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Standard Chartered launches graduate program

Training opportunities for a career in banking and finance:

The Standard Chartered Bank building in Fort.

Standard Chartered Bank is seeking new recruits for the two-year International Graduate Program (IGP) 2010, aimed at offering an extensive and exclusive training to those who wish to pursue a career in banking and finance.

“We’re looking for the best and the brightest talent in the market to join the Bank as part of our two-year International Graduate Program.

“Once on our program, you will be developed into talented managers,” said Head of Human Resources, Sri Lanka Deshika Rodrigo.

The Bank’s IG program consists of a series of rotations that provide participants a firm foundation in a career in banking and finance.

It also includes a support network such as business sponsors, a buddy program (one-on-one mentoring), line managers, a graduate program manager, as well as technical and financial training from some of the best instructors in the industry.

Further, the program provides an opportunity for participants to liaise with other international graduates from around the world and begin building a global business network.

Architect 2010:

Asian Paints offers ‘virtual painting’

Visitors to the Architect 2010 exhibition will have an opportunity to subject their own homes to a virtual makeover courtesy Asian Paints.

The company’s stall, one of the most visited at past exhibitions, will this year showcase the versatility of Asian Paints’ sophisticated Colour World interactive software, enabling members of the public to get first-hand experience of its features.

A virtually painted interior house from Asian Paints’ Colour World system.

Visitors who bring a digital image of their house on a CD or on a pen drive can have Asian Paints’ experts paint their homes virtually using the Colour World computer and receive a printout of the painted house as well as the details of the colours that have been used.

This enables visitors to decide on the best colours for their homes without spending money a company communique said.

Visitors to the stall will also have an opportunity to watch demonstrations and get ‘hands-on’ experience with Asian Paints Royale Play, the company’s ready-to-use special effects paint which is becoming increasingly popular in the Sri Lankan market.

The Architect 2010 Exhibition organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) takes place at the BMICH from the February 17 to 21.

Asian Paints Director/General Manager Joseph L. Pulikottil said: “Asian Paints has always made an extra effort to provide visitors to this exhibition with a novel and interactive experience. This exhibition is also a good platform from which to create awareness of our unique products and services.”

“This year’s effort is to give prospective customers the confidence to try different colours on the exterior and interior walls of their homes and have visuals of how they would look,” he said.

Asian Paints will also showcase the company’s premium paint products including ‘Royale’ Luxury Emulsion and the unique weather-resistant exterior emulsion paint Weathertuff Ultima at this year’s exhibition.

Nawaloka introduces Elasticity Imaging

For accurate and painless breast cancer detection:

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC has taken a major step towards accurately and painlessly detecting malignant breast cancer tumours by introducing Sri Lanka’s first Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging machine, which has the remarkable ability to differentiate between benign and malignant growths.

Elasticity Imaging

Women can now avoid unnecessary and painful breast biopsies with this dynamic and highly selective technique known as Elasticity Imaging or Elastography, which measures the elastic properties of tissue by exploiting the basic characteristic of malignant (cancerous) tumours being harder in terms of mass when compared with benign (non cancerous) tumours. In a technique very similar to the regular ultrasound scan, ultrasound images are taken to measure tissue stiffness and hard growths are separated from soft growths, painlessly and unobtrusively. The results are 100 percent accurate and immediately available.

Elasticity Imaging is a major breakthrough in the long quest for simpler, safer and more efficient tools for breast cancer detection. Although a highly advanced procedure, it is fast and painless. A senior Nawaloka Hospitals official said, “This technology has great importance, given the increased incidence of screening abnormalities picked up on breast ultrasound scans. We can now decrease the biopsy rate in benign growths.

Also, most women dread having mammogram, ‘though of course they realize the need for them. Breast biopsies are even more painful- even with minimally invasive techniques, the doctor must guide a needle to the spot to identify the lump before inserting small blades for obtaining samples of the tissue. The breast is then bandaged for about a week. This traumatic process is further exacerbated by a tense wait for results, with the patient agonizing over the possibility of bad news. In actual fact, 80 percent of growths turn out to be benign or non cancerous.”

To perform the scan, the radiologist moves the ultrasound handpiece, known as a transducer, over the affected area. The extremely sensitive system records two images, the first, a standard ultrasound picture, which is followed by an image known as an elastrogram, which is displayed on the adjoining monitor.

Softer tissue, which moves when pressure is gently applied, shows white on the elastrogram, while harder, non yielding tissue indicates black in colour. As a result, a benign lump appears smaller on the elastrogram while a malignant lump appears larger. A simple comparison of the two images is needed to determine suspicious lumps.

Asian Alliance Insurance PLC:

Top Ten Congress 2009

The ‘Top Ten Congress 2009’ of Asian Alliance Insurance PLC was held with the participation of over 200 Sales Advisors from all regions. The congress was held at MAS Auditorium, Thulhiriya.

The award winning sales advisors with Asian Alliance Insurance PLC Director/CEO Ramal Jasinghe

This is an annual event of Asian Alliance where the Life Division shares their plans and strategies for the upcoming year.

The event was held under the theme of “Celebrations 2009”.

Asian Alliance Director/CEO Ramal G. Jasinghe was the Chief Guest whilst the Executive Committee together with the Senior Management of AAI participated.

Zonal Manager - Panadura Kapila Suriyaarachchi commenced this glamorous event of rewarding the achievements of true professionals with his welcome note. Deputy General Manager - Training and Knowledge Management Leelaratne Piyasena, educated the sales force on the importance of personal organization in order to be successful in today’s competitive business environment. He said that time management, record keeping, ethical work habits and prospecting are few of the key aspects in becoming a top performer. The Sales Force greatly appreciated Piyasena’s contribution to enhance their skills and knowledge, which added value to the professionals who were present.

General Manager - Sales and Marketing Chula Hettiarachchi spoke on the challenges the company faced during the year, and paid his tribute to the Life Sales Force of AAI for their tremendous contribution towards the company. He also shared the future plans which will steer the company towards achieving its objectives in 2010.

For B777-200 Aircraft:

Singapore Airlines new cabin products

Singapore Airlines will be introducing new cabin products on some of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft from later this month.

A total of 11 B777-200s will be refitted with the Airline’s most recent cabin offerings, to provide additional space, comfort and greater product consistency across the fleet. The refitted B777-200s will be configured with 38 Business Class and 228 Economy Class seats.

Business Class will feature a genuine leather, incline lie-flat seat in a modern design. Also found on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 aircraft, it has a personal partition and advanced control panel that enables the customer to personalize seating preferences or select from various preset options. A six-way adjustable headrest and lumbar support will provide maximum ergonomic support for a more comfortable rest.

The Economy Class cabin will be refurbished with a new contemporary look. Seat covers, designed by Givenchy, will feature soothing colours as well as richer and softer fabrics, similar to those found on Singapore Airlines’ new Airbus A380 and B777-300ER aircraft.

Enhancements will also be made to Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, for better Audio-Video On Demand features in both cabin classes, such as a more intuitive and user-friendly graphical interface.

Business Class seats will feature larger 15.4-inch screens, while screens in Economy Class will be increased to nine inches later this year.

UTE introduces Bitelli Asphalt Pavers

United Tractor and Equipment (UTE) sole agents in Sri Lanka for Caterpillar handed over two Bitelli Asphalt Pavers to the Sri Lanka Road Development Authority. Bitelli, an Italian Manufacturing company, is a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc.

Typical applications of these pavers include paving of city streets, town centers, parking lots, industrial sites resurfacing projects as well as maintenance and repair work.

Now that the focus for development will be shifting to road construction, UTE with Caterpillar have the right combination of equipment solutions for efficient and effective road building, said General Manager, Machine Sales Janak Edirisinghe.

UTE are the sole agents for Bitelli in Sri Lanka.