Biz Briefs

New GM for BoC

Senior banker D.M. Gunasekara has been appointed General Manager of the Bank of Ceylon from January 8. Gunasekara served as the Deputy General Manager, Retail Banking of BOC prior to the new appointment.

He counts 29 years of experience in the banking sector including Corporate banking, International banking, Off-shore banking and most recently Retail banking prior to his appointment as General Manager.

GIC received 1.5 m calls last year

Close to 1.5 million calls were received by the Government Information Centre (GIC)(1919) last year. Most of these calls were from the Western Province.

With regard to the institutions about which calls were received, the Railways Department, Registration of Persons Department, Motor Traffic Department and the Sri Lanka Police Department topped the list.

Last year about 350,000 persons accessed the official Government Information Centre website and of them more than 1,000 persons had lodged complaints.

Jaffna International Trade Fair 2013

The Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) 2013 will be held on January 18 at the Durayappah stadium in Jaffna.The trade fair comprises local and international stalls holders catering to a variety of needs and services. Over 50,000 visitors patronised the exhibition last year.

The Fair is organised by Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam (CCIY), Consulate General of India in Jaffna, Jaffna Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau.

JITF 2013 will also comprise an Education Pavilion with some of Colombo's and Jaffna's most sought after education service providers partnering the event.

The Principal of Gurugoda Vidyalaya, Ajith Premakumara receives the gift from Manager, Corporate and Offshore Banking, Seylan Bank PLC, Jayantha Godamunne. Sustainability Manager of Seylan Bank PLC, Sandrine Gomez looks on.

Seylan Bank donates computer

Seylan Bank PLC partnering with IBM Corporation, presented a computer and other components inclusive of an educational pack which is compatible with the local syllabus of Grades 1 to 7 to Gurugoda Kanishta Vidyalaya, Horana recently.

Seylan Bank's 'Sustainable Banking for Equitable Development' fosters the educational activities of underprivileged children.

Fitch Ratings introduces mobile iPad App

Fitch Ratings launched its new iPad app, Fitch Mobile recently. Built to meet the needs of investors, fixed income professionals and capital markets participants, the app delivers Fitch Ratings content for users on the go. Fitch Mobile is now available to download free from Apple's App Store. "Market participants want access to our content any time and anywhere, whether they are online or offline, and that is what Fitch Mobile delivers," said Executive Vice President of Global Business Management at Fitch, Peter Jordan. "This is the latest in a series of enhancements aimed at making our content as accessible as possible to Fitch subscribers and to

those who are new to Fitch," he said.

Charis and Chryso Theocharides

Business duo from Cyprus

Charis and Chryso Theocharides, a business couple from Cyprus, visited Sri Lanka in December and were impressed with the hospitality extended by the Sri Lankans and the sites they visited .

"Cyprus, being an island has a lot in common with Sri Lanka and have many cultural sites and beaches for tourists to visit.

We enjoyed the tea plantations upcountry and Kandy and the New Year's Eve party at the Hilton Residencies", they said.

Interocean Lubricants launches engine oil

Interocean Lubricants launched API diesel engine oil for modern diesel engines.

Here General Manager of Interocean Lubricants, Shiran Abeysinghe makes the first sale to Managing Director of Auto Mirage Group, Chandra Mohan. Sales Manager, Interocean Lubricants, Chandima Liyanarachchi looks on.

Customs bid to curtail software piracy

Sri Lanka Customs embarked on a series of capacity- building programs in partnership with Business Software Alliance (BSA) and its members to curtail software piracy in Sri Lanka.

The program endeavours to make Customs officers aware of the law and the numerous ways through which pirated software is brought into the country.

Detailed training on identification of counterfeit and pirated software will be given.

The inaugural session was chaired by Director General of Customs with Consultant BSA, Shalini Ratwatte, Amice van der Burg-Dissanayake and Poojitha Rajapakse of Microsoft and members of the two authorised Microsoft distributors, Trident Corporation and Tech One Global present.

The HRD Directorate of Sri Lanka Customs organised the program.

'Multi Rewards' targets small investors

Multi Finance PLC launched 'Multi Rewards' recently at their branches.

This fixed deposit scheme allows investors to start investing with a minimum deposit of Rs 5,000 for one year at competitive rates. Investors are entitled to additional benefits such as raffle draws with gifts being awarded to the lucky winners.

"Multi Rewards is a golden opportunity for small and medium scale investors. The company has unfolded an aggressive marketing campaign to popularise this product among people to inculcate the savings habit," a spokesman for Multi Finance said.

SLCNTA president appeals

The president of the Sri Lanka Cosmetics and Neutraceuticals Traders’ Association, Ahamed Rheyas has appealed to Health Minister, Maithripala Sirisena seeking a one year extension to the deadline to implement the three language labelling requirement which comes into effect from January 1, 2013.Although the Association appreciates the need for such labelling, it has pointed out some of the difficulties encountered in implementing the order within the stipulated time limit, he said.

International suppliers are facing difficulties in printing a small number of cartons and boxes in three languages.