises production management with IFS applications

IFS Technip, a manufacturer of flexible pipes for the oil and gas industry has implemented IFS Applications at the Flexi France site to consolidate its production management in project mode and to support its growth.

The solution integrated by Capgemini and deployed in July, 2011, will also be rolled out in the UK, Malaysia, and Brazil. Flexi France, based in Trait in Normandy, France, is a specialist in the production of technically advanced pipes used to extract oil and gas.

AAP anniversary and seminar

The seventh anniversary celebrations of the Academy for Administrative Professionals (AAP) combined with the annual seminar and workshop and the award ceremony will be held on March 31 at the Galadari Hotel. The chief guest on the occasion will be Colonel Dr Udula Krishnaratne President of Sri Lanka University Women's Federation (SLFUW) and-Director Administration of the Sri Lanka Airforce, Air Commodore Sanjaka Wijemanne. Country Manager, Hemas Pharmaceuticals, T Sayandhan, Editor of The Nation, Malinda Seneviratne and General Manager of Rainbow Pages, Ruwan Wijetunga are the resource panel.

Soldier wins Airtel Lanka's millionaire promotion

A soldier from the sixth Vijayaba Infantry was the winner of Airtel Lanka's Millionaire promotion and has been given an opportunity to build his own house by being an Airtel Lanka customer and taking part in the promotion.

Two other millionaires Keerthi Chamila and Kumara Lansakkara, a 22-year-old youth from Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district was the third winner of Airtel Lanka's Millionaire promotion. Five lucky customers stand a chance to win one million rupees every fortnight.

CEO of Airtel Lanka Suren Goonewardene said, "At Airtel Lanka we are committed to taking care of our customers no matter what part of the country they live in. This promotion is one such way in which we have contributed to the betterment of five lucky customers lives and we hope to make a significant improvement to the lives of many more of our loyal customers in the future."

Bentota Beach Hotel hosts 600th wedding ceremony

Bentota Beach Hotel has hosted foreign weddings since 2002 .‘David and Eleanor’ were the 600th couple to choose Bentota Beach Hotel as their venue to celebrate the beginning of their married life. The wedding took place on March 15, 2012 .