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DFCC Vardhana Bank expands branch network

DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB), the everyday banking unit of the pioneer Development Bank, DFCC Bank, welcomed two vital new additions to its islandwide branch network with the opening of its latest branches in Horana and Galle last month.

DFCC Vardhana Bank is also scheduled to commence operations in Nuwara Eliya and Kalawana this month.

The Galle branch at Wakwella Road operates together with the DFCC Bank. The Horana branch is at Panadura Road, Horana. The opening of the new branches exhibits DFCC Vardhana Bank's initiative in strengthening its operations in most of the districts. The new branches offer customers a wide range of commercial banking services concurrent to those offered by all other DVB branches islandwide.

The opening of these DFCC Vardhana Bank branches are a continuation of the Bank's promise to serve the nation by making everyday banking needs of its customers as efficient as possible.

In addition, DVB offers those joining its rapidly expanding family of customers the opportunity to reap benefits from its banking services as the bank gears up to offer its services to more people throughout the country by expanding the bank's geographic network.

Donation for World Food Program

In keeping with the efforts of Corporate Social Responsibility, the Sri Lanka - Canada Business Council of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce together with its counterpart, Canada - Sri Lanka Business Council in Canada jointly donated one ton of lentils to the World Food Program at a ceremony held in WFP's conference room, Colombo recently.

Rajah Abeyasinghe, President of the Sri Lanka - Canada Business Council handed over the donation to Adnan Khan, WFP Representative and Country Director and W.K.K. Kumarasiri, Secretary, Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development. Ms. Angela Bogdan, High Commissioner of Canada was also present.

Abeyasinghe, said, "Today marks a successful collaboration to help a global effort. Both councils, the Sri Lanka - Canada Business Council and the Canada - Sri Lanka Business Council are delighted that they are in a position to collaborate in this effort. Our contribution is a direct response to an initiative taken by Ms. Bogdan. Corporate social responsibility is a concept with a growing interest around the globe. We are therefore glad to have assisted WFP in its global pursuit of food security that has become a major challenge nowadays."

The "Fill the Cup" campaign was launched in December to raise awareness and funds for feeding schoolchildren in Sri Lanka, in tandem with the worldwide campaign.

Hameedia joins Star Points network

Sri Lanka's largest rewards network, Star Points, announced its partnership with Hameedia. With the advent of the clothes retailer to the Star Points network, Dialog customers can earn and burn points at all 13 Hameedia outlets islandwide and four Adidas stores in Colombo and its suburbs.

"We are indeed proud to welcome Sri Lanka's top men's retailer to our exclusive network," said Suren Goonewardene, Group Senior Vice President, Retail Business of Dialog Telekom. "We see valuable synergies in this partnership, and are confident that both brands would gain rapidly in tandem. The Star Points scheme would complement Hameedia's exclusive clientele, and add considerable value to the retail experience," Goonewardene said.

Fouzul Hameed, Managing Director Hameedia said: "It is a pleasure to get on board the Star Points network, as it gives us the opportunity to offer more value to our customers. It has already been very well received by our customers, as evident by the success of the two promotions we held to mark our joining the network. This has the makings of a prolific partnership."

Established in 1949, Hameedia has since achieved phenomenal growth to become a household name for quality menswear in Sri Lanka today. The company hosts an array of global brands such as Le Bond, Envoy and Signature, plus, partnerships with trendy fashion and lifestyle leaders such as Raymond, Arrow and Adidas.

Star Points is Sri Lanka's largest rewards network with over 260 partner merchants and more than 750 partner outlets islandwide. All Dialog customers can earn Star Points from the merchant-partner network, which encompasses multiple retail sectors.

Star Points are redeemable at a constant face value of Re. 1 per point across the entire network.

Furniture Plus turns three

Furniture Plus (Pvt) Limited, Pamankada will celebrate its third year in business.

Managing Director, Darrel M Demotte said that they specialize in offering a complete coordination of unique designs, colours, materials; all that could be tailor-made and is suitable for the way you live every day - within the restraints of the price points one could afford and Darrel Demotte describes this concept as "quality within affordability."

"We specialize in turn-key interior solutions, that's a fusion of total living in one environment that would bring, at an affordable price, the fine art of living.

It's a theme that encompasses the total lifestyle approach to home living and office space," said Director Design and projects, Abiman Silva.

A few of the landmark interior solution projects completed by us are individual apartments at Capitol Residencies, Trillium, Ceylinco Niwasie, Victoria range, sixth Avenue apartments, Golden crescent, Crescat and the provision of Total Furniture and interior Solutions for many blue chip corporate offices including Hapag Lloyd and Port Management Container Services Office in the Aitken Spence Group.

"We use the finest hardwood as Mahogany, Teak and other class one timber on customer specifications to make your furniture dream a reality.

We have our spacious showroom in a very convenient spot with a wide selection of exclusive ideas taking shape as tables, chairs, sofas, beds, dressing tables, wardrobes and much more for dining, living and bedrooms for homes, apartments, restaurants, hotels and also office interiors," he said.

Darrel M Demotte, with an BBA and FCMA has more than 20 years' experience in the sphere of furniture and has done extensive research in the furniture trends, quality and pricing formula.

Abiman Silva, Director- Design and Projects, is an Interior Design Genius and a well-known professional counting over 15 years' experience in the industry.

Dialog unveils tariff package to India

The Dialog Telekom network unveiled a new tariff package to India, offering calls for Rs. 10 per minute to any mobile or fixed-line in the sub-continent, a media release said.

All IDD calls to India from Dialog mobiles, CDMA and IDD Calling Cards come with per second billing, giving customers the freedom to keep in touch with friends and family for as long as they like with the cheapest rates available in the market. Dialog's new IDD rates to India are unprecedented given the customary high call charges that exist in the market.

The added value to users is that the rates apply to both mobiles and fixed-lines, affording customers a hassle-free calling option.

Dialog's new IDD rates will be welcome news to the business community with partnerships in India, and for the large Sri Lankan student community there and their loved ones back home.

Women authors fly Emirates to Galle Literary Festival

Two remarkably different women authors of international fame will enliven the Galle Literary Festival (GLF) next week courtesy Emirates, a Gold sponsor of this high profile event.

Australian born Germaine Greer, one of the world's best known writers and feminist thought leaders and Vasugi V. Ganeshananthan, a New York based fiction writer and journalist with roots in Sri Lanka, have been provided with travel sponsorship to the festival by the award-winning Dubai-based international airline.

Emirates Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Chandana de Silva, said, "besides helping promote Sri Lanka as a destination for cultural tourism, the festival also provides potentially life-changing opportunities for aspiring writers and literature lovers in Sri Lanka. As the most active international carrier operating in the country, Emirates is pleased to play a role in the festival's success."

Germaine Greer arrives in Sri Lanka on 27th January from Sydney, while Ms Ganeshananthan travels from New York via Dubai to Colombo, arriving on January.

Writer, academic, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, Germaine Greer is widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century. Ganeshananthan whose family originated in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, is an alumna of Harvard College, the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she specialized in Arts and Culture.

Hair, Beauty graduation ceremony

Anuradha KODAGODA

The Ramani Fernando Sunsilk Hair and Beauty Academy graduation ceremony will be held on January 27 at the Galadari Hotel with the participation of Sri Lanka's well-known artistes and celebrities. A hairdressing and fashion show will also be held under the theme 'Inspiration flora'.

Brand Manager for Sunsilk, Unilever Saumya Perera said, " Unilever has taken the initiative to support budding entrepreneurs who have the enthusiasm of developing their career path in hairdressing and beauty culture industry.

Therefore, Sunsilk's partnership with Ramani Fernando Hair Academy is a perfect fit given that Ramani's herself is highly acclaimed for her unique and insightful approach to hairstyling and is an expert in beauty with a passion for style and technique.

Through the Academy, Sunsilk hopes to further elevate the definition of modern and contemporary hairdresser. However, Sunsilk has provided full scholarships for many graduates in this academy," she added.

"The academy is equipped with the latest products and technical equipment so that students are in the best possible position to learn about what it takes to succeed in today's demanding salon environment. Several of the 145 students who have graduated from the Academy so far, have the opportunity of working in one of our ten salons in Colombo and Kandy.

Some of the graduating students have found similar jobs and placements overseas, while many have started their own hairdressing and beauty salons," said the founder of Ramani Fernando Sunsilk Hair and Beauty Academy, Ramani Fernando.

Every year Sunsilk awards scholarships to outstanding candidates who are passionate on pursuing a career in hairdressing at the Academy.

The Ramani Fernando Sunsilk Hair and Beauty Academy is Sri Lanka's best known hairdressing and beauty school, where students are inspired to explore their passion in creativity while helping them learn the business to embark on a fun and rewarding career in the beauty and hairdressing industry.