Biz Briefs

HBSI awarded Gold

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recognises and rewards leading organisations that offer learning and professional development support to ACCA trainees. Having partnerships with many employers across the world, ACCA recently awarded Hayleys Business Solutions International (Pvt) Ltd. (HBSI) with Gold approved Employer Status.

“ACCA’s approved employer program helps employers derive maximum value from ACCA students, affiliates and members. It enables employers to benchmark their training and development practices against ACCA’s best practice training standards and to receive global recognition for the training and development opportunities they provide,” an ACCA spokesman said.

HNB rewards Year Five schol winners

Hatton National Bank (HNB) rewarded students who excelled at the Year Five scholarship examination, at a ceremony at HNB Towers in Colombo recently.

Children who maintained a minimum balance of Rs. 10,000 in a HNB Singithi Lama Account before the examination qualify for attractive cash awards if they emerge as the highest scorers on a district basis under the Year Five scholarship scheme initiated by HNB in 2012. In addition, the all-island high-flyer wins the coveted top scholarship award of Rs. 300,000.

Abans Christmas program

Abans has organised a family Christmas program today at Abans Elite Showroom, Kollupitiya.

There will be a cookery demonstration and a Christmas tree decorating competition where the family participates and decorates either the mother or the father like a Christmas tree.

There will also be a Christmas card-making competition, dancing competition and cupcake decorating competition for children with attractive prizes for the winners. Parents will have an opportunity to browse around the showroom and pick up some useful items for the home on easy payment terms.

BOI relocates Investor Services Department

The Investor Services Department of the Board of Investment (BOI) has been relocated to the sixth floor of the World Trade Centre, Colombo. Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana opened the new premises last week.

The Investor Services Department with a staff of 100, facilitates nearly 1,000 BOI companies, by processing imports, exports documentation and verification of import and export cargo. The World Trade Centre also houses the head office of the BOI.

Janashakthi wins Gold at NBEA Awards

Janashakthi Insurance PLC won a Gold award in the Insurance category at the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA).

Prakash Schaffter

Managing Director of Janashakthi Insurance, Prakash Schaffter said that this was an accolade that Janashakthi Insurance had worked hard to achieve for years.

“We have won awards at the NBEA five times before, but until now the Gold Award had proved elusive.

"As such, this accolade is an affirmation of our profit and dividend returns, coupled with our commitment to customer satisfaction and rigorous people development,” he said.

The NBEA, which was first held in 2004, is organised by the National Chamber of Commerce to provide a framework leading to organisational excellence.

Those who excelled at the awards had to demonstrate excellence across diverse fields; including leadership, corporate governance, capacity building, performance management, local and global market reach, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability and business and financial results.

Entrants to the NBEA had to provide detailed and lengthy written submissions, and undergo an intensive assessment process which encompassed the company's financial health and how it contributed to the entire sector.

“We are proud to run a business which is not just centered around the workforce but also demonstrates excellence financially as well. We look at this award as a golden platform propelling us towards success and plan to continue aiming for excellence in every avenue of our operations,” Schaffter said.

Janashakthi Insurance PLC has consistently won awards locally and internationally, having recently picked up a Merit award at the National Business Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA), a company spokesman said.

Dialog, Apple iPhone partner in Sri Lanka

Dialog Axiata PLC has introduced iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to the market following its appointment as the authorised partner and service provider for Apple iPhone in Sri Lanka. "4G compatible Apple iPhones can now be connected on 4G mode to Dialog's 4G LTE network. Accordingly, Dialog's 4G and 3G HSPA+ networks will provide Apple users with unparalleled connectivity and a superior smart phone experience," a company spokesman said. Dialog will retail a range of Apple iPhones spanning 5S, 5C and 4S models through its network of customer service centres across Sri Lanka. All iPhones retailed through the Dialog network carry a one year Apple Care warranty. Dialog will extend customer care and technical support for Apple iPhones across its service network.

Spa Ceylon launches gift collection

Spa Ceylon recently launched ‘Royal Indulgence Collection’ featuring over 100 luxurious gift options presented in a festive theme.

Inspired by Royal gifting traditions from ancient Ceylon, the lead range in the collection is coloured festive red and features packaging adorned with Ceylonese blossoms in a classic pattern. “Packaging adorned with antique brass clasps, rich silks, grand brocades, classic wood and ornate decorative elements evoke a sense of majestic grandeur to these festive indulgences,” a company spokesman said. “The gift collection features an extensive selection of aromatic spa, skin, body, bath and hair preparations, wellness balms, and exotic home aromas, candles, diffusers and hand-made stoneware,” he said.

Niwarthana Udugama receives the award from People’s Bank Chairman Gamini S. Senarath

People’s Bank sports club colours night

The annual Colours Night of the People’s Bank Sports Club organised for the 13th consecutive year was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside recently.

Colours were awarded to 137 members of the People’s Bank Sports Club who performed outstandingly at netball, football, badminton, elle, athletics, table tennis, cricket, volleyball and carom tournaments at nationalised services, inter-bank, national and international level events during 2012 and 2013.

Top honours were awarded to those who won accolades in athletics, table tennis and cricket, while several retired sports men and women were also felicitated at the ceremony.

People’s Bank, Chairman Gamini S. Senarath, CEO and General Manager N. Vasantha Kumar, top executives and a large number of sports men and women were present.

CINEC to develop Fiji Maritime School

CINEC Maritime Campus which is one of the largest maritime training institutes in South Asia signed an agreement recently with the Government of Fiji and the Fiji National University, to manage the Maritime School of the Fiji National University (FNU) in Suva.

Minister of Public Enterprises and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Fiji. President, CINEC Maritime Campus, Capt. Ajith Pieris and Vice Chancellor, Fiji National University, Prof. Ganesh Chand were the other signatories. Deputy Chairman, Aitken Spence, J M S Brito and Chairman, Aitken Spence Maritime, and Joint Managing Director, CINEC, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake were present. This is a further expansion of CINEC Maritime Campus which recently took over the management of the Seychelles Maritime School.

Sony launches Windows 8 Tablet PC

Sony has launched a 9.9mm thick Windows 8 Tablet PC with Intel Core Processor Family1, the VAIO Tap 11, one of the world's thinnest Tablet PCs.

“It features a tablet form that offers the same ease of use as a conventional notebook and with the same amount of computing power through the latest processor from the Intel Core Processor Family,” a company spokesman said.

First introduced in its flagship smartphone, the XperiaTM Z, Sony has embraced the same design philosophy with the VAIO Tap 11.

Seylan appoints new Director

Seylan Bank has appointed Isuru Balapatabendi as a non-Executive Director of the bank from November 27.

This appointment is in place of Piyadasa Kudabalage who has resigned from the Board.

An Attorney-at-Law by profession and a Director on the Board of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Balapatabendi holds a LLM from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

He has functioned as a State Counsel in the Attorney General's Department and as a Diplomat in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in The Hague, Netherlands.

He also serves as an adviser to the Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion.

New SLASSPA president takes over

The new president of the SLASSPA, Major Tissa Aluwihare being congratulated by the outgoing president Brig. Udene Kendaragama at the ninth AGM of the Association at the Taj Samudra recently.