In brief

Wins HR leadership award

Ranjith G. Rubasinghe with IAS Secretary to the Government of India Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Bhaskar Chatteriee.

The CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom Manpower Solutions, Ranjith G. Rubasinghe was awarded the 'HR leadership Award' for his contribution to Human Resource management at the Asia Pacific HRM Congress in Bangalore recently.

Hayleys win 7 AgBiz Awards

Representatives of the award winning Hayleys companies (from left) General Manager Agri Equipment Division M. A. Rajap, Head Animal Health Division Dr. S. Mallawaarachchi, Director/CEO Hayleys Agro Products Ltd U.E.R. Gangoda, Executive Director Hayleys PLC Rizvi Zaheed, Managing Director HJS Condiments Ltd A. C. Wickramanayake, Head International Marketing Ruwan Rajapakse, Director/General Manager Crop Protection Division S. M. Gamage, Director/General Manager Hayleys Agro Fertilizers Ltd Nandalal Perera.

Nationally significant contributions to Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector have won companies in the Hayleys Group seven awards at the 2010 National Agri Business Awards, the highest number by a single group.

HJS Condiments, the largest exporter of fruit and vegetables from Sri Lanka, received the Gold Award for Marketing in the ‘Large’ category and the second runners-up award. Sunfrost, a company that supports a 20,000 farmer family outgrower network received the Gold Award for Extension Services in the ‘Large’ Category, while Hayleys Agro Products won two Golds for Veterinary Care Products (Medium Category) and Inputs Supply (Agrochemicals & Fertilizers) respectively and two Silvers for Farm Machinery, Equipment & Tools and Extension Services, both in the ‘Large’ category.

This was the fifth consecutive year that the Hayleys Group received top honours for the role it plays in value addition, extension services, research & development, process improvement, employment generation and sustainability initiatives in the fields of agricultural inputs, production, marketing and animal health.

“The diverse areas represented by these awards illustrate the width of the Hayleys Group’s involvement in the agriculture sector, and the depth of our commitment,” Hayleys Group Director Rizvi Zaheed said. “We are particularly pleased at winning one of the National awards and for the two awards for Extension Services, because this is an area that demands a huge commitment of people and resources.” Hayleys Agro Products provides direct extension services to more than 350,000 farmers with a team dedicated to agricultural extension and technical services that are focused on helping farmers increase productivity through the acquisition of skills, knowledge and attitudes. The company has introduced unique products to enhance milk production in dairy cows and to improve and maintain egg production at the optimum level while maintaining uniformity and the health of poultry.

Seminar on Tax, Customs and Exchange Control Law (organised by the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law)

The Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law has organised a seminar on some areas of Tax, Customs and Exchange Control Law, to be held on September 21, at Cinnamon Lakeside, from 1.30pm-5.45pm. Topics include Cross Border Case Flows and Exchange Control (Chairman NDB Bank, Former Deputy Governor Central Bank of Sri Lanka, P M Nagahawatte); Overview of the Customs Ordinance, Import Duties, Valuation Procedure and Investigations (Attorney-at-Law A A M Illiyas); Overview of the Tax System in Sri Lanka, Tax Litigation Procedures and Ideas for Reform (Attorney-at-Law Dr. Shivaji Felix); and Tax Planning (Attorney-at-Law / Principal, KPMG Ford Rhodes Thornton & Co Suresh Perera).

The panel discussion would be led by Attorney at Law and President of the Bar Association Shibly Azeez. Other panelists include, Attorney at Law, Chairman of United Motors Group Ranjith Fernando; Senior Commissioner Inland Revenue Department / Secretary to the Board of Review P.D. Premaratne, Deputy Controller of Exchange P.L.S.K. Perera, Senior Asst Secretary Central Bank Sirikumara.

Seminar on Maximising benefits of Pakistan,Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are considered a key engine that drives trade between nations. A seminar on Maximising the Benefits of Pakistan - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement is organised by the Sri Lanka - Pakistan Business Council (SLPBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with the aim of enhancing the understanding and recognition of opportunities available through the Agreement. The seminar will be followed by a Q & A session and is slated for Thursday, September 30, from 2.00 pm at the ground floor Auditorium of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Panelists include Deputy Director Commerce, the Department of Commerce V. S. Sidath Kumar on Technical Aspects and How to Exploit Benefits of Pakistan - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement; Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies Dr. Saman Kelegama on Making Best use of Pakistan - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and — Charge d’ Affaires, High Commission of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Ms. Mariam Saeed on Potential Areas for Further Development of Trade and Investment between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Please contact the SLPBC secretariat at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for further details.