Biz Briefs

Nenasa -2 educational channel launched
 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday launched the “Nenasa - 2” Educational Television Channel during a function held at Ruhunu Vijayabha Vidyalaya in Tangalle, organized to coincide with the 46th commemoration of the demise of Late D. A. Rajapaksa. Picture shows President Rajapaksa with Dialog Axiata Group CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Namal Rajapaksa MP and Education Minister Bandula Gunewardene at the launch.

Tudawe Trading presents cleaning machines
 

Manager (Special Projects), Tudawe Trading Co (Pvt) Ltd, Ms Chrishanthi Wickramasekera presented two professional, state-of-the-art, street cleaning machines, manufactured by Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment Ltd of UK, to Secretary, Defence and Urban Development Ministry, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to help keep Colombo clean. Here Secretary Rajapaksa, takes a look at the equipment.

HNB Assurance launches S2O program

HNB Assurance inaugurated its School to Office Program (S2O) at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently to groom school leavers to excel in the corporate world. Approximately 100 youngsters selected from over 2,000 applicants have been enrolled in the S2O program.

HNB Assurance, HR Manager, Thilan Perera said, “This is the first batch of our S2O program. Over the next one month, they will undergo comprehensive training that will cover a variety of areas including personal development, work ethics, business etiquette, finance, IT, presentation and communication, which are essential components in the formation of a competent professional.

OVL, Cairn to bid for oil, gas blocks

ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas arm of the Indian government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Cairn India Ltd are likely to bid jointly for oil and gas blocks in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is offering 13 offshore exploration blocks in the Cauvery and Mannar basins, in the North and West of the island nation. The OVL-Cairn combine are likely to bid for the three of them together, sources with direct knowledge of the development said. Bids for the Sri Lankan Licensing Round, only the second in its history, close on November 29. Sources said OVL wants to hold at least 51 percent in the consortium it intends to form with Cairn for bidding in the second Licensing Round of Sri Lanka.

Forum on exports

The Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka facilitated a forum which enabled stakeholders to focus and share their views on where they realistically believe their sectors and the export industry could expect to be in the next five years, given the right environment.

The event titled, ‘Whither exports in the next five years' was held recently at the Hilton Colombo Residencies.

CEO, MTI Consulting, Hilmy Cader said, “You need to banish the words ‘exports’. It’s not about exports today, it’s about international supply chains. No customer anywhere in the world wants exports, they want a reliable supply chain,” he said.

V. Ganesh

Ganesh – OPA President

V. Ganesh was inducted as the 33rd President of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) at its AGM recently.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) and CEO of the Nawaloka Group. He has been a member of the OPA ex-co and forum since 2001 and has served as Vice President for over four years, and as the President Elect – 2012-13. He was President of the ISMM from 2002 to 2005. The OPA is the apex body of professional associations with a membership of over 50,000 professionals.

PIMA annual dinner-dance

The alumni body of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIMA) held a media briefing regarding the annual PIMA dinner-dance, recently. Members of the media, Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) faculty members, the organising committee, PIM alumni, staff and the public were present. This year the dance committee pledged to support the less fortunate by donating the proceeds of the dance to charity.

The event themed 'Back to PIM' will give life to the nostalgia of the good times spent at PIM and will be held on November 30 at the JAIC Hilton, from 8 pm onwards.

People’s Bank celebrates Deepavali
 

The People’s Bank branches and service centres remained open on Deepavali festival day in the North, East, Vanni, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam and Colombo where most Hindu devotees live. Most of the branches held special Deepavali celebrations. Here Chief Executive Officer and General Manager N. Vasantha Kumar accepts a cash deposit during the ceremony.