Biz Briefs

Exports up in February

February 2012 showed a 7.6 percent increase in exports, a positive reversal from that of January. It is also proof that the

January lull is a mere passing cloud which has now cleared, said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

The February 2012 export data showed an increase of 7.6 percent to US dollars 879 Mn compared to February 2011, breaking the exports lull in January 2011 and clearly allays any doubts on Sri Lanka export growth.

Industrial exports recorded 74.2 percent of total exports, while also showing an increase during the first two months of 2012.

International HR Conference

The International HR Conference to be held at the Waters Edge Hotel from June 26-27 was launched on Wednesday. The event is organised by the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (IPM).

The theme of the conference ‘The Evolving New HR Agenda’ focuses on the new role of human resource professionals and the contribution that HR can make to drive business success.

The key note speaker will be Horacio Eduardo Quiros, President of the World Federation of People Management Associations.

New director at Commercial Leasing and Finance at LOLC

Priyantha Fernando who was a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and Ex-officio Commission Member of the Securities Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka has joined the LOLC Group as Director of Commercial Leasing and Finance Limited (CLC) Fernando counts more than 35 years of experience in the banking sector.

He was attached to the Central Bank serving in senior and diverse capacities.

He was the Deputy Governor in 2010-2011 in charge of the Financial System Stability and the Corporate Services cluster.

Two new directors at Citrus Leisure

Citrus Leisure PLC appointed Chandana Talwatte as Director/CEO and Vasula Premawardhana as Director of the Citrus Group.

Chandana Talwatte is a well-respected corporate leader with a proven track record of driving businesses forward under challenging conditions. He served most recently as Director, Sales and Marketing of Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo.

He has been part of the leadership team at John Keells Holdings PLC from 1993, serving as Director/CEO at several group companies.

Subodh Dakwale, new MD at Lanka IOC

Subodh Dakwale assumed duties recently as the new Managing Director of Lanka IOC. Dakwale who succeeds K. R. Suresh Kumar brings with him experience in the petroleum field having worked for more than 28 years at the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

During this time he has worked in different divisions of Indian Oil such as Engineering, LPG, Lubes and Sales and Marketing.

This has given him hands-on experience and a depth of knowledge in the functioning of the different areas of the industry.

Urban Kitchen launches new menu

Urban Kitchen, introduced its latest menu which includes 233 choices inspired by Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, European and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Most of the dishes have been given a new twist by varying the combinations of ingredients, almost half of the dishes on the current menu are new.

The new 25-page menu features an assortment of starters and snacks, soups and salads, sandwiches and wraps, burgers, pizzas, pastas and risottos, sushi, sashimi and rotis and a revamped choice of hot and cold beverages. Vegetarians too have an extensive choice of over 30 dishes to choose from and a special corner of the menu is dedicated specially for children.

Vallibel Finance branch at Gampaha

MD Vallibel Finance Jayantha Rangamuwa lights the oil lamp at the opening of the new branch.

Vallibel Finance PLC, recently opened a branch at Yakkala Road, Gampaha. MD Vallibel Finance, Jayantha Rangamuwa said "As a Sri Lankan enterprise, we place a lot of importance on increasing the number of regional branches. With this in view, we are systematically implementing our expansion strategy by deploying our services through an increasing number of branches and service centres across the country".

The dawn of 2012 saw Vallibel Finance taking operations to Negombo city, while a number of new additions are slated to follow the Gampaha opening.

NDB opens branch at Kaduruwela

Chief Financial Officer NDB Bank Faizan Ozman opens the branch. Branch Manager, Seevali Illangasinghe Nipuna Rice Products (Pvt) Ltd, Nipuna Gamlath, Director, Sudu Araliya Hotel (Pvt) Ltd,P. G. W. Sirisena. Head of SME and Retail banking Raj Aboobucker and Regional Manager Ajith Beminiwatte look on.

NDB opened its 65th branch in Kaduruwela. Kaduruwela is a significant commercial hub progressing towards rapid economic development and integration.

Fostering a SME culture among its people, NDB provides the business community in Kaduruwela with the expertise that will support their numerous endeavours.

DPMC regional office opens

The regional office of David Pieris Motor Company was opened at Colombo Road, Negombo. Here P. Vincent Fernando of Angampitiya, a new three-wheel owner receives the keys from the Managing Director of David Pieris Motor Company Sumith Kumaranatungha.

Harcourts Wellness Centre opened

Harcourts Pharmacy Chain opened a Harcourts Wellness Centre at R.A. De Mel Mawatha. It was opened by Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena.

The Chairman of Harcourts Group, Ahamed Rheyas said that the Harcourts Wellness Centre is a multi-purpose Centre with a full-fledged pharmacy, a designated, cosmetic gallery, sports nutrition lay out and a state-of-the-art beauty salon under franchise from Paul Penders of America.

Harcourts Wellness Centre will also have the services of a doctor for consultation and a qualified nutritionist to advise on diet control, lifestyle modification and beauty related nutritional supplements.