BIZ BRIEFS

SriLankan increases flights to Riyadh

SriLankan Airlines will introduce three more flights to Riyadh from next week increasing the number of flights to five per week.

“The increased frequency would facilitate enhanced outbound travel from Saudi Arabia to Colombo with convenient connections to several cities in India and Far East.SriLankan Airline's Head of Worldwide Sales, Lal Perera said. “The Middle East is considered as one of the fastest growing regions in the world”, he said. “SriLankan being in the forefront of the international air transportation industry sees great potential in facilitating the growing demand for air travel”, he said.

First fixed income indices launched

NDB Capital Holdings PLC last week introduced a family of fixed income indices in Sri Lanka, a landmark in the history of the country’s debt markets.

This initiative unveiled four indices which would measure the performance of government securities of selected maturities.

The indices have been developed, and will be maintained, by CRISIL Limited, India, an analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services.

AIA acquires stake in AVIVA NDB Insurance

The AIA Group Limited has closed its acquisition of AVIVA NDB Insurance. AIA is the world's fifth largest insurance group by market capitalisation. AIA acquired a 92.3 per cent stake in AVIVA NDB Insurance (ANI) for $ 109 m, making Sri Lanka its 16th market.

AIA acquired the entire stake in AVIVA NDB Holdings (Pvt) Limited, from Aviva Asia Holdings Private Limited and NDB Capital Holdings PLC.

AVIVA NDB Holdings Lanka (Pvt) Limited held a direct shareholding of 87.27 percent in AVIVA NDB Insurance PLC. AIA also acquired the five percent direct shareholding in AVIVA NDB held by NDB Capital Holdings PLC.

Biggest AIDS ribbon

Standard Chartered's Living with HIV program was launched in Africa in 1999. Liverpool FC first team players including Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez stand in formation to depict the biggest AIDS ribbon to be unveiled at Anfield.

Airline of the Year Award for Emirates

Emirates has been awarded the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year 2012 Award. It has won this award for the third time. Here Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Far East and Australasia, Salem Obaidalla receives the award for the CAPA Airline of the Year 2012 from Executive Chairman of CAPA, Peter Harbison,

Eden Resort heralds festive season

Eden Resort and Spa, welcomed the festive season by hosting an evening of celebrations, culminating in the traditional Christmas cake mixing ceremony at the hotel premises recently. Ingredients in the shape of the hotel's logo were on display.

SLIM Convocation

Graduates at the SLIM Convocation held recently in Colombo

SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs conference

Director, Abans Group, Ms Saroshi Dubash and Chairperson and Managing Director, New Philip Hospitals ( Pvt) Ltd, Kalutara, Ms. Indrani Fernando represented Sri Lanka at the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Conference in Delhi. It was organised by GIZ.