Biz Briefs

The 16th International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) Congress 2015 will be held in Sri Lanka from May 16-19.

The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association, National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Export Development Board will organise the event on the theme ‘Sapphire and More’ which will be held for the second time in Colombo.

Over 70 varieties of gems are found in Sri Lanka including sapphires, padpardsha, spinel, moonstones, Cat eyes, Alexandrite and Zircon and the sector is the fourth biggest export earner.

Dialog clinches two awards

Dialog Axiata clinched two global awards at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The lineup of global award winners and nominees featured the world’s leading mobile operators, innovators and solution providers.

Sri Lanka’s premier mobile payment network eZ Cash won the Global Award for the best mobile money service. eZ Cash connects close to two million Sri Lankan mobile users.

Dialog also won the Global Award for Best Technology Enabler. Dialog’s Ideamart platform manifests an innovative solution to the ‘opening up’ of mobile networks to the application development and enterprise solution development communities.

Free wi-fi at 100 railway stations

The Government Railway Department will set up free wi-fi zones in 100 selected railway stations islandwide by April with the assistance of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

The wi-fi hotspots will enable passengers to access internet free via smart phones and tablets, Railway Department sources said. The first free wi-fi zone will be in operation at the Fort railway station and this facility will be available in other stations later.

The infrastructure facilities necessary for this project is currently being installed and due to be completed shortly.

Another project was launched recently by SLT and Mobitel to provide free internet access for intercity express train passengers.

GSK and Singer launch promotion

Viva launched Avurudu seasonal promotion Suba Aluth Avurudhak Viva with Pathum Vaasi with Singer Sri Lanka.

The promotion valued at Rs 10 million in branded household appliances will conclude on March 31.

Book on Principles of Quality Management

Airtel ties up with China Mobile

BhartiAirtel has entered into an agreement with China Mobile under which the two companies will work towards the growth of the LTE ecosystem and evolving mobile technology standards.

Airtel and China Mobile will also shape up a joint strategy for procurement of devices that include Mifi, smart phones, data cards, LTE CPEs and USIM.

Development projects are vital to accelerate economic growth but not at the expense of causing an environmental catastrophe. The Colombo Port City project branded as a non-transparent deal of the former Government with China, lacks a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. The project is not only a threat to marine resources but also to the livelihood of a large number of fishermen. Civil society bodies, environmentalists and fishermen took to the streets last week to oppose the project. Pic: Susantha Wijegunasekera

The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) celebrated 50 years of service to the nation recently. Several events were held to mark the occasion at the BMICH including an educational and trade exhibition, a one-day quality symposium and presentation of National Quality Awards to business organisations which excelled in quality management practices. A ceremony was held to recognise the services rendered by the chairman and members of the Council of the SLSI, past
and present Heads of the institution, members of the technical committee and present employees who completed over 35 years of service. Here former Director General of the institution (1993- 2003), C.D.R.A. Jayawardene, receive a token of appreciation from the first employee of SLSI, Dr. Harischandra Wijetunga. Deputy Director General T.G.G. Dharmawardene, Director General Dr. L.N. Seneweera and Chairman SLSI, Dr. Kithsiri Dissanayake look on.