[ADVERTORIAL]

Forestry Consultant Poyry hails Touchwood

‘Strong, unique’ business concept:

With over eleven years of experience in agro-forestry and forestry investment, Touchwood has been revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s business landscape.

Founded in 1999 as a “seedling”, Touchwood has grown to become a pioneer in forestry investment in the Asia Pacific region. The Touchwood story harkens back to Sri Lankan entrepreneur Roscoe Maloney who was inspired to act creatively to what he considered to be growing global need.

Maloney’s father-in-law, a furniture maker by trade, often complained about the rising cost and scarcity of timber and indeed it was this close to home concern that encouraged Maloney to think of an out of the box solution for not only timber supply but unmanaged deforestation in Sri Lanka.

Maloney remembered passing tree plantations in Australia where he had gone to school as a young man and wondered why lush, tropical Sri Lanka didn’t resort to tree plantations as a means to supply the demand for timber. And so inspired, an idea and a company was born.

In 2002 Touchwood was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and its Initial Public Offering was oversubscribed.

By 2004, the company had established plantations in Thailand and its holding company, which markets its products globally, was registered in Hong Kong.

A decade of inspired action and foresight later, Touchwood now yields an array of sustainable forestry products as investment opportunities to both institutional and retail investors. With over 2,500 acres of private forestry plantations that are home to high value, exotic tropical timbers, Touchwood’s client portfolio exceeds 25,000 investors, its operations spanning across eight nations. Touchwood’ vanilla plantations entered its third year of posting on-target returns to investors, approximately six plus years into the cultivation process.

Touchwood today epitomizes the very best in agro-forestry practice and is a sustainable business model that not only delivers commercial value to clients but also helps mother Earth to offset global warming through sustainable re-forestation.

Poyry, one of the largest independent forestry consultants in the world, in their assessment of the company notes, “Touchwood has a sound base for their investments...the plantations are intensively managed by well-motivated and knowledgeable staff. The company has a strong, unique concept compared to other forestry companies in the world.”

Touchwood CEO Channa Abeygunawardena said, “Future value is at the core of the Touchwood business proposition. Consumers are increasingly demanding timber from sustainable sources.

The proportion of timber harvested from old growth natural forests will decline in favour of timber from sustainable managed resources in the future. Thus, the equation put forward by Touchwood; agro-forestation = habitat control + future value is indeed a compelling proposition for the future sustenance of eco and financial assets despite economic downturns. Ours is a “bulletproof” business model that paves the way for the enhancement of our clients investments whilst simultaneously purifying mother Earth’s lungs.”

Protecting lives and assets:

AkzoNobel launches passive fire protection range

Sarath Malalasekera

“A building shall be designed and constructed so that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period. Is your building well designed to fight fire hazards?” This one simple question will help in understanding the importance and need for fire protection,” said Sri Lanka and Maldives, AkzoNobel Regional Sales Manager Isuru Gunatilaka.

To help combat cellulosic fire, mostly found in commercial buildings, AkzoNobel launches its passive fire protection range of products in the Sri Lankan market. Based on technology created for NASA, Interchar offers the construction industry significant benefits in terms of keeping buildings and their occupants safer, he said.

Gunatilaka said that above 500c (930f) steel starts to loose its structural integrity -at 600c (1112 f) steel loses 75 percent of its strength. Interchar fireproofing materials are designed to react to the heat generated during a fire and to intumesce - or to “swell up” -providing an insulating layer (also known as char) over the steel to prevent it from heating rapidly.

Steel does not burn but it does lose strength in a fire. Loss of integrity will lead to a structural failure putting both lives and assets at risk. In simple words, materials designed to prolong the life of steel by retarding the rate of heating are known as fireproofing or fire protection materials. In the case of passive fire protection, these materials remain dormant until activated by heat. The choice of fire protection materials used varies with the type of fire, which is broadly classified on the source of fuel into hydrocarbon and cellulosic fire, he said.

Developed by International Paint, AkzoNobel’s flagship protective coatings brand, Intechar is an advanced material derived from International Paint’s proven Chartek technology, which was originally developed more than 30 years ago to meet the needs of NASA’s Apollo program. Coupled with the anti - corrosion and aesthetic versatility, Interchar fire protection provides a complete solution for the building industry.

A pioneer in the manufacture of fire proofing materials, AkzoNobel is the world’s largest coatings company. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, AkzoNobel manufactures a wide range of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals.

Passionate about introducing new ideas and developing sustainable solutions, the 60,000 employees based in more than 80 countries - are committed towards excellence and delivering “Tomorrow’s Answers Today,” the Regional Sales Manager Gunatilaka said.

Sebalaneni, premieres on MTV world, New York

Sebalaneni, a musical tribute to the war heroes of Sri Lanka premiered on MTV World, New York on May 7, 2010. Tremendous significance arose from the premiere as it was the first time a Sri Lankan song was aired on MTV World. Sebalaneni, a powerful and emotional song appealing to hearts of many Sri Lankans’, was produced by Mobitel, as a tribute to the true heroes of our nation.

MTV New York, a channel devoted to music, features the most popular singers from around the world on its show. MTV has had a profound impact on the music industry and popular culture since its inception in 1981. Sebalaneni being the first Sri Lankan video to be premiered on the Music Channel, places Sri Lanka in the limelight of the music industry.

Sebalaneni was composed and sung by Ranidu Laknage.

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel CEO Suren J. Amarasekera, said. “At a time when the war in the North was at a peak, Mobitel being the National Mobile Service Provider was on the lookout for an effective means of expressing our solidarity to these contemporary heroes of our nation. We felt music would be the ideal platform for such a gesture and we identified a like minded passion for such a venture in Ranidu.

All proceeds from the song were in aid of our Ranaviru Fund and it is very heartening to know that this effort has now been recognized in the international arena as well, which in turn helps us to take this message out to our Sri Lankan diaspora as well. I would also like to congratulate Ranidu on his success with the song, and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel is truly proud to have been a part of this significant milestone”.

Sebalaneni was written by Anuradha Uduwage and the track’s moving music video was directed by Subhash Pinnapola. The track featured real army personnel in the video, portraying an act of what the battlefield looked like during war.

Ranidu Lankage, said, “This project was initiated as it was one very close to my heart. It was devoted to all those great heroes who dedicated their lives for our nation in establishing sustainable peace.

People’s Leasing Finance branch relocates

People’s Leasing Finance PLC Matugama branch will be relocated to No. 4/23, Agalawatte Road, Matugama today to provide a better service to their customers.

People’s Leasing PLC is a fully owned subsidiary of People’s Leasing and People’s Bank.