Business Briefs

PC House honoured with Microsoft OEM Partner status

PC House (Pvt) ltd, was appointed as an OEM Partner by the world's leading IT giant Microsoft, becoming the only company in Sri Lanka to enjoy such a status.

Among the privileges and benefits PC House will henceforth enjoy as being an OEM Partner are - world class branding for its PCs, a dedicated account team, deep strategic alignment with Microsoft, enhanced business operations efficiency, a comprehensive technical services portfolio and a focused marketing vehicle among others. With the OEM Partner Status, PC House is now on even terms with other global brands.

"We see this appointment as an endorsement of our commitment and dedication to providing customers a total solution in this mission critical industry", PC House Managing Director S. H. M. Rishan told a news conference in Colombo. "This is also a singular honour for the company, its portfolio of products and its operations in Sri Lanka.

As a direct consequence, we also interpret this as a parallel honour for our branded computer Panora, Sri Lanka's first ever locally innovated branded computer.

Accor to unveil 'Ocean View'

India's RJ Corp's (the Ravi Jaipuria Group's) propose maiden real estate development project in Sri Lanka will bring more than 360 super luxury high-rise condominium residences to Colombo's booming apartment market, the mega developer said.

Unveiling visuals and details of the proposed 43-storey 'Ocean View' twin tower opposite Pizza Hut in Colombo 3, the company floated to promote the project, said the skyscraper designed by a leading architectural firm in Thailand would offer nine apartment models ranging from 1,200 sq.ft to 3,000 sq.ft.

According to Chairman of Accor Developers (Pvt) Ltd. Ravi Jaipuria, the 472-foot Ocean View high-rise, projected to be one of the tallest buildings in Colombo, will be built on nearly an acre of land and is designed so that more than 80 per cent of its windows overlook the ocean. "It will redefine luxury condominium living in Sri Lanka", he said.

He said 'Ocean View' is a BOI approved project and work is scheduled to begin very soon.

Designed by MA&A Company in Thailand, Ocean View would comprise several super luxury duplex penthouses and 357 apartments of two bedrooms to four bedrooms. The proposed complex will feature a bar lounge by an open air pool on the 23rd and 24th floors for residents and their guests and will have a fully air-conditioned gymnasium with ultramodern equipment.

Accor Developers (Pvt) Limited is the joint venture company set up by the Indian RJ Corp and Bestech India along with Messrs Uvais Trust to build and promote this mega project and has been set up with approval from the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka.

ICICI Bank launches Personal Loan on Debit Card

ICICI Bank, India's second largest bank has launched a personal loan product in Sri Lanka with the unique feature of obtaining the loan amount through the user's ATM cum Debit card, which can be used anywhere and anytime. The loan can be utilised for any purpose such as a holiday for the family, education, buying a lap-top or home-theatre, medical expenses, marriage in the family, renovation of the home or working capital.

The personal loan is directly credited into the customer's account specifically opened for the disbursement purpose and the customer is given a Visa-enabled international ATM-cum-Debit card for operating this account. Customers can shop using the card to settle bills in Sri Lanka as well as abroad.

ICICI Bank Personal Loans also provide a free life insurance cover to the value of the loan outstanding.

Zam Gems double miles offer for Skywards members

Skywards partner Zam Gems, has a bonanza for skywards members for the festive season for all purchases of US$ 500 and over till December 31, Members of this frequent flyer program of Sri Lankan Airlines and Emirates will earn Double Miles.

This means that for every US$1 spent for purchases of US$ 500 and over at Zam Gems stores till end December 2006, Skywards members will earn two miles.

The offer is on at Zam Gems outlets in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia and Japan. Zam Gems, known for their exquisite collection of jewellery especially designed for the European, America, South East Asian and Far East markets, joined the network of Skywards partners worldwide in July 2005. Since then, Skywards members have been able to earn Miles on purchases of their range of upmarket jewellery and have come to value this benefit.

SLT Hong Kong launched

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the country's premier telecommunications provider recently announced its incorporation of a fully owned subsidiary in Hong Kong.

SLT Hong Kong Limited, is fully geared to provide services such as IP transit, IPVPN, IPSL and International voice traffic transit services to global telecom operators and corporates in Hong Kong.

As part of its ongoing initiatives of SLT going global, SLT Hong Kong Limited will aim to become an important point of presence of SLT connecting Asia with the rest of the world through Sri Lanka. The initiative of incorporation of SLT Hong Kong Limited will be a considerable step forward for SLT to become a regional telecommunication facilitator.

SLT today enjoys high bandwidth global connectivity via SEA-ME-WE 3 and SEA-ME-WE 4 (South East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe).

e-Citizen by ICTA in ICT literacy drive

Computer usage is widely considered to be an important source of economic and educational opportunities as well as a means of communication and connection with the global community. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka, most of the population remains cut off from this important resource.

According to a survey by the Department of Census and Statistics in 2004, ICT literacy is as low as 10%.

This figure is shocking considering that Sri Lanka tops other South Asian countries with its high rates of overall literacy. Although this problem seems immense, hope is here in the form of the "e-Citizen" program, an initiative of the Information and Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).

"e-Citizen" is targeting an initial 100,000 citizens and ICTA is launching an islandwide ICT literacy drive.

The project promotes internationally recognised ICT certifications to the Sri Lankan public at greatly lowered rates to make the courses more accessible.

As an added incentive ICTA refunds the cost of the examination fee to all participants upon passing the final examination.

"e-Citizen" provides opportunities to all citizens for basic ICT skills training. People from all walks of life including students, youth, professionals, labourers, and housewives all find an improvement in their lives through the ICT training offered by the "e-Citizen" project.

Participants find that the course helps them with improving their employment situation as well as being educational.

Dr. S. Sivasumithran, a medical doctor who is currently following the course, said that "The e-Citizen program benefits me in many ways such as teaching medicine through presentations and updating my knowledge via the internet."

Water dominates Holcim Lanka Awards 2006

Water dominated the Holcim Lanka Awards 2006 held under the theme "Water, earth and life" at the BMICH recently.

At this premier celebration of the construction industry's excellent efforts on community and national development, the coveted Best Project Award went to the construction of a salinity barrier across the Gin Ganga under the Greater Galle Water Supply Project, giving access to good quality drinking water to some 200,000 from the Galle district, and five projects received Merit Awards.

Among the 600 attendees graced by Messrs Manilal Fernando and Peter Spirig (Chairman and Managing Director of Holcim Lanka) were representatives from the local Construction Industry, university academics, researchers and students representatives from the parent company Holcim Ltd, global Holcim Foundation, Holcim Group companies overseas, and employees of Holcim Lanka.

"In recognising outstanding innovations and initiatives that deliver basic human needs for communities and the nation as a whole, Holcim Lanka Awards focused not on the size of the projects but also on the significance of their contribution to uplift the living standards of the communities they serve", said Rathika de Silva, Head of Sustainable Development, Holcim Lanka, who initiated in 2000 the Sanstha Awards (which later became Holcim Lanka Awards) to emphasize the cement's role in society through recognising the local construction industry's outstanding efforts on community and national development.