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Sampath Bank empowers children

Banks know that the children of today are the customers of tomorrow. That's why they're doing what they can to make banking attractive for children and this bank decidedly is one that young children could grow up with while mastering features such as savings, managing expenses and their day-to- day dealings.

Sampath Bank - aged 22 with 122 branches serving all ages and needs all over the country has banking products for every imaginable purpose, Marketing Manager Sampath Bank Upul Navaratne Bandara told a media briefing to mark World Children's Day on October 1 and the pivotal role Sampath Bank has been playing over the years in empowering Sri Lanka's children.

Pubudu and Sapiri are two Children's Investment Accounts and Sapiri is the only savings instrument of its kind with the highest annual interest rate to a recipient at 12.5 percent. A Sapiri account could ensure a bright future for your child's tomorrow and can teach him or her about saving, responsible spending and the rewards of being frugal, he said.

In addition to making regular, automatic deposits into your children's Sapiri or Pubudu bank accounts, you can also deposit all the birthday and holiday money your child receives every year or at least a portion of it and allow them to keep a small percentage of the gift money they receive, he said.

You could then tell them you are depositing the remaining money also in their Pubudu or Sapiri savings accounts for when they get older...show them that the money so saved would certainly become handy.

Remember to include them when you make a trip to the bank.

Allow them to be part of the process so they get familiar with it and can realize just how fun and smart it is to save. Kids tend to enjoy watching their bank accounts grow, he said.

Flora walks towards healthy hearts

Flora in its commitment to a healthy diet and healthy lifestyles as the supporter of the Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Heart Walk has supported the Heart Walk for several years, in promoting awareness on heart health and this year expanded its support through unprecedented fund-raising, increased advocacy from

leadership and greater employee involvement.

Unilever employees, supplier networks, Nawaloka staff, doctors and specialists and other representatives together with many of those who want to maintain a healthy heart, laced up their sneakers to participate in the morning walk down Nawam Mawatha last Sunday. Category Leader Spreads at Unilever Sri Lanka Manojee Dabare said, "Flora is one among the Unilever Global portfolio of products that focuses on eating and living well to improve heart health. We focus not only on helping our consumers lead a healthy, active lifestyle, but also on maintaining a vibrant, heart-healthy workplace.

Supporting the Nawaloka Hospital effort to improve heart health is just one of the ways that we hope to help further this mission. We provide a stage for people to make informed choices to get the most out of life and give them the confidence that they have the power to do amazing things because they are heart healthy." As the partner of the 2009 Heart Walk, Flora also conducted a heart health counter at Nawaloka, where walkers could refuel with a selection of heart-healthy Flora snacks and be informed on healthy eating through their website www.florahearts.lk which features a Heart Age Calculator that measures the age of their heart vs their real age.

USL Foods Director Asanga Ranasinghe said. "As an advocate for healthy, active lifestyles, we are supported the fight against cardiovascular disease alongside SLHA and Nawaloka Hospital. In keeping with Unilever's mission "adding vitality to life", Flora encourages healthy, active lifestyles that lead to a healthy heart.

Go Holidays partners Ascott Group

Ascott International, recently appointed Go Holidays to represent the group in Sri Lanka. Ascott properties are in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region.

Go Holidays (Pvt) Ltd General Manager Dayalan Supramanium, said "Ascott International has incurred every expense to ensure that each residence is just right and comfortable for customer lifestyle and choice. Celebrating 25 years of excellence in the industry Ascott Group currently has about 6,000 units which are under development, making 25,000 units."

Ascott International lavishes top executives and industry leaders with services in plush refinement. Located in key cities, the properties provide efficient business support services in a luxurious and exclusive environment.

Each property is designed to serve the distinct needs of a particular lifestyle.

The traveller can choose from the spacious exclusivity and refinement of Ascott The Residence, or the warm and engaging lifestyle of the Somerset, or the vibrancy and flexibility of Citadines. Every property specifically caters to the discerning corporate traveller.

Ascott International's efforts have been recognized through awards including TTG China Travel Awards 2009 'Best Serviced Residence Operator in China', DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards 2009 'Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific', TTG Travel Awards 2008, 'Best Serviced Residence Operator', Business Traveller UK Awards 2008 'Best Serviced Residence Company', Business Traveller Asia Pacific Awards 2008 'Best Serviced Residence Brand' and 'Best Serviced Residence', and TravelWeekly (Asia) Industry Awards 2008 'Best Serviced Residence (Group)'.