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Singer deploys Disaster Recovery ICT solution

With Dialog Enterprise:

Singer Sri Lanka recently entered into a partnership with Dialog Enterprise. Dialog Enterprise, an integrated business division of Dialog Telekom PLC, to deploy a disaster recovery ICT solution using Dialog Enterprise Data Centre infrastructure and fourth generation Wimax technology.

AS part of this tie-up, Singer’s mission critical sales and financial enterprise resource planning ERP applications have been co-located at the Dialog Enterprise Data Centre along with Its IBM servers.

Chief Financial Officer of Dialog Broadband Networks Mohan Villavarayan (fourth from left) and Director IT Singer Ajith Paranavitane exchanging documents. Also in the picture are Asst Manager Sales - Dialog Enterprise Rohitha Perera, Chief Manager Business Solutions - Dialog Enterprise Channa Amarasekara, General Manager - Group Key Accounts, Market Development at Dialog Enterprise Ramanan, Devairakam, Group Manager IT - Singer Kapila Perera, Network Administrator - Singer Damitha Serasinghe and Manager IT Thanuja Seneviratne

This helps Singer to have zero down time of its mission critical EPR and financial applications while offering superior customer service at its centers.

This tie-up facilitates smooth business continuity for Singer Sri Lanka together with greater customer satisfaction in the event of a disaster situation.

The solution also provides speedy and efficient connectivity between the Singer Data Centre at Union Place, the Dialog Enterprise Disaster Recovery Facility and Singer’s remote offices via WIMAX technology.

General Manager Dialog Enterprise Ramanan Divairakam said that this was a strategic win for Dialog Enterprise with Singer being one of the top brands in Sri Lanka. Not only does this tie-up facilitate business continuity and efficient connectivity, it is also a very cost effective solution with one supplier for all services.

“This is again yet another triumph for Dialog Enterprise and endorses our ability to cater to the changing demands of our customers.

We are firmly convinced that our advanced technology resources enable us to meet these diverse demands. We are also very positive that our ICT solutions will not only deliver value results to Singer’s thousands of customers, but also be totally cost effective in the long run”, he said.

Director IT at Singer Sri Lanka Ajith Paranawitharana said, “Dialog Enterprise was the obvious choice when it came to choosing an ICT partner for an ambitious project of this nature.

I am confident that Dialog’s coverage on WIMAX, its technology expertise and commitment to investing in cutting edge ICT infrastructure, will contribute to the ultimate success of this partnership,” he said.

Dialog Enterprise offers seamless fixed and mobile connectivity solutions to large, medium, and small enterprise customers. Its multi sensory connectivity and ICT solution offerings help Sri Lankan enterprises improve their competitiveness and gain profitability through productivity and cost savings.

Chillies 2009 finalists

This year’s edition of the Sri Lanka Advertising Awards, the Chillies 2009, will conclude its official schedule with the Chillies 2009 Finalists Exhibition - the showcase of all the entries which have been shortlisted for awards.

As per the Metal Tally points system introduced this year, each finalist will have earned one point towards their final tally revealed at the Chillies 2009 Ad Awards on Saturday, May 2, from 6.00 p.m. at SLECC.

Meanwhile, the Chillies 2009 Finalists Exhibition may be viewed free by the public daily till Thursday, April 30, between 10.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m, at the Taj Samudra Colombo.

Viewers at the exhibition

Sponsors and partners for Sri Lanka’s still most popular awards show include: Platinum Sponsors, Hiru FM and Gold FM, ITN, and the Sunday Times and the Daily Mirror; Gold Sponsor, Taj Samudra; Silver Sponsor, Sri Lanka Telecom; Official Beverage, Coca Cola; Official Airline, SriLankan; Official Printer, Graphitec; Official Office Equipment, John Keells Office Automation; Official Audio Visual, Pan Audio; Official Event Management, Antwork/Dynamix; Official Venue, Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC); Official Paper Supplier, Metropolitan; and Official Partners, Shift Solutions and Dimension X.

Chillies Week 2009, which was launched with a “Brief to a Grand Prix”, a workshop conducted by Cannes Lion Grand Prix winner Agnello Dias, on April 20, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., at the Longdon Room, continued with “Creativity in Two Worlds”, a seminar conducted jointly by creative powerhouses, Dentsu Japan’s Masako Okamura and JWT India’s Senthil Kumar, on April 21, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the Upper Crystal Room.

The ever-popular Judges Forum - Print and TV on Wednesday, April 22, from 7.00 p.m. and the Judges Forum - Radio and Non Traditional Media on Thursday, April 23 from 7.00 p.m., both at the Upper Crystal Room.

Final learning opportunities included “It doesn’t have to be an Ad”, a workshop conducted by former ECD TBWA/ Tequila Singapore and Creative Integrator for Asia, Graham Kelly, on Friday, April 24, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., at the Regency Room, and a seminar on “Creativity in tough times”, also by Graham Kelly, on Friday, April 24, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the Upper Crystal Room the Chillies Week 2009 concluded with the 2009 Finalists Exhibition yesterday at On Golden Pond.

This will be followed by the Chillies 2009 Main Event, on Saturday, May 2, from 6.00 p.m. at SLECC. All events, except for the Chillies 2009 Main Event at SLECC, are held at Taj Samudra, the official Chillies 2009 partner hotel.

‘Good things Come in Pairs’ with American Express

American Express the credit card acquired and issued in Sri Lanka solely by Nations Trust Bank PLC joined their partner John Keells Hotels to offer Cardmembers and their families a value added benefit for the holiday season and the forthcoming long weekends.

Titled ‘Good things Come in Pairs’, the exciting benefit allows Cardmembers and their families and friends to stay at any John Keells Hotels on full-board or half-board on either single, double or triple room basis, and enjoy the second night completely free of charge.

This benefit offers a one-for-one offer, which means that for every one night booked, the next night is free, for every two nights booked the Cardmember will enjoy a further two nights at no additional cost, and so on. Additional rooms booked by the Cardmember for his group of family or friends will be offered at a 20 percent discount.

Chief Manager Cards and Consumer Assets at Nations Trust Bank PLC, Lewie Diasz said, “We are delighted to give our Cardmembers a value filled opportunity to stay at some of the finest resorts in the country.

Cardmembers have the option of choosing from the cool climes of the historic city of Kandy at the Citadel, or check out the leopards and other wildlife at the Yala Village, enjoy the splendour of the dry zone and the resplendent sighting of the elephants in Habarana at either the Lodge Habarana or the Chaaya Village, explore the natural harbour and miles of golden beaches at Club Oceanic Trincomalee, discover the magic of world renown architect Bawa at the Bentota Beach Hotel that has been built in and within the old Dutch fort or simply kick back and enjoy the spray of the ocean and the off shore entertainment at Coral Gardens Hikkaduwa.

Ceylinco Life launches second retirement planning month

Ceylinco Life will be launching its second Retirement Planning Month in a continuation of an effort begun last year to promote retirement planning in Sri Lanka.

To be observed from May 1-31, the second Retirement Planning Month will be preceded by mass media campaign focusing on the need for retirement planning, targeting existing policyholders and the working community in general.

A special feature of this year’s Retirement Planning Month is that anyone who buys a Ceylinco Retirement Account (CRA) during this period or those who increase the value of their accounts during the month of May will automatically qualify for a draw at which ten Singapore holiday packages will be presented. These packages will include air tickets and accommodation for three days.

During the Retirement Planning month, nearly 5000 Ceylinco Life personnel will be deployed islandwide to discuss retirement planning with potential customers.