ADVERTORIAL

Hyundai Sonata 2011 comes on top

‘Executive Sedan Shootout’:

The $25,000 Executive Sedan Shootout was sponsored by USA Today, auto shopping and information site Cars.com and PBS’ Motor Week TV auto magazine.

A real family, company executives and media experts evaluate what an American family/company executive can get in a new sedan at a price under US$ 25,000.

The Shootout sedans were rated in 10 categories by the family, five Company Executives and six journalists.

The family rating was adjusted to count for 40 percent of each final score.

Half the categories had to do with the package: styling, interior trim, space, features. The other half were based on how the cars drove: acceleration, braking, shifting Eight automakers participated in the Shootout, providing family/Executive sedans with sticker prices of $25,000 or less, before destination charges. Each car was equipped with what the company thought was its best configuration for that price.

All the cars were driven on prescribed routes covering California freeways and suburban streets in and around Pasadena and Irwin dale.

Common-sense shoppers would call all the entries midsize, though the Hyundai Sonata and the Honda Accord edge — by tenths of a cubic foot — into the range of interior volume the Government classifies as full-size. Not among the contenders is Volkswagen’s Passat, which starts at about $2,000 above the Shootout’s price ceiling.

Subaru’s Legacy starts at about $21,000 and would have been a natural, but Subaru said it could not come up with a car in its current U.S. company fleet that met the price target.

Chrysler and Mitsubishi declined to take part. All cars had four-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions.

To Sirasa Super Star winner:

NDB gifts vehicle

Shanika Madumali Ratnayake from Polgahawela, the winner of the musical reality show, Sirasa Super Star Season three, walked away with the grand prize of a brand new vehicle, sponsored by the Official Banker of the show, NDB Bank.

NDB Bank has partnered the musical reality show since 2009 as a result of the banks’ aim to promote and empower up-and-coming Sri Lankan youth and talent. The bank believes that the Sirasa Super Star competition uplifts Sri Lankan talent and brings them to the limelight by providing an unimaginable opportunity to perform in front of thousands of Sri Lankans. Sirasa Super Star, which concluded its third season on Saturday 8th May, has over the years brought numerous talented youth into the spotlight.

The keys to the vehicle were officially handed over to Shanika Madumali Ratnayake by the NDB Bank Chief Executive Officer, Russel De Mel who said, “Being a bank that has always been dedicated towards empowering the youth of Sri Lanka, we felt that Sirasa Super Star was the ideal program to partner, to fulfill the bank’s aim to develop and empower Sri Lankan youth.

It gave NDB Bank the opportunity to make a positive change in Sri Lankan lives, while changing the lifestyle of up and coming youth.

Coca-Cola launches Coke Ekka Talk promotion

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited launched ‘Under the Crown’ promotion or ‘Coke Ekka Talk’ (Talk with Coke). Coca-Cola beverages’ users can now win reloads for their mobile phones by looking under the yellow promotional crown or closure of any Coca-Cola product they purchase.

This promotion encompasses all the beverages in the Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited portfolio. Coca-Cola will give away Rs.10 miliion worth of reloads in total from May 1 to July 15.

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited Country Marketing Manager, Dusty Alahakoon said, “At Coca-Cola, we are constantly trying to innovate and offer customers maximum value for their loyalty to our wide range of beverages.

The Coke Ekka Talk promotion is unique because it makes it simple to win and has no hidden surprises for customers. The more Coca-Cola beverages they drink - the more they will win. The offer for free reloads will ease the burden on consumers who can now talk at length with their loved ones and open happiness into their lives.

We are confident that this promotion will attract a record number of participants who will appreciate the uniqueness and simplicity of this genuine offer.”

The attractive feature of this promotion is that only bottles with yellow promotional crown or closure are eligible for this promotion, making it easy to identify the winning bottle.

This promotion applies to prepaid customers who will receive the credit within 24 hours. As for post paid customers, the winnings will be credited to their next billing cycle.

The attractive feature of this promotion is that participants can sms from any mobile service provider, namely, Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalat, Airtel or Hutch, offering easy access to each and everyone. HSenid Mobile has provided the technical expertise to enable this innovative promotion.

Commercial Bank goes to Manipay

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently opened a branch in Manipay, expanding its presence in Jaffna.

The new branch is located on Jaffna Road, Manipay in a spacious building with ample parking facilities.

The Manipay branch is linked to 174 Commercial Bank branches and Supermarket Banking counters islandwide permitting online real-time banking. It is also equipped with two ATMs linked to the 360 ATMs of Commercial Bank and over one million ATMs belonging to the Cirrus (Mastercard network) and Visa networks worldwide.

HSBC Sri Lanka wins Regional Environment Award

HSBC Sri Lanka was recently awarded the Corporate Sustainability Excellence Award under the “Environmental Footprint Management” category for obtaining ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System Certification, for the HSBC Premier Centre, on Flower road, at HSBC’s ‘Awards for Excellence’, regional awards ceremony held in Hong Kong.

HSBC’s Premier Centre was declared a ‘Green Office’ in March 2009, having obtained the ISO 14001:2004, one of the world’s most stringent environmental management Systems (EMS). This has made HSBC the first financial organization in the country to be accredited with this standard.

Representing the local office, HSBC Sri Lanka Communications and Corporate Sustainability Group Marketing Head Nilantha Bastian accepted the award presented by HSBC Asia Pacific CEO Peter Wong at the ‘Awards for Excellence’ held in Hong Kong recently.

The Asia Pacific regional awards was an event held to recognize and award countries who have implemented the best corporate sustainability projects within the region. In obtaining this award, the HSBC Premier further demonstrates its commitment to the bank’s environment policy by setting the stage for better use of energy and resources.

As a follow up to this, the bank has also taken steps to obtain the ISO 14001:2004 Certification for its Maldives Branch and has also implemented some best practices within its local branches in Sri Lanka.

CBL launches Nutriplus

Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) has launched an energy and nutrition packed cereal bar. Nutriline’s Nutriplus cereal bar, pocket sized and in a pillow pouch is already in supermarkets. Nutriplus is the newest addition to brand Nutriline. Made with locally produced green gram, rice, corn, soya, as well as raisins and glucose, Nutriline Nutriplus is economically priced.

“Today’s school going children are engaged in several activities starting early morning prior to school, then continue with further activities and tuition till late in the evening” said CBL Foods Ltd, Managing Director Susantha Gunawardene a subsidiary company of Ceylon Biscuits.

Gunawardene said that consumers want easy and affordable access to wholesome snacks. There is a growing consumer demand for breakfast cereals”, and we are leveraging on the consumer expectations of a wholesome snack that fits into the pocket which can be consumed anywhere and anytime, while providing the added nutrition that children and adults require to get on with their busy schedules day after day. Nutriplus cereal bar was the result of our assessment of consumer need, of wanting nutrition for children, delivered quickly and conveniently” he said.