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The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) launches its education arm today (November 11) under the name, SBS.
SLIM said the launch would be followed by a life guidance seminar where top professionals will provide guidance in the education and careers of students. Godwin Perera, Marketing and Advertising Consultant, Bank of Ceylon, G.S. Sylvester, Marketing Director, Pan Audio Company Ltd, Indrajith Chander, visiting lecturer, Nishan Navaratne, Marketing Manager, Package Care (MJF) Ltd, Prasanna Perera, Resident Manager, Tetra Pak Sri Lanka, Liaison Office, Sam Stembo, Managing Director, Pan Lanka Networking (Pvt) Ltd, Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, General Manager/Head, Personal Life, Eagle Insurance and Dr. Uditha Liyanage, Senior Lecturer, Postgraduate Institute of Management, will comprise the resource panel for the seminar.
SBS will be fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and have its first branch in Kandy.
In addition to the Post-graduate diploma in marketing, SBS will also conduct tuition for the following courses: diploma in marketing (Sri Lanka), preliminary certificate in marketing, certified professional marketer (Asia Pacific), certificate in professional selling and preliminary certificate in business English.
The business school will have hi-tech equipment including multi-media, overhead projectors, etc.
Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) was adjudged the safest organisation in Sri Lanka in the large category, winning the "National Safety Award 2001" at the 7th National Safety Awards Ceremony.
It was conducted and sponsored by Eagle Insurance in collaboration with the Department of Labour and the Employees' Trust Fund Board. This prestigious award is presented every two years to a company that demonstrates the highest levels of safety at the workplace.
This year 75 organisations applied for the competition from various parts of the country including areas such as Mahiyangana, Trincomalee, Bandarawela, Tangalle and Kandy.
The NDB Housing Bank has announced a new and innovative scheme to help customers to finance their home renovations, including repairs, repainting, redecorating, flooring, tiling and roofing, as well as additions and extensions.
In addition to funds, the bank has also tied up with leading suppliers of building materials to obtain special prices for its customers who join the Home Improvement Loan Scheme. Advice and information on key building materials and their usage will also be available free of charge, a bank statement said.
The scheme is flexible in terms of repayment options and competitive in terms of rates, and every loan is tailored to best suit the needs of each customer. NDB Housing Bank is also committed to their promise of a speedy service; home loans will be processed within ten days from the date the required documents are handed in.
By Akhry Ameer
A Sri Lankan company has designed a low cost Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to help rural folk with basic Internet usage.
Media Solutions, the Sri Lankan development centre of MediaSolv, San Jose, USA, demonstrated the prototype PDA at a press conference in Colombo last week.
MediaSolv also announced a partnership with Worldview International Foundation to develop the technology for a pilot project that will become the platform for large-scale implementation.
"The significance here is that a Sri Lankan company has developed world-class technology that provides low-cost wireless Internet enabled Personal Information Management functionality. The technology can be embedded in any device. The PDA is just an example," explained Vasee Nesiah, CEO of MediaSolv. The Etherchip developed by MediaSolv is a complete circuitry that uses Ericsson's Bluetooth radio for Internet connectivity. The Etherchip essentially provides access to personal and group information management applications designed by the company, but can be electronically programmed for additional functionality.
Using the device with a built in Etherchip, in this case the PDA, the user will be able to access the Internet and connect to the server that hosts MediaSolv's personal and group information management application. Once connected the user will be able to carry out basic Internet facilities such as managing an e-mail account, calendar, contacts, etc. The Bluetooth technology incorporated into the Etherchip, is a proprietary technology of the popular phone manufacturer, Ericsson and enables wireless connectivity to the Internet.
The communication between two Bluetooth enabled devices takes place 14 to 20 times faster than some of wired the connections and has a communication range of about 20 feet. The PDA is expected to cost around US$ 25.
The PDA on the pilot project will act as the personal computer of each villager. They will be able to use it for basic activities like calculations, typing e-mails, etc. Once these have been done the villager can travel to a central location like a community centre that houses a Bluetooth access point that links to the Internet and connect to their accounts to carry on the rest of their activities. The Bluetooth access point will be able to support around seven active connections at any given time.
Asked whether the company intends going into production of the prototype, Nesiah said, "That is not our business. We are merely technology and software developers. The Etherchip enables us to reach beyond the traditional Web, WAP and desktop environments into a platform that creates new avenues for our software and enhances our revenue potential." The company will be marketing the technology on an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) basis.
Since its development during the year, MediaSolva has signed up with Worldview Foundation and IDS Corporation, Korea, on various marketing initiatives. The Korean manufacturer plans to produce low cost PDAs designed for the Korean market by the first quarter of 2002.
Orient Lanka ties up with Gabo, Mackinnons
Orient Lanka Ltd has tied up with Gabo Travels and Mackinnons Travels to organise a unique promotional campaign targeting out-bound travellers. The concept of this promotion is to encourage and influence outbound travellers who purchase air tickets from Gabo Travels or Mackinnons Travels, to shop at Orient Lanka's prestigious duty free shops at the Bandaranaike Airport, Katunayake, the company said.
Such travellers would be entitled to free offers and other concessions when they shop at Orient Lanka Duty Free shops.
Orient Lanka will provide these two reputed travel agencies with pre-printed ticket jackets enabling travellers to get lucrative offers when they purchase items from the Orient Lanka Duty Free shops. The travellers can use the tear-offs in these ticket jackets in order to enjoy this offer.
Recent research has found that outbound Sri Lankans purchase far less than the inbound numbers.
This campaign aims to improve departing Sri Lankans' participation at the departure shop whilst also helping to create a loyal customer base for the two travel agents as well as Orient Lanka Ltd.
Seminar on downsizing
A seminar on the 'Impact of recessionary trends on garment and other export oriented enterprises in Sri Lanka' will be held at the Trans Asia Hotel on November 13.
Organised by Corporate Legal Conference Services, the seminar will discuss issues like downsizing, how to cope with excess labour and trends of employees taking over workplaces to back their demands.
3 Coins stimulates Oktoberfest at Colombo Hilton
Three Coins, Sri Lanka's only specialty brewer, has been selected as the exclusive supplier of beer to the Colombo Hilton's Oktoberfest, a festival synonymous with beer drinking.
At least eight varieties of Three Coins specialty beers would be served at the Oktoberfest from November 15 to 24. These would include the popular bottle re-fermented white beer Riva, Bock-type beers, flavoured and spiced beers, as well as lager and stout, a spokesman said.
He said a highlight of the festivities this year will be the "3 Coins Oktoberfest Beer" specially brewed for the occasion and packing a kick like a mule, for the more robust beer drinker.
HNB training centre
HNB recently opened its first regional training centre in Kandy aimed at providing technical training to junior executives, banking assistants and allied grades.
Bank CEO Rienzie Wijetilleke said several programmes would start immediately to meet the training needs of 24 branches in the region.
Asian Alliance spreads its wings
Asian Alliance Insurance says it is expanding its distribution network to Kandy.
Since November 1, the company has been operating from a temporary office at the Queen's Hotel in Kandy but is planning a permanent location. Since launching its business in June, the company has opened five branches offices with Kandy being the sixth. It has branches in Colombo, Gampaha, Panadura, Negombo, Kurunegala and now Kandy.
NCE's Geneva representative
The National Chamber of Exporters' of Sri Lanka (NCE) has expanded its activities by appointing the chamber's first overseas representative in Europe.
The NCE has appointed Ruvan de Alwis as the NCE international representative based in Geneva, as another initiative in its efforts to promote and campaign for the development of exports.
De Alwis was instrumental in establishing a link for the NCE with the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva resulting in, among others, a well-attended seminar in Colombo on successful exporting services given by the head of the ITC's Trade Services Division.
The NCE said the appointment is part of the chamber's plans to establish a fully-fledged representative office in Geneva.
Priority areas for action
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in association with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation is organising a seminar on 'Government 2002 - Priorities for Action' on November 16 at the chamber auditorium.
The seminar aims to address key issues that need the urgent attention of the new government - which takes over in 2002 - inclusive of slow economic growth, the CCC said in a press release. It is primarily targeted at senior executives in the private sector, leaders of civil society organisations and the diplomatic community in general.
It will consist of two presentations. CCC chairman Chandra Jayaratne will speak on 'Government 2002 - Challenges to leverage sustainable competitive advantage via the private sector' and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, CPA's executive director on 'Government 2002 - challenges for conflict resolution and governance'.
A panel comprising eminent persons from the private sector and civil society organisations will lead a discussion on the two presentations.
More than 30 students from the Tissamaharamaya Maha Vidyalaya, in Tissamaharamaya, recently participated in the 'Bright Ideas' workshop conducted by Shell LiveWIRE, a community investment initiative of Shell Sri Lanka, aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurship.
Students from year 12 classes actively participated in the half-day long session organised with the assistance of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce. Officers of the Centre for Private Sector Development conducted the workshop on behalf of Shell LiveWIRE.
Sandya Kumari, a year 12 Arts student said the workshop had helped her to create a positive mind that would be beneficial at her examinations. She also said the workshop had helped her come up with new business ideas and added that such workshops benefited students at her school as it provided an insight to opportunities available in the field of entrepreneurship after the completion of their studies.
In a separate event, over 25 disabled soldiers currently employed by Ranaviru Apparels in Yakkala participated in a "Bright Ideas" workshop.
Shell LiveWIRE said in a statement it is committed to raising awareness of start-up businesses as a realistic and attractive alternative to conventional employment amongst those in the age group 16-32.
Ranaviru Apparels located in Yakkala, Gampaha, was established in 1995 and currently employs approximately seven hundred disabled soldiers. The workshop held on October 26 was the second "Bright Ideas" workshop organised for Ranaviru Apparels last month.
Since the inception of the workshop programme in October 2000, Shell LiveWIRE has conducted over 80 "Bright Ideas" workshops throughout the island.
The "Bright Ideas" workshops aim to promote the option of enterprise to a wide audience, as well as help participants identify the correct attitude and characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. Administered by N.K. Silva and P. Gamage of the Centre for Private Sector Development, "Bright Ideas" enable participants to unlock their potential; to understand and use mind power and the creative thinking process to generate and evaluate potential business ideas.
Braathens, an airline operating in the European region with 32 aircraft and headquarters in Norway, has awarded John Keells Computer Services (JKCS) a two-year contract to establish a state-of-the art software development centre in Colombo.
This centre will ultimately have more than 40 IT professionals and serve Braathen's IT needs
JKCS is a fully owned subsidiary of John Keells Holdings and employs over 350 IT professionals. It specialises in developing end-to-end software solutions for the international markets and has offices in Dubai, London and Oslo. The client portfolio of JKCS includes Emirates Airlines (UAE), NTT Comware Corporation (Japan) and P&O Nedlloyd (UK).
Shamrock G. Shipping Pvt Ltd, a fully-owned Sri Lankan company, launched its first shipping service, "Pearl City Express Service" between Colombo and Tuticorin last Thursday.
The company said in a press release that the service, operated through the vessel, m.v. Mathish, is a container feeder service and the only dedicated one of its kind. Shamrock is a new company started by three partners: ex-master mariner, Capt. Nalin Abeyratne, ex-marine engineer, Ajith Wijetunga and senior shipping executive, Ranjit Abeydeera.
Abeydeera said there was great demand for a Colombo-Tuticorin service as well as a service to other regional ports, which the company has hopes of servicing in the future.
The Institute of Human Development and Training (IHDT) is organising a workshop on Building Maintenance and Services to be held on November 29 at the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance, Olcott Mawatha, Colombo 10. The workshop would be conducted in Sinhala.
The workshop aims to enhance and develop the multi-disciplinary skills required by the premises and facilities manager in order to apply the building services management techniques to the maintenance of premises by utilising minimum energy for maximum productivity.
The resource persons at the workshop are Dr. S. Sivalingam, Managing Director, Building Services (M&E) Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Tissa de Silva, former Chief Engineer, Civil Department of Works, Australia and Tissa Gunasena, Senior Partner, Building Services Consultants Ltd.
Sampath Bank recently chose Suntel as its telecom partner to provide a facility where any caller to the bank can be directly connected to the extension of the bank official concerned.
"If you know the extension number of the particular officer, you replace the last three digits of the number you are calling with the extension number and the officer concerned would pick up the phone," one official said.
A Suntel press release said with this facility it will now be possible to dial in directly to the bank's user extension without having to go through the operator, providing convenience and easy access.
As part of Suntel's custom designed solution for the Sampath Bank head office, 600 employees have been provided with direct inward dialing facility using a Microwave E1 link. "The uniqueness of this system is that it is a direct extension of the Suntel Exchange, enabling customers to enjoy the digital features," Suntel said.
The new facility is currently in use in some top companies in Sri Lanka.
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