BIZ BRIEFS

SLANZBC meets Australian FM

The President of the Sri Lanka-Australia-New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Lionel D.C. Silva with the Vice Presidents and Immediate Past President, recently met Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the Australian High Commissioner's residence.

The meeting though brief, enabled them to get acquainted with the Foreign Minister at a personal level, and further enhance the visibility of SLANZBC’s role as a base for escalation of trade relations between the two nations.

CEAT Kelani wins three awards

CEAT Kelani Holdings has won three awards within a week, claiming two at the National Business Excellence Award (NBEA) and the top award at the 2013 People Development Awards presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Training and Development (SLITAD).

“The three awards – two for business performance and one for human resources development - cap a year of extraordinary achievement for the company that supplies half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements,” a company spokesman said.

Amãna Bank goes for IPO

Amãna Bank, a commercial bank operating in compliance with Islamic banking principles, has obtained approval from the Colombo Stock Exchange to list on the bourse through an IPO.

The Bank which is expected to be listed on the Diri Savi Board, will issue 214,300,000 new Ordinary Shares at Rs. 7 per share with an option to issue a further 71,500,000 new Ordinary Shares.

If fully subscribed, the issue would raise Rs. 1,500,100,000 and if the option is exercised and fully subscribed the total issue would raise Rs. 2,000,600,000.

The Amana Bank IPO marks the first equity IPO by a licensed commercial bank during the past two years.

AMW launches assembly facility

AMW launched its central assembly facility at Sedawatta recently. It was opened by Chairman, AMW, Len Hunt and Group Managing Director, AMW, Samantha Rajapakse. AMW’s new assembly facility built with the latest technology, has an output of 70 units per day. It converts semi-knocked down units into complete units in a semi-automated assembly line.

The facility is situated between the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway and Peliyagoda. Although the facility caters to the Piaggio and Yamaha units. Light truck and agricultural segment vehicles will soon be assembled at the facility, a company spokesman said.

The facility is another step towards a fully integrated approach in the automobile industry for AMW who already represent reputed brands and offer financial leasing facilities.

Etisalat Lanka wins award

Etisalat Lanka, a mobile telecommunications innovator, won the second runner-up award for Etisalat PlayTV commercial, at the Sumathi Awards 2013.

Organised by the Sumathi Group of Companies, Sumathi Awards is Sri Lanka’s leading award ceremony that recognises the best achievements in the television industry. Having commenced in 1995, this is the 18th edition of the award ceremony.

Etisalat won the first runner-up award last year.

Etisalat Lanka's ‘Play’ is a unique post-pay package introduced to the market in July 2013. ‘Play’ allows Etisalat customers to get a customised package, based on their usage preferences. ‘Play’ customers are offered bundles of free talk-time minutes, free SMS’ or free data at a competitive price.

If a customer needs more free talk time, the 'Talk-O-holic' package is available and if a customer needs to send out more texts the 'Text Guru' package is an option, while a customer who prefers to surf the Web can choose the 'Data Master' package.

MasterCard introduces ‘Spend and Win’ campaign

MasterCard launched the 'Spend and Win' campaign for MasterCard debit and credit cardholders and Maestro debit cardholders in Sri Lanka. As part of this campaign, MasterCard and Maestro cardholders of participating banks in Sri Lanka who spend Rs 1,000 or more in a single receipt and transaction up to January 31, 2014 at qualifying merchants in Sri Lanka, stand a chance to win stay vouchers at select hotels.

People’s Leasing honours outstanding performers

Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, PLC, D.P. Kumarage and two officials with a winner.

People’s Leasing and Finance PLC (PLC) hosted ‘Premier Awards 2013,’ to recognise and honour their staff recently.

The awards ceremony in its 14th consecutive year was held at Blue Water Hotel, Wadduwa.

The awards ceremony recognises and rewards employees and branches whose performance during a fiscal year has been outstanding. The company also recognises those who have brought glory to the company at competitions and events at national level and the best CSR projects initiated by the branches.