[In brief]

CMA signs MoU with Dept of Accounting J’pura varsity

The Society of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA) signed an MoU with the Department of Accounting University of Sri Jayawardhanapura at the Vice Chancellor’s Office.

The MoU provides for closer cooperation with the Department of Accounting of the University and the CMA to cooperate with each other to promote and build the technical competency of management accounting professionals in Sri Lanka.

University undergraduates and graduates will be able to obtain exemptions and complete the CMA Professional management accounting qualification at an affordable cost. They will also undertake joint research in management accounting topics and conduct seminars and conferences.

Singer launches Whirlpool Mastermind

Singer (Sri Lanka) introduced the first automatic refrigerator, the new Whirlpool Mastermind.

The sleek Whirlpool Mastermind is, the first ‘intelligent’ refrigerator because it incorporates a microchip which can gauge ambient temperature and the load in the refrigerator and automatically adjust temperature within, so saving electricity and giving optimum performance.

Hence the hassle of adjusting temperature is forever done with, the company said.

Mastermind’s unique sixth sense tower cooling system which provides automatic cooling also offers more enticing features such as ice and chilled water within few minutes ensuring a homemaker is never caught in the embarrassing position of having run out of either.

‘Architect the Initiator’

The Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) marked the opening day of its 25th Annual Session with Architect 2008 at the BMICH recently. The theme for the event was ‘Architect the Initiator.’

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was the chief guest while the Guests’ of Honour were Dinesh Gunawardene Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development and Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing and Common Amenities.

The keynote speaker was renowned Architect Ulrik Plesner, Managing Partner, Plesner Architects, Israel, who has been working for many years in Sri Lanka and had a professional association with architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Architects who had made an immense contribution to the profession - those who were elected as new members of the Institute, those who had excelled in the construction industry and those who won Design Awards were also recognised.

Mobitel introduces Kids Portal

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, the National Mobile Service Provider, introduced a dynamic new kids portal on October 1, International Children’s Day, making it the first mobile company in South Asia to introduce such a service.

Branded ‘Mobitel Junior’ the service is a voice application package for children between 4 and 12.

By dialing 333 kids can gain access to a wide variety of information and entertainment such as stories sandawathi nandage kathandara, general knowledge lokayen denuma jokes begal maamage weda, animals zoo eke sawaariyak good habits mama honda lamayek and songs api sindu kiyamu they can sing along to.

The introduction to the service is trilingual, where children can choose the language they prefer, with the content being mixed from then on.

‘Organise to grow’

ACCA Sri Lanka said that Adil Zainulbhai, the leader of McKinsey and Company’s India office will be the Guest Speaker at its CEOs Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday March 18 at the Cinnamon Grand. Given the increasing focus of companies to better manage and prepare for growth, the theme for the meeting is “Organise to Grow.”

Seminar on exporting to the EU

A seminar on exporting to the Eu “The way forward for Sri Lanka” will be conducted on March 28 from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

The Chief Guest at the seminar will be Julian Wilson, Ambassador of the EU in Sri Lanka. Specialist resource persons from the State Sector and Private Sector will speak at the seminar.

The objective of the seminar conducted by the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka with the participation of the Office of the European Commission (EC) Delegation in Sri Lanka is to create awareness regarding issues and the strategies that should be adopted to market products of selected product sectors which have potential in the EU.

Workshops on taxation

Workshops on taxation organised by D P R Consultants (Pvt) Limited (Tax Consultants) will be held on March 24, 31 and April 7, at the Trans Asia Hotel.

The objective of these workshops is to discuss all tax legislation with recent amendments of Value Added Tax (VAT) including Financial VAT, Withholding tax (WHTT) and Company Taxation.

The workshops will be conducted from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and Value Added Tax, Withholding Tax and Company Taxation will be discussed on March 24, 31 and April 7.

Mobitel introduces ‘M3-Journalist’

Mobitel introduced the ‘M3-Journalist’ a 3.5G service tailored to meet the stringent requirements of the journalist from the electronic media. The service was launched after extensive trials carried out with Independent Television Network of Sri Lanka (ITN).

Mobitel having launched South Asia’s first and only HSPA powered Super 3.5G network in December 2007, introduced yet another first using its 3rd generation service under the name ‘M3-Journalist’ which potentially can empower M3 users to directly communicate through video telephony giving the ability to broadcast themselves live on Sri Lanka’s popular ITN television network initially..