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Account holders could obtain 75 per cent of their average savings:

NDB Vishmitha savings go for interest free loans

BLAZING a pioneering trail in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, the NDB launched a unique Savings Account named “Vishmitha”, which offers account holders a totally interest free loan of up to 75 per cent of the average savings balance maintained in the account, once in every 12 months.

Deputy Chief Executive of the NDB, Eran Wickramaratne said that this first-of-its-kind savings account is designed to support the savings habit among the Sri Lankan populace and give it a totally vibrant new dimension.

“We’re endowing the traditional Savings Account with a revolutionary feature of interest free loans which appeals to a massive slice of the masses who still continue to have an unwavering trust in Savings Accounts as their main thrift instrument”.

This account permits its account holders to obtain 75 per cent of their average savings balance as an interest free loan once in every 12 months. These loans can be used for any purpose with no reasons required to be given to the bank.

In fact the higher the account balance, the higher the loan option, while the available savings balance receives full interest even while the loan remains outstanding.

With its comparatively high interest rate of 7 per cent paid on the daily balance, the “Vishmitha” savings account comes with an attractive Pass Book. It also offers an ATM/ Debit Card free of charge, thus enabling customers to withdraw at any of Sri Lanka’s more than 1000 VISA ATMs, with no withdrawal free incurred.

Customers can open a ‘Vishmitha’ account with a norminal amount at any NDB branch islandwide and with no restrictions on the number of withdrawals permitted.

The loan can be requested by making a simple request by letter, e-mail, fax or by filling up a loan application form at any NDB branch and is repayable in 12 equal monthly instalments by depositing money into the savings account.

The minimum loan one can apply for is Rs. 5000. If one has obtained a loan against the savings account, an amount equivalent to the average balance will be held under lien until the loan is fully settled. The same account can be operated over under lien amount to carry out usual transactions.

Wickramaratne further said that the ‘Vishmitha’ is the ideal savings instrument for young executives and professionals, government sector employees and even housewives.

“Such an account is also ideal for receiving salary payments since float balances contribute to increase the average account balance.

These Account holders can physically plan their spending patterns so as to ensure a higher balance at all times thus qualifying for a higher Interest Free Loan than they normally would be entitled to. Parallely since all benefits are only linked to the savings growth, the saving objective is not compromised in any manner”.

Unilever Sunlight Saubhagya Scholarship Awards

SUNLIGHT the lea-ding brand of Unilever Sri Lanka is the market leader within the laundry soap category accounting for over 77 per cent of market share. Sunlight has touched the hearts of many a Sri Lankan in numerous ways, adding vitality and a ray of sunshine to life.

No doubt the trust and confidence of its consumers has played a key role in the success of the brand. This was made further evident when Sunlight was awarded The Most Popular FMCG Brand of The Year for the 2nd consecutive year at the People’s Awards 2007.

Sunlight has over the years gone beyond the functional space of giving homes and communities a clean fresh wash. The brand which has grown to become a household name and an icon so to speak has reached out and touched communities and people of diverse ages, races and cultures.

Clean water and Sunlight have given many housewives a reason to smile and has given millions of Sri Lankans and spring in their step as they step out daily in pursuit of their jobs, careers and dreams.

Many wells have been constructed in remote villages, giving those communities and schools an opportunity to experience the freshness of clean water and sunlight in their lives.

Not only have these projects helped to improve the overall standard of lives of people but it has also become a source of strength and encouragement.

One such project undertaken by Unilever Sri Lanka in the recent past is “Sunlight Saubhagya” which focuses on harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit among rural women.

This project empowers women by providing them an opportunity to generate a sustainable income and thereby enhance the quality of lives of their families. This project which commenced in January 2003 now has over 3500 participants and has become popular all across the country.

Whilst enhancing the lives of the participants and their families, this project also aims to extend the benefits to the community.

As such, individuals living in the vicinity will also benefit from the community development activities that take place including building of community centres, wells, libraries etc.

In recognition of these services to the community, this project is also supported at a national level by the Ministry of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation.

Moreover, recognising that children are our future, Sunlight also launched “Sunlight Saubhagya Scholarship Awards” which focuses on highlighting and nurturing talents of children of the women entrepreneurs under the Saubhagya scheme, providing them with a helping hand to brighten their future.

Hayleys and Fujifilm exhibition on Sept.28

GLOBAL PHOTO imaging leader Fujifilm and the brand’s Sri Lankan partner Hayleys Consumer Products Limited (HCPL) will emphatically demonstrate their leadership in and commitment to the local market at the upcoming ‘Image Today’ exhibition in Colombo.

As ‘Golden Sponsor’ for this bi-annual international exhibition for the photography and advertising industries, HCPL will display and demonstrate some of the latest digital cameras and digital photo centres and give visitors a glimpse into the latest Fujifilm Frontier Series digital minilab that is to be launched in Sri Lanka shortly. Image Today takes place at the BMICH from 28th to 30th September.

Hayleys Consumer has taken 16 of the 48 stalls in the area designated for Photography at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre adjacent to the BMICH and has invited four top notch professional photographers to conduct free workshops for visitors at its giant Fujifilm stall.

“We believe that our leadership in the local photo imaging market makes it incumbent on us to play a lead role in promoting the art of photography at events like this,” said, Head of Photo Imaging at HCPL Selvaratnam Nimal. “A visit to Image Today will make it clear what makes Fujifilm the market leader in Sri Lanka.”

In a further demonstration of Fujifilm’s commitment to the country, two senior representatives of Fujifilm Regional Services in Singapore, Regional Marketing Advisor Masato Yamamoto and General Manager Technical Shuji Mohri will be in Sri Lanka especially to be present at the stall to meet visitors, he said.

One of the highlights of the exhibition will be the launch of some of the newest models of Fujifilm digital cameras led by the FinePix S5 Pro, an ultrahigh resolution digital camera built for the severe conditions of professional photography.

The camera represents a fusion of Fujifilm’s CCD SR Pro and RP (Real Photo) Processor Pro features into Real Photo Technology ProT, the ultimate image quality technology.

Hayleys Consumer will also offer visitors to the stall an opportunity to purchase cameras, accessories and other equipment at special prices, Nimal said.