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ETI records 45%increase in gross income

Edirisinghe Trust Investments Ltd (ETI) has managed a remarkable fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, with a 45 percent increase in gross income and increasing total assets up to Rs. 7.1 billion from Rs. 5.4 billion, an increase of 31.5 percent.

Fitch ratings has upgraded the company’s national long term rating from a B+(lka) to a BB-(lka) and this indicates ETI’s diligence, efficiency and stability.

The rating upgrade takes into account the Company’s strong market position and performance in its core business area of pawn broking, where depositors’ funds have been invested with over 100 per cent security. ETI attributes this success to good management practices in compulsive strategy planning.

The company’s proper management structure, supported by low risk strategies and a meticulous attention to detail, ensure that ETI invests over 70 per cent of its funds in gold or gold related activity, while 30 per cent is invested in carefully selected real estate and leasing.

ETI began business in the pawning industry over 40 years ago and in 2004 the company diversified its portfolio into areas of Leasing and Hire Purchase, Real Estate and Housing, Vehicles and Trade Finance and more recently a venture into agro products.

ETI is the flagship company of the EAP Group of Companies. EAP has been synonymous in Sri Lanka with gold and jewellery. The companies’ expertise in recent times has also extended to media and entertainment, financing, technology, import and export, alternative power, real estate and property development.

ETI is one of the fastest growing finance companies in the island with an income of over of Rs. 1 billion. The Company is also among the top five of the 34 registered finance companies.

Dialog donates Rs. 2m to Api Wenuwen Api fund

Dialog telekom PLC donated Rs. 2 million to the Api Wenuwen Api fund on behalf of their customers for the welfare of war heroes at the Ministry of Defence last Monday March 9, 2009.

The cheque was handed over to Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the Group Chief Executive of Dialog Telekom Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya.

Recently, Dialog telekom launched a special recharge card worth of Rs. 400 in which Rs.100 was credited to a special fund for the welfare of war heroes with every individual sale last month.

Nushad Perera and Pradeep Keerthirathna represented Dialog while Thivanka Jayakodi, M.M. Mohamad Isar and J.G.E Gunesekara represented the Dialog Recharge card distributors at the event.

HSBC to reward e-statement customers

HSBC launched a campaign to save paper and help reduce felling of trees, in a bid to encourage its customers to migrate from paper statements to e-statements.

The campaign which began on March 5 will continue to reward customers till April 20, once a customer registers through the Banks Personal Internet Banking service.

HSBC was one of the first banks in the country to launch this facility in 2003 for its personal banking customers and consequently the facility was made available to credit card customers in December 2007.

The promotion will reward 25 winners, with five grand prizes of two night stays on double board basis at the Heritance Kandalama. The prizes comprise a free excursion to the Eco Park. i-pods and pen drives will be awarded as consolation prizes to twenty other winners.

Head of Sales and Retail Distribution, Nadeesha Senaratne said, HSBC is today delivering on its promise to offer top quality service and innovative products. You will now be able to view your statement from the comfort of your living room, office or holiday resort, from anywhere at any time.

Our customers will be able to access their statement immediately as it is sent, through an email notification to advise that the statement is ready for viewing which will make it easier for customers to keep abreast of their account activity.

Victoria Range bungalows popular

Victoria Range Bungalows, one of the successful projects of Nivasie Developers (Pvt) Ltd which opened the Zone II recently at Digana, Kandy, have a few remaining bungalows selling fast.

The bungalows are complete with the most modern amenities and have been constructed to high quality standards by ISO 9001: 2000 certified International Construction Consortium (ICC), which won the ICTAD Construction Excellence Award in 2007 and 2008 consecutively.

Victoria Range Bungalows (a BOI approved project) are laid out in a well planned road network, with three ponds in the neighbourhood, a minimarket, a conference hall, children’s park and playground maintained through a resident committee with security at the main entrance.

Sports enthusiasts can play tennis, squash or use the gym, the swimming pool. For travellers, one can enjoy the historic city of Kandy, Victoria Dam, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya just under a few hours.

There is a range of bungalows such as Indica, Benjamina, Ebony and Tamarind each offering different levels of luxury, comfort and style.

More deals with American Express

American Express is offering cardmembers the chance to win 50,000 Nexus points as well as 50,000 Membership Rewards points each month.

“This promotion entitles all American Express cardmembers who shop at Keells Super outlets to enter the 50,000 points draw,” DGM - Sales and Marketing at Nations Trust Bank PLC, Priyantha Talwatte said.

The membership rewards program offers cardmembers in Sri Lanka the opportunity to earn one membership reward point for every Rs. 100 spent using the American Express card. Membership rewards points do not expire and may be accumulated for redemption.

Cardmembers also have the opportunity to transfer their membership rewards points to international frequent flyer program Asia Miles and to Frequent Guest programs such as Hilton Honors and Priority Club.

Points could also be redeemed at Mackinnons American Express Travel and at over 40 local merchants for dining, shopping, leisure, beauty and wellness offers and gift items. The Nexus points offered through the Keells Super Chain and the partner outlets may be redeemed at the outlet or used together with the membership rewards points.

Winners will be selected by way of a draw at the end of the promotion period, April 30, 2009.

JWT Vice President a ‘Woman of Achievement’

JWT Colombo’s Vice President and Executive Creative Director Chandini Rajaratnam was awarded the ‘Zonta Woman of Achievement 2009’ for advertising. She was one of 20 influential ladies who were recognised for their contribution in their respective fields.

Though she hails from the creative realm, she is known to strike a rare balance between distinctive creative and honed strategy, and has contributed towards the planning and sustaining of a range of multi national and indigenous brands in her career spanning 21 years.

‘Women are often labelled with the pre-conceived notion of being irrational, emotional and unpredictable. In an equal opportunity workplace we have to prove this is not so by making people judge and respect you by what you deliver and not by your gender, she said. Rajaratnam said a woman’s greatest asset is the ability to multi-task.

Our natural nurturing instinct and the eye for housekeeping detail brings a different dimension to the workplace that is a definite edge”.