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Chinese, Malaysian delegation meets FCCISL

A fifteen member strong trade delegation representing the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) met officials of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) at the FCCISL auditorium.

The Sri Lankan Team was led by President, FCCISL Kosala Wickramanayake while the Malaysian Delegation was led by Tan Sri Dato'Soong Siew Hoong.

Welcoming the Malaysian Trade Delegation Wickramanayake said that Malaysia and Sri Lanka maintain close links and the FCCISL could work very closely with ACCCIM as both organizations carry out tremendous work towards the micro, small and medium sectors.

He said that while Sri Lanka has very cordial ties with Malaysia, 20 years ago the ties were more closer when their per capita income and Sri Lankan per capita income was equal. But he conceded that now Malaysia is far ahead of Sri Lanka economically.

He said that they have arranged one to one business meetings with the Malaysian Trade delegation and hoped to obtain fruitful results.

Malaysian ACCCIM Delegation Leader, Hoong said that their organization is the strongest among the trade chambers in Malaysia. He said that the objective of the trade delegation from Malaysia is to offer to sell Malaysian products and services, offer to buy or source local products and services such as agricultural and marine products.

They would work out joint-ventures merger and acquisition with local SMEs and would seek opportunities for infrastructure, utilities, property development and other investment projects.

Just after the inaugural meeting Sri Lankan Business and Malaysian delegates, many of whom in Malaysia are either big industrialists merchants and other professions, met in one to one business sessions.

Furkhan heads ICCS

Confifi Group's Chairman Prof. M T A Furkhan took on the mantle as President of the Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries of Sri Lanka, now billed as the reviver of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Sri Lanka which has lain dormant for a few years although been in existence in Sri Lanka for over fifty years.

Having affiliated itself to the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, the oldest charter body in the UK, the ICCS, in the immediate will work on persuading the parent body to reduce the prohibitive fees charged for the UK examinations, pursuing the option of conducting examinations in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the UK body or having its own examinations set on the lines of the UK template, while also uplifting the profile of the institute and its role in the corporate sphere.

Furkhan, who is entrusted with stewardship of the body for the third time, recalls that on the last occasion too he was persuaded by the membership to assume leadership to revive the institute.

Once again, I have been entrusted with a similar task at a time the institute is in, to use the words of the current London CEO Roger Dickinson, "a parlous state."

The reason we changed the name is that we foresee the Chartered Secretary playing a much more pivotal role in the global and local corporate milieu in the current context but the importance of this title is not reflective of this. Adding the term 'corporate' to the institute's name gives the drive and focus that we want for this all important thrust person in the boardroom," he said.

Office bearers of the Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries of Sri Lanka - Council 2008/9

President Prof. M.T.A. Furkhan FCIS, Vice President Bentley Barsenbach, Secretary Chris Jeyanathan, Assistant Secretary Chandanie Weragala, Treasurer Nelumani Withana, Assistant Treasurer Malkanthi Perera, Council Member Kishan Kuruppu, Council Member B.K.D.S. Samarasinghe, Council Member S. Sudarshan, Council Member Thushara N.Jasenthuliyana, Council Member Sakunthala Dharmatilleke, Council Member Savithri Rodrigo.

Hyundai Loyalty Card launch

Hyundai Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the sole agents for brand new Hyundai vehicles in Sri Lanka, launched the Hyundai Loyalty Program and the Hyundai Loyalty Card on January 1 at the Hyundai Lanka head office at Battaramulla.

With this card a Hyundai customer will be able to acquire and redeem points at its workshop every time they come to do a service or a repair.

The points will be awarded on the basis of 1% of the invoice value. 1 point will be 1 Rupee in value.

Hyundai Loyalty Card launch

Hyundai Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the sole agents for brand new Hyundai vehicles in Sri Lanka, launched the Hyundai Loyalty Program and the Hyundai Loyalty Card on January 1 at the Hyundai Lanka head office at Battaramulla.

With this card a Hyundai customer will be able to acquire and redeem points at its workshop every time they come to do a service or a repair.

The points will be awarded on the basis of 1% of the invoice value. 1 point will be 1 Rupee in value.

Dazzling Dubai hosts its 13th Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) from January 15 to February 15 and key sponsor Emirates is offering shopaholics and leisure seekers an opportunity to be there for as little as US $ 55 a night.

The award-winning Dubai-based international airline has unveiled new three-night accommodation packages for the world's biggest shopping extravaganza, at a choice of 20 selected hotels during the month-long extravaganza.

Easily the finest festive experience in the region, the DSF attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world who are drawn by its emphasis on exclusive world-class shopping and great family entertainment.

Emirates Sales Manager in Sri Lanka Devika Ellepola said: "The sheer size, scope and flair of the DSF is phenomenal. We understand that DSF 2009 will be even bigger and better than before. This is a great opportunity for Sri Lankans to experience a world class event at amazing value for money prices."

The accommodation packages provide Emirates passengers on all classes of travel with a choice of accommodation to suit all pockets, and are for a minimum stay of three nights with the option to extend.

The price includes breakfast and personalised meet-and-assist on arrival. All accommodation-related taxes and service charges are also included.

Visitors also receive an Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack with Privilege Discount Card and an additional baggage allowance of 10 kg on their return or onward flights from Dubai.

For onward-bound passengers breaking journey in Dubai to experience the DSF, stopover charges will be waived.

To be eligible for these packages, all travel must be on Emirates-operated flights.
 

New year at Lankaputhra

Manager of the Polonnaruwa Branch of Lankaputhra Development Bank Mohan Gurusinghe accepting the first deposit for 2009.

Activities for the New Year 2009 at Lankaputhra Development Bank commenced at the auspicious hour at the Colombo Office with the Chairman of the bank, A. Sarath De Silva officiating at the ceremony.

Several customers were also present. The other branches of the bank also commenced their activities for the new year parallel to the main ceremony. Manager of the Polonnaruwa branch Mohan Gurusinghe said that they were able to open new accounts far exceeding the target set for deposits during the first day of the new year. Promotion of the Lakmuthu Children's Account was also launched alongside.

Addressing the ceremony at the Colombo branch, Chairman, A. Sarath de Silva said that the Bank was to set several new trends in 2009. Silva said that modernization of the computer system network of the Bank will be a major initiative under this programme. This will allow accounts to be updated from any branch while enabling customers to access many other services as well. He also outlined plans to set up new branches of the bank at Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Moneragala, Batticaloa and Trincomalee this year. Acting General Manager of the Bank, Ranjith Dissanayake, Chief Operations Officer, Ravi Dassanayake and other senior management officials were present at this occasion.

Oil strike halts natural gas supply to industries

Defying High Court orders, oil PSU executives stopped work forcing stoppage of natural gas supplies to industries on the nation's main trunk pipeline but aviation services and fuel supplies continued to be normal.

"The strike is total in all oil PSUs except Hindustan Petroleum.

"The strike began at 0600 hrs," Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA) President Amit Kumar said here.

Officers of Oil and Natural Gas Corp stopped natural gas supplies from the country's largest field in Mumbai offshore, forcing a shutdown of the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur pipeline.

"Gas supply pressure from ONGC fields started reducing from 0230 hrs and came to a grinding halt at 0600 hrs, forcing us to cut supplies on HVJ," GAIL Chairman U D Choubey said.

"GAIL is maintaining supplies to priority sector from the volumes already available Oil strike halts natural gas supply to industries.

PTI