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Emerald’s new “NON REPEAT” shirts
Leading shirt maker, Emerald International recently introduced the "NON REPEAT" collection under its casual brand "focuss".
The company said this original creation consists of shirts of which every part comprises a ‘remarkable set of stripes that vary throughout the shirt and, as the name suggests, do not repeat themselves’.


Miththapala invited to speak at World Tourism Investment Forum (WTIF)
President of the Sri Lanka Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) Srilal Miththapala has been invited by the World Tourism Investment Forum to address its next summit which will be held from October 6 – 9 in Bussan, Korea. This year’s summit will have 400 participants from 46 countries, officials said.
He will address the gathering on eco tourism and will highlight the success of Hotel Sigiriya as a case study for environmental and energy conservation and its impact on bottom line.


NTB processing centre opened
The Nations Trust Bank PLC recently unveiled its new Processing Centre which will serve as the base for the Bank’s operations and process team from Information Technology, Call Centre, Operations as well as numerous other key back office functions, the Bank said.

The new architect designed office, features a two storey car park, in addition to elegantly designed plush interiors and work stations, several meeting rooms, break out areas for staff as well as a restaurant style canteen. The building offers a picturesque view of the city and has been designed with the intention of providing staff, often working late hours on shift basis, the convenience of a comfortable office environment.

The new premises were formally declared open by Ajit Gunawardene, NTB Chairman, where he said, “Nations Trust Bank commenced operations almost nine years ago and has made great strides in becoming a formidable force in the industry. We are delighted to offer our process and operations centric staff a spacious new office and plush surroundings that will serve as their new home away from home.”


Mechanism to fast track tourism projects
‘Traffic lights’ have become the key to better project management in the new Ministry of Tourism Operations Room, according to a Ministry press release.

Every project run by the Ministry and its four agencies will be subject to a once a month scrutiny of the Operations Room team to ensure that it is on target for completion as promised and within budget. Chaired by the Ministry Secretary George Michael and with Tourism Minister, Milinda Moragoda present, each project manager will be expected to submit the progress of each project for detailed scrutiny, the statement said.

“When a project is on target it will receive a green traffic light, if a key deadline is missed or delays are experienced then the project goes to amber and where a project has stalled the red lights will shine and a task force will be sent in to get the project back on track,” it said. “We held our first meeting of the Operations Room last month with positive reports from nearly all project managers,” Mr Michael was quoted as saying. The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau will handle projects worth nearly Rs. 650 million. The Ministry including the JBIC-funded TRIP will undertake this year’s project worth Rs. 900 million and in 2009 the total cost of projects that will be undertaken will reach Rs 1.6 billion, he said.


Amba Research’s CSR project to mark five years in business
Amba Research has launched a series of CSR activities to commemorate five years in operation on October 3, the company said.

In its biggest such project to date, in mid-October, Amba Research Lanka will supply computer hardware to a rural school in the Puttalam District to facilitate the inclusion of IT-based education in their curriculum.
Earlier this year, Amba concluded a successful blood drive in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Red Cross and donated essential supplies to the Army Seva Vanitha unit. As part of an ongoing project, every year, Amba provides gifts and supplies to various orphanages across Sri Lanka, the company statement added.

Reflecting on Amba Research’s fifth birthday, Managing Director Ravi Abeysuriya said that, ‘We have groomed a generation of world class finance professionals and put Sri Lanka on the world map as a destination for Investment Research support services. Some of our staff has gone onto the world’s most prestigious universities for their MBAs. We see even greater opportunities for Amba as the industry develops further in Sri Lanka and overseas.’

Amba has a worldwide staff of over 600 with offices in Bangalore, San José (Costa Rica) and Singapore as well as in the financial capitals of New York and London.


Intel devices to drive access to the Internet
Intel this week announced the availability of affordable, computing devices from a host of OEMs such as MSI, Asus and local system builders like EPSI, PC House and Newnet.

All these devices are powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor, Intel’s recently announced family of low-power processors formerly codenamed Diamondville and designed specifically for a new class of simple and affordable Internet-centric computers. An Intel press release quoted Indika De Zoysa, Country Business Manager - Sri Lanka Intel EM Ltd as saying, “Currently in the market there is a price point vacuum at the sub $500 mark. At the same time there is also a demand for Internet-based content and usage models exploding. Coupled with low PC penetration in Sri Lanka, this means there is a huge potential market for these devices.”


CIC sells two associate firms
The Chemical Industries (Colombo) Plc (CIC) has sold its pesticide repacking and software arms, according to a filing by the company to the Colombo Stock Exchange. "Dev-Fern (Pvt) Ltd, in which we had 49 percent, was our pesticide re-packer.

Now we have terminated that agreement with them, because we wanted to go on our own," B.R.L Fernando Chairman ClC told The Sunday Times FT. He said the Software Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, was also disposed. "This will not have a material impact on the overall profitability of both the company and the group," he said.


Lanka Bell, Singer in bill settlement network deal
The extensive island-wide branch network of Singer Sri Lanka has joined the bill payment network of telecommunications giant Lanka Bell.

Cash or Credit Card payments made to any of 350 Singer outlets will now be credited to Lanka Bell subscribers’ accounts, Lanka Bell announced last week. The new arrangement will result in Lanka Bell’s bill settlement network growing to more than 2200 outlets.


NDB Bank celebrates Universal Children’s Day
NDB Bank recently celebrated Universal Children’s Day by opening NDB Bank Children Savings Accounts for 50 sight-impaired children at The School for the Sight Impaired in Ratmalana.

The accounts, each worth Rs 5,000 were opened for children between the ages of 4 –12 years. The School takes care of sight-impaired children providing them with accommodation, food and education, creating an amazing transformation in their lives. At the end of their stay, they are able to take their place in society as responsible and contributing citizens, the Bank said.

“These children come from very poor families where most of the parents are poor labourers or even unemployed and have no means to support their family,” the statement said.


Subsidiary of CBL, Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd. wins Gold Award
Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd. a subsidiary of CBL, won a Gold Award at the NAC Agri-Business Awards 2008 Ceremony of the National Agribusiness Council, held in Colombo recently.

It was held to recognise effective implementation of the backward integration programme launched with the farmers in the production of Samaposha, a company press release said. The award was presented to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd Mohan Ratwatte by Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services. This process was initiated with the involvement of more than 10,000 farmers to help the upliftment of the national agricultural industry by strengthening the social agricultural economy.

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