BIZ BRIEFS

Large container vessel calls at JCT

The state owned Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) has received the 11,660 TEU capacity container carrier, MV MSC Luciana operated by the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

This creates a landmark in the container handling history of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) as the largest-ever container vessel to have called at the port of Colombo.

MSC switched to the state-run Jaya Container Terminal operated by the SLPA in December 2009, expecting to carry out more than 1,500 moves per vessel.

Sri Lanka tea for Chinese market

The Board of Investment signed an agreement with Elpitiya Dianhong Jin Ya Tea Company (Pvt) Ltd recently.

Elpitiya Dianhong Jin Ya Tea Company (Pvt) Ltd is a joint venture between Elpitiya Plantations PLC (EPP), and Dianhong International Limited, Hongkong (DIL), a subsidiary of Yunnan Dianhong Group Company Limited of China (DYGCL), for growing, processing and marketing of top most high quality 'Chinese speciality tea'.

Seylan Bank goes for debentures

Seylan Bank's application to raise up to Rs 2 b via a debt issue has been approved in principle by the Colombo Stock Exchange.

The Bank will offer 10 million unsecured, redeemable debentures at Rs 100 each to raise Rs 1 b from the country's capital market with an option to double the issue if oversubscribed, raising a total of Rs 2 b, according to the Stock Exchange.

Subscription lists for the issue will open on February 14. The prospectus will be released on February 5.

ComBank seminar for SMEs

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently conducted a seminar on Developing Entrepreneurship Skills for SME’s in Anuradhapura for more than 200 people from the Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Kekirawa areas. The seminar conducted in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Anuradhapura coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Bank’s Anuradhapura branch.

This was the fifth such program organised by the bank for the SME sector during 2012. Previous programs were held in Thambuttegama, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Minuwangoda in collaboration with the Central Bank.

Three photographers to Japan

Three press photographers from Sri Lanka will be among the select nominees to attend the global photo imaging conference and educational tour in Japan later this month.

The photographers have been randomly selected by Metropolitan Office (Pvt.) Ltd. to accompany the company's Director to Japan as Metropolitan and Canon guests. Rivira Media, Ceylon Newspapers and ANCL staff photographers, Chathura Kodikara, J. Weeresekera and Kamal Jayamanne are the lucky three to be visiting Japan on the seven-day tour which includes participation at the World Photo Imaging Exhibition and a visit to the Canon camera factory in Osaka.

Commercial Credit debenture opens

Commercial Credit and Finance PLC’s issue of 2,500,000 five-year debentures of Rs. 100 each opened on January 23 with an option to issue a further 2,500,000 debentures in the event of an over-subscription amounting to Rs 500 m. The minimum subscription is for 100 debentures (Rs 10,000).

The issue closes on February 13 or whichever earlier date on which the initial 2,500,000 debentures or the entire 5,000,000 are fully subscribed.

SLCPI helps flood victims

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries (SLCPI) made a cash donation to help people affected by the inclement weather during the past few days. Here the

President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries, Vish Govindasami handed over the donation to Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the Ministry of Health.

The Additional Secretary and the Additional Treasurer of the SLCPI, Pradeep Edward and the Chief Operations Officer Dr. Samarakoon Piyasena were also present.

HNB opens customer centre in Mallavi

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) opened its 245th Customer Centre in Mallavi recently. The chief guest was Deputy General Manager (Network Management), Ms Crysanthi Thambiah. Regional Head (Northern Region), T Jeyarajasingam, senior bank officials, government officials, local businessmen and customers were present.The bank will offer its full range of products and services in Mallavi supported by its electronic banking channels with the latest technology . Here Deputy General Manager (Network Management), HNB Ms Crysanthi Thambiah accepts the first deposit.

ABC Pharma awarded ISO

ABC Pharma Services (Pvt) Ltd was presented the ISO 9001:2008 Quality standard certification at a ceremony at the Renuka Hotel recently. “ABC is one of the first few companies to receive the ISO standard in the pharmaceutical industry,” a spokesman for ABC Pharma said. The quality of products and standards of service are the decisive and game changing factors in the highly competitive pharmaceutical market in Sri Lanka, said Chairman of Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Kanchana Ratwatte. “Pharmaceutical companies need to adhere to professional and regulatory standards and that will translate into an increase in revenue,” Ratwatte said. Senior officials of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute, representatives of ABC Pharma partner companies representatives of leading hospitals and retail outlets and members of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) were present.

BoC opens Ampara SME centre

The Bank of Ceylon opened its SME Centre (Small and Medium Enterprises Banking Centre) at Ampara recently. Deputy General Managers H.M. Mudiyanse and T. Muthugala, Asst. General Manager, Eastern Province K.P. Ananda Nadesan, Area Manager Ampara, Priyantha Kumara, Senior Manager Ampara A.M. Zubair and Manager Akkaraipattu branch M.I.M. Haniffa were present. Pic: Addalaichenai Central Cor., I.L.M. Rizan

Micromax opens showroom

Micromax Sri Lanka recently opened a new showroom and service centre at Majestic City. “The outlet will serve as a base for customers to get the best of Micromax’ superior service and experience the brands’ wide range of products through product testing with live units”, a spokesman for the Company said.

The service centre was opened by Chairman of Metropolitan J. J. Ambani. The Board of Directors and Country Manager Sanjeev Ariaratnam were present.

Northwood Global College begins operations

Northwood Global College, Borella was opened last week. The chief guests were Sybil Wettasinghe and R.I.T. Alles. The foundation-laying ceremony of a purpose-built school at Battaramulla was also held on this day.

This school is sponsored by many corporate players while the main promoters of the school include Orange Electric, Hameedia and BVM Global. Northwood Global College will have classes from pre-school to grade six this year and will move up to grade seven and upwards gradually from 2014. Equipped with classrooms that can seat up to about 30 students, the school curriculum incorporates British and local curricula and will teach students in the English, Sinhala and Tamil media.