BIZ BRIEFS

HNB Assurance wins award

HNB Assurance PLC won the award for ‘Best presented Annual Report in the Insurance Sector’ at the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) awards ceremony recently in Colombo.

SAFA is an apex body of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and the Regional Grouping of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which represents over 170,000 accountants who are members of national chartered accountancy and cost and management accountancy institutions in South Asia. HNB Assurance was one out of just five Sri Lankan companies which won their respective sectors at this competition.

Etisalat opens flagship stores

Etisalat Lanka commissioned three flagship stores in Malabe, Borella and Town Hall.

Revamping and upgrading its existing sales and service access points, Etisalat transformed these centres to state-of-the-art flagship stores to provide innovative and comprehensive service to its growing customer base.

Etisalat Lanka, Chief Commercial Officer, Robert Lee said, “The Etisalat flagship store is a refreshingly unique way for customers to interact with us and experience our innovative products and services. As always, the ambience in the flagship store has been created to inspire customers, while they discover new technologies that add value to their mobile communication needs.”

CIC to re-strategise

The CIC Group has signed up with an international strategy consultancy, MTI, to re-strategise the activities of the organisation. “In the last five years, the company has made significant strides in agri business, playing a catalyst role in an industry that is critical to the economy.

With the anticipated growth in the economy and the global challenges that our businesses encounter, we felt it was opportune to engage in a company-wide re-strategising exercise to map our future direction and alignment of our structure, staff and systems,” said MD and CEO Samantha Ranatunga.

New Director Board for Golden Key

Following the Supreme Court order of April 4, a new Board of Directors was appointed to take control of The Golden Key Credit Card Company Ltd, operate its business and safeguard and recover all of its assets.

The Board comprises Chairman Priyantha Fernando and Directors Jehan Amaratunga, Aruna P Lekamge, V K Choksy, Ms. Dushanthi Hapugoda, and V V Goonatillaka. The Board of Directors met Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and other officials of the Central Bank recently to discuss the implementation of the Court approved action plan. Here the director board at the meeting with the governor.

HNB opens customer centre in Walasmulla

Hatton National Bank (HNB) opened its 250th customer centre in Walasmulla in the Southern Province. This is the 25th Customer Centre that HNB opened in the South. The chief guest was Chairperson, Hatton National Bank, Dr Ranee Jayamaha.

Dr Jayamaha said that the Customer Centre in Walasmulla is yet another milestone in inspiring people through our financial solutions and a true testament to the overall vision of the bank.

She said that Southern Province has much potential and is in a transitional period through its vast projects and development initiatives and is on the verge of becoming a major contributor to the national economy in the coming years.

This customer centre will give an opportunity to the emerging business community in the Matara and Hambantota districts to grow with HNB in the backdrop of vast development envisaged in the South.

Sampath Bank's 'Real Deals' concludes

Sampath Bank offered its credit card holders 'Real Deals' during the Avurudu season linking some of the country’s top establishments as campaign partners.

Sampath Bank credit card holders were entitled to a discount of 10 percent on transactions at a leading supermarket chain. All Sampath Credit Card holders were entitled to this discount up to April 13 on the bill value on all products (except tobacco and alcohol).

Hameedia partners ‘Colombo Fashion Week 2013’

Hameedia partnered with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week and showcased its FH Collection recently.

The Hameedia-CFW partnership goes back a decade, to the beginnings of this fashion event. “Having been in the forefront of men's fashion for more than half a century, we're committed to working towards transforming Sri Lanka into a South Asian fashion hub for which Sri Lanka has the talent and the expertise,” said Hameedia, Managing Director Fouzul Hameed.

“The feedback we've got is very positive and most encouraging. I'm confident this will inspire more local designers to create differently and unveil their own unique collections on par with international designers,” he said.

“We have dressed the nation for generations. We're proud to have guided Sri Lankans through the changing fashion trends throughout the past six decades. Fashion evolves and changes all the time," Hameed said.

Econest launches operations in Lanka

Econest, a Swiss-based waste water purification company, officially launched its operations in Colombo recently. The company will initially focus on providing advanced waste water management solutions primarily targeting the tourism and leisure sectors.

Econest through its parent company in Switzerland represents Bionest Canada in Sri Lanka. Chairman, Econest, Rejean Appleby said, “I am glad to be here and am particularly pleased to note Sri Lanka is poised for growth and development. Tourist arrivals are on the rise, with more internationally recognised travel magazines selecting Sri Lanka as one of the top-rated holiday destinations in the world.”

“Many leading international companies have decided to invest in Sri Lanka, especially in the hospitality and real estate sectors which include large scale projects such as the Shangri La Hotel chain, Hyatt Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Marriott and the Krrish Group. Sri Lankan companies too are investing in these sectors, with several conglomerates planning to construct several new mixed development projects, hotels and office buildings,” he said.

Admo Projects to build factory for Nobleswear

Nobleswear Group of Companies, Chairman Mitra Wettimuny and Vice Chairman Sidath Wettimuny at the laying of the foundation stone for its new garment factory at the BOI Zone in Pallekelle recently. The construction of this factory will be done with steel, on a turnkey basis by the projects division of Vinseth Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, 'Admo Projects'. The Board of Directors and management staff of Vinseth Engineering and Nobleswear Group were present.

Commercial Bank, Assistant General Manager, Properties and Services, Noel Wickremasinghe presents an award to a winner at the Avurudu games. Commandant, Ranaviru Sevana, Brig. D. J. I. Peramunagamage looks on.

ComBank supports Ranaviru Sevana, Avurudu celebrations

The Avurudu celebrations of Ranaviru Sevana, the rehabilitation centre in Ragama for disabled war heroes, was supported for the fourth consecutive year by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

The Bank was the sole sponsor of this event. The Commercial Bank has also assisted other facilities for war heroes in Anuradhapura and Attidiya.