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Croatian president to visit Ceylon Chamber
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic will lead a high-powered delegation to Sri Lanka from November 16 to 19 on a trade promotion cum goodwill tour, officials said.
Mesic is also due to visit the offices of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on November 18 when business members of his delegation would have one-to-one meetings with Sri Lankan businessmen.

The visiting president is due to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders. The delegation includes the country's Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economy and Minister of Maritime and Communication.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that Croatia has growth potential and establishing trade links with them would be of immense value and benefit to Sri Lanka.

The delegation has members representing various fields of activity like, paper, wood, construction material , export of ships and other products for the shipbuilding industry, oilfield activities, oil exploration (integrated drilling and well services), production of oil and gas, agro activity, production of sanitaryware and porcelain tableware.

Leo Burnett unveils new corporate logo
Leo Burnett Solutions Inc launched its new global corporate identity in Sri Lanka recently to mark an evolution of the Chicago-based company's vision.The new identity was launched coinciding with the local company's office relocation at 379, R. A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3.

The new corporate identity for Leo Burnett Worldwide was officially launched in Chicago earlier this year in August, on the 67th anniversary of the company's founding. Central to the new identity is a pen and ink drawing of a person reaching towards three stars.

The revelation of the company's new vision and the launch of the new logo took place late last month at the new office premises. The identity was introduced by a presentation made by the company's Brand Director Michael Holsinger, on the significance of the new corporate identity to members of the Leo Burnett Team.

Ceylinco policies from cycle salesmen
Ceylinco Insurance, Sri Lanka's largest private sector insurance company has launched a unique mobile service through which insurance cover is sold on the spot.
This new operation is to strengthen the distribution network for the popular 'One Day Cover' scheme introduced by Ceylinco Insurance - General.

For a nominal fee of Rs. 5 the policyholder is covered for 24 hours, and will be entitled to benefits of upto Rs. 100,000. Customers are covered for accidents on the road or at home and hospitalisation due to accidents, the company said in a statement. Under this scheme a customer who wishes to purchase an insurance policy can do so from these cycle salesmen who visit bus stops, railway stations, market places and other highly frequented areas.

Strategic management for the new environment
A comprehensive overview on how best a result oriented-organisation could face challenges of the new environment through strategic management is the focus of a seminar to be conducted on November 16 at the Colombo Hilton by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Prof. M. Reddy, MA, MBA, PhD, Chairman of Yaga Consulting - the main speaker at this seminar - is an internationally acclaimed trainer, author and researcher in strategy, corporate governance and HR systems. He is also the founder of the "Academy of Corporate Governance." Prof. Reddy will present his innovative views, theories and experiences in managing the new environment.

UK management body chief to visit Colombo
Ms. Mary Chapman, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Management Institute, UK, is visiting Sri Lanka on November 11, the local branch said.

She is meeting Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology, the British High Commissioner, Director of the British Council, members of its local branch and the Management Club. According to the CMI UK- Sri Lanka Branch President Sega Nagendra, this is the first time the Chief Executive of the CMI will be visiting Sri Lanka. "In fact outside of the UK we are the only branch office, all others are Chapters," said Nagendra.

Japan pledges continued support
Japan will remain a constructive partner in Sri Lanka's socio-economic development, Seiichiro Otsuka, the Japanese ambassador in the island said. There is a need for regional co-operation and inter-dependence among member countries especially in the fields of economics, science, medicine and technology, he told the sixth world convention of the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) alumni societies.

It was attended by around 200 delegates from 36 countries. The Japan-Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (JASTECA), which represents the Sri Lankan alumni of AOTS Japan, has arranged special management and study programmes every year for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, plantation managers and bankers. JASTECA has also contributed to Sri Lanka's industry and commerce by introducing Japanese quality and productivity improvement and management tools, Otsuka said.

Asian, European chambers meet
Asian and European chambers of commerce based in Asia met at The Asia-Invest Networking Conference on 5-6 November in Beijing to find ways in which networks could be strengthened and developed and how they can help facilitate trade and activity between Europe and Asia, a European Commission statement said.

hambers of Commerce, business councils and business associations from Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan and Brunei participated. The conference was an initiative supported by the European Union under the Asia-Invest programme that aims to promote and facilitate EU Asia business co-operation.

Asian Alliance Insurance continues to grow
Asian Alliance Insurance ended its third quarter with a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 250 million for its General Insurance division, up 25 percent from the same period last year.

The company said this is considered it to be a phenomenal achievement since the industry growth in GWP terms over the last four years averaged less than 12 percent.

Asian Alliance recently relocated its corporate offices to Nawam Mawatha from the World Trade Centre in order to provide easy access to its clients and intermediaries. With the relocation the General Insurance division also made some operational changes to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Victor Colombage and Gerry Gunadasa now oversee general underwriting, re- insurance and claims as Deputy General Managers.

Women as managers
The Institute of Human Development and Training (IHDT) has organised its annual workshop on "Empowerment of Women Managers for Career Success" on November 29 at the Grand Oriental Hotel in Colombo.

The workshop aims to enhance the management capacities of women managers and develop advanced strategic leadership skills to make an even greater contribution to their organisations in the future. The keynote speaker is Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), University of Colombo.

Resource persons are Mallika Manuratne, Consultant/ Senior Lecturer, Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), Kamala Wickramasinghe, former secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Shehara de Silva, CEO, ESP Consult.

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