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For fifth consecutive year :

Singer crowned Brand of the Year

Singer (Sri Lanka) Chairman Hemaka Amarasooriya

Singer (Sri Lanka) was recently adjudged 'Brand of the Year' and 'Best Consumer Durables Brand', marking the fifth year in a row the company has won both awards, as well as 'Youth Brand of the Year.'

Organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, the People's Awards are a one-of-a-kind ceremony that lets the people choose their favourite brands, organizations, and personalities.

Using information gathered by the Nielsen Company, a leading market research firm globally, the awards are judged solely by Sri Lankan consumers.

Research was carried out island-wide and across different age groups and social classes, resulting in a comprehensive picture of consumer preferences.

Delmege launches Tradesman series

Black and Decker's new Tradesman Series was recently launched by Delmege Construction Products (Pvt) Ltd. The Black and Decker Tradesman series was custom-designed for carpenters, mechanics, fabricators, and construction workers, amongst others.

A subsidiary of the Delmege Group, Delmege Construction Products (Pvt) Ltd. enjoys a 15 year partnership with Black and Decker.

Delmege Construction Products, Jt. Deputy Chairman/Managing Director Anil Wijesinghe, said that they distribute and market Black and Decker power tools for the do-it-yourself segment as well as Dewalt, also manufactured by Black and Decker, for heavy industrial users.

Delmege Construction Products, Jt. Deputy Chairman Shamil Mendis, said "The company, in recognizing the predicament faced by individuals and corporations that wanted Black and Decker's superior quality but who were also keenly cost-conscious because of prevailing financial conditions, saw and met the need for a new range of Black and Decker products - the Black and Decker Tradesman Series."

When a customer purchases a Black and Decker Tradesman power tool, he gains access to the world-class excellence of Black and Decker and the superior service standards of Delmege. Delmege Construction Products, General Manager Floyd Nesarajah, said that "Value-conscious industrial and semi-industrial workers will not only get the best products for their money but will also have access to Delmege's after-sales service."

He went on to say that "The company's sales and service team has extensive experience in the power tools market and is specially trained to handle a wide range of technical issues and customer queries."

With an extensive islandwide network of over 200 dealers, Delmege will be distributing the Black and Decker Tradesman Series to customers all over Sri Lanka.

Mobitel launches SMART Loan

Mobitel SMART Pre Paid services launched SMART Loan to give SMART Pre Paid users loan facilities from Mobitel whenever they run out of credit.

This service enables SMART Pre Paid customers to obtain an advance reload on loan when out of credit which will be recovered once the account has been reloaded/recharged.

SMART Loan can be obtained by any Mobitel SMART Pre Paid customer connected for more than six months and registered in compliance with the Mobitel customer registration policy.

The loan granted is valid for a period of seven days and can be requested only when the account balance is 0 or less. A processing fee and taxes and levies will be applicable for each successful SMART Loan request.

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, CEO Suren J. Amarasekera said "It brings out the human need of keeping in touch with friends and giving a helping hand when needed. This ties in with what our company is about - truly caring about our customers."

Pears safe hands completes renovation projects

The Pears Safe Hands fund recently completed its 15th and 16th projects with the renovation of paediatric wards of Cheddikulum and Vauvniya hospitals with an approximate investment of Rs. 5.4 mn.

Vavuniya Hospital Senior House Officer Dr. Sameera Panagoda with Cheddikulum Base Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Kanagaiyan Akilan were of the opinion that the initiative undertaken by the Pears Safe Hands project to uplift the healthcare facilities in these war torn areas would be of immense help to the community at large.

The renovated and refurbished hospitals were handed over to the hospital authorities with the participation of Unilever employees, hospital personnel and representative of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians.

The Sri Lankan College of Paediatricians President Dr. Kalyani Guruge said that she hopes there will be similar projects in the near future with the collaboration of Unilever Sri Lanka Ltd and Pears to help uplift the maternal and paediatric health facilities in Sri Lanka.

EDEXCEL Territory Manager India Subcontinent Premila Paulraj with APS Managing Director Lakshman Kuruppu CEO Pearson India Vivek Goveil and Maldivian Education Minister Dr. Abdullah Nazeer with other officials at the launching ceremony. Picture by Vipula Amarasinghe

Sujatha Vidyalaya APS launches teacher training course

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Academy of Professional Studies (APS), affiliated to Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, launched "EDEXCEL Accredited Teacher Training Diploma," course in Colombo recently.

The APS was established in 1998 to provide quality educational and professional programs to discerning Sri Lankans. Since its inception, the highly reputed and acclaimed APS has been grooming the future generation with Teacher Training Diplomas, Soft Skills together with a sound knowledge of Information and Communication Technology and English to meet the challenges of the ever evolving professional trends in the modern world, said India Subcontinent Territory Manager Premila Paulraj at the launching ceremony.

Arpico Supercentre celebrates Avurudu

Arpico Supercentre, will be giving its customers prizes, special deals, and seasonal specialties. The store's "Wediyen Wediyen Labeywa" promotion includes daily mega draws from March 12 to April 18.

Arpico Supercentre will be giving away up to 700 instant gift vouchers.

Shoppers will receive their vouchers as soon as they have made their purchases, giving them the chance to use it to buy Avurudu gifts for their loved ones and family members. Customers can even purchase gift vouchers as presents, giving their friends and relatives the freedom to buy whatever they want from Arpico Supercentres this Avurudu season.

HSBC partners Keells supermarkets

HSBC tied up with Keells supermarkets to offer instant cash disbursement services, exclusively for HSBCAdvance customers.

Through this new service, HSBCAdvance customers have the distinct advantage and flexibility to collect cash personally or nominate a third party for cash collection at any Keells supermarket, located islandwide.

An HSBCAdvance customer K.J.O'Kane, who experienced the convenience of this service in Galle said "I was out of Colombo with no access to my account. "Cash Anywhere" service at the Keells supermarket gave me the much needed cash at a time of emergency. It was a great convenience to me."

HSBC Personal Financial Services Head, Sarit Wijeyekoon said, "We are happy to tie-up with Keells supermarkets to offer instant cash disbursement, as a special benefit to HSBCAdvance customers. This special service offered for the first time in the banking industry in Sri Lanka, will provide customers easy access to cash as well as facilitate cash payments to any third party, nominated by the customer making banking more convenient, while saving on travel cost and time."

Arugambay Travels reopens branch

Arugambay Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd reopened its branch office at Main Street Arugambay last week. Germany's Department of International Affairs Director Dr. Norbert Schurgers opened the new office. Dr. Ulrike Schoneberg was the Guest of Honour.

A Sri Lankan Businessman living in Germany Amano Haniffa who coordinated the tour, Arugambay Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd, Managing Director A. M. Jaufer, Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman M. S. M. Marzook, members of the local authority, Pottuvil Arugamby Development Council Chairman Ismail Atham Lebbe and several other foreign and local guests were present at the opening ceremony.

The new branch office will cater to the needs of the visiting foreign and local guests to the East by providing accurate information on travel locations, air line ticketing, arranging safari tours, hotel reservations and a host of other services.

Arugambay Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director A. M. Jaufer said that the new branch office in Arugambay will support the Government's target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016.

Dr. Schurgers said that there will be increased number of visitors travelling to the North and the East of Sri Lanka since the dawn of peace in the country. He also said that he will promote Arugambay as a tourist destination when he returns to Germany.

A gesture of gratitude by People's Merchant Bank PLC

People's Merchant Bank PLC, Managing Director Anura Wickramasingha Senior Manager Business Development Jeevana Karunasiri and Human Resources Manager Gamini Gunawardena donated walking aids to Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) President Manjulika Jayasuriya at Narahenpita Military Hospital last week.

This year the People's Merchant Bank PLC took the initiative to give back with gratitude to the brave men and women of the Sri Lankan army who were left physically handicapped during battle.

The donation of a hundred pairs of crutches worth over Rs. 200,000 will contribute towards the rehabilitation of war heroes and will be received by patients, free of charge once they are discharged from the Military Hospital.

SVAB President Jayasuriya thanked the donors for this generous gesture of goodwill and extended her appreciation towards the management and staff of People's Merchant Bank PLC.

Logiwiz receives ISO 9001:2008

Logiwiz Limited, the third-party logistics (3PL) arm of the Hayleys Advantis Group, has achieved an important milestone with its quality management systems being certified compliant with ISO 9001:2008.

Logiwiz Managing Director Omar Raban (third from left) receives the ISO 9001:2008 Certification from DNV.

The certification by DET Norske Veritas (DNV) covers the provision of 3PL services and includes a Quality Policy related to customer needs and the needs of other stakeholders.

The Quality Policy encompasses areas such as the need for customer satisfaction, continual improvement, evaluation of risk and business continuity planning, identifying resources, supply chain processes, and stakeholder management.

"The ISO certification will help Logiwiz further enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, build morale and motivation and improve internal working processes," Logiwiz, Managing Director Omar Raban said at the occasion of the awarding of the certification to Logiwiz by DNV.

"The majority of our clients are also ISO certified. The support we have received from them in going for the certification has been valuable."

He added that the certification would also act as a platform to address business priorities and corporate plans in relation to the organization's value chain and would renew emphasis on quality management while recognizing it as one of the main company goals.

Aviva NDB 'Wealth Planners' meet customers' insurance needs

AVIVA NDB Insurance (earlier known as Eagle Insurance), has transformed its nearly 3,000-strong sales force into "Wealth Planners" who are strengthened by global Aviva's expertise in insurance and the financial acumen of NDB Group. Now known as the "Team you can trust" the Wealth Planners are trained and well-equipped to meet both Life and General insurance needs of customers. This will empower AVIVA NDB's sales personnel with skills to handle the entire spectrum of insurance solutions an individual is likely to require.

The newly transformed "Wealth Planners" have been armed with world class training and guidance, building on the investments the company has made over the decades to professionalize the sales force.

AVIVA NDB Insurance, Managing Director Shah Rouf said: "Our 'Wealth Planners' are a new category in the industry and will be competent to offer the best possible advice and solutions to satisfy most financial needs of clients. Their skills will not be necessarily limited to Life and General insurance and will extend to solutions that build and protect wealth, also leveraging on the financial product range of NDB. Most importantly, now, our customers can have the advantage of a single Wealth Planner providing whatever insurance solutions they need."

The company will soon start equipping AVIVA NDB Wealth Planners with laptops. This initiative will keep them abreast of advancing technology to serve customers more efficiently and effectively as an integral part of the company's transformation. The laptops will enable the Wealth Planners to instantly design the financial solution that meets the unique needs of a customer. The technology at their fingertips will help them immensely in establishing and maintaining a sound business relationship with their customers.