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Mobitel now in Jaffna

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel - The National Mobile Service Provider - inaugurated its operations in Jaffna recently, marking a watershed in the North-East.

This opening of a new and fully equipped branch is set to take Mobitel and the people of Jaffna to new dimensions/heights in mobile communication as the Northern Peninsula of the country gets connected to the rest of the world through the first class communication solutions offered by Mobitel.

The Jaffna branch is a full service, one-stop shop for Jaffna's communication needs and offers the whole range of services provided by Mobitel islandwide. Anything from a simple pre-paid connection to HSPA services are made available to the Customers.

The branch is located at No. 127, Kankasanturai Road, Jaffna and is open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekdays and 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on Saturdays for the greater convenience of customers and is staffed by professionals who are both capable and experienced and ever ready to cater to all our customers' needs.

This branch marks the beginning of a new era for the population of the North and the East as Mobitel sets out to bring the benefits of the 21st century to our brethren in the North and East.

Standard Chartered awarded

Standard Chartered Bank was recently awarded the title of Honoured Citizen - 2010 by the Chief City Administrator of the Colombo Municipal Council. This recognition is awarded to select members of the Sri Lanka's business community who have made a valuable contribution towards Colombo city's development by adhering to the city's Municipal regulations without exception and with exemplary records. Standard Chartered Bank was one of just 50 such organizations to whom this special recognition was given.

Latiff makes it to JWT's exclusive Asian list

On a regular basis, WPP invites the CEOs of its member companies to nominate a highly selective number of their people whom they believe to be of exceptionally high potential.

Following an extensive assessment, Creative Director JWT Colombo Johann Latiff was named in the exclusive Asian High Potentials list for 2009/2010.

The High Potential Group (HPG) is selected from a number of nominations from JWT's Asia Pacific offices and Latiff was one of twelve elite people who were selected as a High Potential.

This recognition earns him a WPP stock award and also makes him eligible for transfers within JWT offices worldwide.

WPP chief Martin Sorrel in a letter to Johann says "Membership is always restricted to a select few. It signifies the confidence that both your company and WPP have in your existing abilities.

Membership also signifies the faith we have in your potential to make an even greater contribution in the future. I hope that this tangible evidence of our confidence is not only welcome in itself but will also helps you maintain your optimism and momentum through what seems likely to be very testing times ahead."

Operating in tough times JWT Colombo has recorded significance within JWT's International network as its people have been recently acknowledged for major achievements and contributions. Johann's recognition is yet another boost to the company's credentials.

Commenting on his selection JWT Colombo, CEO Thayalan Bartlett said, "The HPG is primarily a development program, designed by WPP and JWT to identify and encourage each individual's personal potential.

I was encouraged to make a submission recommending Johann considering his valuable contribution and unwavering commitment to his work and JWT". Johann spearheaded JWT's record collection of Gold awards at the Chillies this year which bears testimony of his potential.

Asian Paints' 300th Colour World opens in Jaffna

Asian Paints' efforts to widen access to the company's products reached a milestone recently when the company opened its 300th ColourWorld automated tinting and dispensing unit in Jaffna.

The India-headquartered multinational coatings giant which entered the local market in 1999 now has 11 ColourWorld outlets in Jaffna peninsula, alone, and a dispensing network that covers all provinces in Sri Lanka.

The company said that services of Asian Paints ColourWorld outlets, the only fully-automated paint dispensing system in Sri Lanka, are now available in areas such as Kamburupitiya, Baduraliya, Nattandiya, Horowpothana, Yatiyantota, Anamaduwa, Embilipitiya, Kahatagasdigiliya, Batticoloa and Nochchiyagama.

The 300th ColourWorld outlet is Kathisan Hardware at Sinnakadai, Jaffna. Asian Paints Lanka Director and General Manager Joseph L. Pulikottil said: "The expansion of our ColourWorld units has allowed us to better serve customers all over Sri Lanka who enjoy a choice of multiple brands from a single dispenser and several price options to suit their requirements."

"It is appropriate that our 300th outlet was in Jaffna, an area where Asian Paints has a strong presence," he said. "We hope to open 50 more ColourWorld franchise outlets this year to serve our growing base of customers in the country."

A unique feature of the ColourWorld is that customers do not have to pay any premium for the large range of shades which are available through the automated tinting system. Most other dispensing systems charge more for custom-tinted shades.

Asian Paints' ColourWorld system enables buyers of paint to do experimental painting on buildings similar to their own on the system's computer before they decide on colour combinations.

Once the wall specifications are input, the sophisticated but user-friendly program developed by Asian Paints calculates the quantities of paint required in each shade and the machine produces and dispenses the paint.

Asian Paints customers can also paint the exteriors and interiors of their own homes by using digital camera photographs or scans of regular photographs of the areas they wish to paint, on the ColourWorld computers.

Oman Air launches full mobile and wi-fi

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, becomes the first airline in the world to offer the full connectivity suite (Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir) on its commercial widebody aircraft when it starts to unroll full mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity across its brand new Airbus A330 fleet by the middle of February.

The move will give passengers in First, Business and Economy classes the opportunity to make and receive mobile phone calls, SMS, use email and the internet and keep up to date with social networking media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Launching the new service, Oman Air's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hill, said: "We are delighted to be leading the field by bringing the digital age to in-flight passenger communications. From mid-February we will be unrolling full connectivity across our Airbus A330 fleet, completing the task in the summer.

This great new service will enrich the passenger experience and complement the stunning new interiors we are offering in all three classes of travel. For many travellers, the ability to communicate via phone, SMS, email or internet is a vital part of everyday life and staying in contact.