BIZ BRIEFS

Etisalat gets GSMA accreditation

Etisalat Lanka has become the first mobile operator in Sri Lanka to be certified by the GSMA, for High Definition Voice (HD Voice).

This accreditation means Etisalat Lanka is now among the 26 international mobile operators which meet the internationally recognised criteria pertaining to noise cancellation, voice clarity and multiple technical features.

"Etisalat Lanka is the only mobile operator to be included in the GSMA's HD Voice Ecosystem," company sources said.

Acting CEO, Etisalat Lanka, Wail Salman said, "Having met the criteria set by the GSM Association to standardise the services provided by telecommunication operators around the world, Etisalat Lanka received the accreditation for the HD Voice services we introduced recently."

Iraq conflict sparks oil price rise

Oil prices have risen to a nine-month high amid concerns that developments in Iraq may affect global supplies. Brent crude futures rose 3% to $113.27 per barrel, while US crude gained more than 2% to $106.71, the highest reading for both since September.

Insurgents have taken over two Iraqi cities, prompting the US to say it was considering "all options" to help Iraq. Iraq is the second-largest oil producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) group.

"If this conflict knocked out Iraq as an exporter, that would have significant impact on prices," said Christopher Bellew, a trader at Jefferies Bache.

- BBC

Investor forum in Osaka

A Japan-Sri Lanka Investment Forum was held in Osaka City Plaza Hotel in Japan on Friday. Deputy Investment Promotion Minister Faizer Mustapha delivered a lecture at the Forum.

The Deputy Minister also met business leaders in Osaka and briefed them on trade and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Osaka is highly developed and it is the first time that they held an Investment Forum between Sri Lanka and Osaka. The main purpose of this forum was to make Sri Lanka the commercial hub of Asia and also to bring more investors to Sri Lanka. - NJ

Recession 'led to 10,000 suicides'

The economic crisis in Europe and North America led to more than 10,000 extra suicides, according to figures from UK researchers. A study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showed "suicides have risen markedly".

The research group said some deaths may have been avoidable as some countries showed no increase in the suicide rate. Campaign groups said the findings showed how important good mental health services were.

The study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine analysed data from 24 EU countries, the US and Canada.

It said the number of suicides had been declining in Europe until 2007. By 2009 there was a 6.5% increase, a level that was sustained until 2011. It was the equivalent of 7,950 more suicides than would have been expected if previous trends continued, the research group said.

SriLankan resumes flights to Karachi

SriLankan Airlines resumed flight operations to Karachi on Friday after suspending the service due to fresh attacks at the airport on Tuesday.

Accordingly, flight UL 183 due to leave on Tuesday at 6 am left on Friday at 9 am, while another flight is scheduled to leave for Karachi at 4pm today.

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked a security training camp just outside the airport Tuesday, a day after the militants attacked a terminal of the airport. The Sunday night gun and bomb attack left 38 dead, including 10 attackers.

Guide lecturer gets global award

JTB World Vacations, a travel organisation in Japan, has recognised the commitment and quality of service of Anslem Martin, a Sri Lankan guide lecturer, as one of the excellent guides in the world for FY-2013.

He has played a key role in promoting the history, culture and traditions of Sri Lanka. JTB has 131 branches in 33 countries, but doesn't have branch in Sri Lanka as yet.

The recognition was under the JTB 'Guide Commendation System' that was launched in 2011 on worldwide basis. The evaluation of human services is based on scores from customer questionnaires that covers global destinations.

Recently JTB sponsored a promotional program on TV Tokyo titled 'At least once in a life time one should visit these places'.

Sri Lanka was given an equal prominence with America and France. 'Martin' as he is known in the industry was the guide lecturer in the 20-minute slot that was allotted for Sri Lanka.

Martin has over 20 years of experience as a freelance guide lecturer.

Abans goes for MTI HRM Solutions

The Abans Group has tied-up with MTI HRM Solutions to meet their staffing needs.

"To find the best qualified candidate in the market place, we identified MTI HRM Solutions as the key provider given their wide local and regional presence," said Non-Executive Chairman of Abans Finance PLC, Rusi Pestonjee.

MTI HRM Solutions is subsidiary of MTI Consulting and offers the full suite of HR consulting and advisory services.

IDB signs MoU with SLSEA

The Industrial Development Board (IDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA).

IDB Chairman Nawaz Rajabdeen said that the IDB plans to introduce advanced technology and modern machinery and equipment to sustain the energy and natural resources of the country and find tailor-made solutions for industry related problems.

Chairman, SLSEA, Prasad Galhena said the SLSEA would join the IDB to developing technology and equipment which support small and medium industries and sustainable energy usage as a business strategy.

Ahamat elected IATA-AASL President

Director and General Manager of Hemas Travels (Pvt) Limited, Riza Ahamat was elected President of the IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IATA-AASL). He was elected at the 26th Annual General Meeting of the IATA-AASL in Tokyo, Japan, recently.

Apart from Ahamat's election as President for 2014-2015, Managing Director of Himpras Tours (Pvt) Limited, Jude Condrad was elected Vice President.

BoC to rebuild Jaffna railway station

The Bank of Ceylon (BoC) will sponsor the reconstruction of the Jaffna railway station under Uthuru Mithuru project.

The Bank's General Manager D.M. Gunasekera and General Manager, Sri Lanka Railways, B. A. P. Ariyaratne recently exchanged agreements of this historic project.

Reopening of the Jaffna Railway station will help overcome the infrastructure and livelihood barriers to developing the socio-economic setting of the region.

The Yal Devi train to Jaffna will soon recommence her journey after three decades of terrorism.
 

ADB appoints new Managing Director General

MANILA, Philippines: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Juan Miranda as the Managing Director General from July 1.

Miranda is at present the Director General of ADB’s South Asia Department where he oversees ADB’s assistance programs and knowledge solutions in six countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka – across areas such as transport, energy, urban services, capital markets, education, health, and agribusiness.

He headed the Central and West Asia Department from May 2006 to 2012. In his role as the Managing Director General, Miranda will work directly with ADB President Takehiko Nakao and the rest of his management team to implement all the reforms agreed after the recent midterm review (MTR) of ADB’s strategic framework.

“The MTR lays out changes needed for the ADB to deliver better and faster services to our clients. The ADB will innovate more, deregulate and empower more, and expand the right expertise,” Miranda said.

ExcelSoft, UWS to develop enterprise applications

A Sri Lankan software firm, ExcelSoft, will partner the University of Western Sydney (UWS) to develop flexible and comprehensive tool sets for commercial enterprise level applications.

Working closely with Deans Unit School of Computing, Engineering and Math, UWS, Prof. Athula Ginige and his research assistants, ExcelSoft's Research and Development Department will create the tools and frameworks needed to power the next generation of enterprise software. With a focus on Java, ExcelSoft is committed to work with open source technologies to provide clients with feature rich and cost effective solutions.

Heaven's Edge - Ella's newest attraction

The latest addition to Ella, is Heaven's Edge, a 31-roomed star-class hotel. It has been built with an investment of Rs. 160 million project by hotelier Shanthikumar Fernando. Heaven's Edge is in the centre of a tea estate, surrounded by the Ravana cave, Bogoda wooden bridge, Diyaluma, Dunhinda, Ravana and Bambarakanda waterfalls.

Ruhunage Ajith wins M-Cash contest

Ruhunage Ajith of the Matara branch of Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel was selected winner of the M-Cach islandwide registration contest conducted by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel recently. Here Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Matara Branch Manager Imthiyas Hussen welcomes Ajith at the Matara Branch.