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Ayubowan Bollywood:

Dialog connects IIFA Weekend

IIFA Brand Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan, with Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, and Sri Lankan actress, Jacqueline Fernandez, at the launch ceremony in Colombo recently.

As Sri Lanka hosts the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, Dialog Telekom PLC will partner the Sri Lanka Government, Sri Lanka Tourism and the Economic Development Ministry in the capacity of the Connectivity partner to the Micromax IIFA Awards and the Videocon IIFA Weekend.

The IIFA Weekend and Awards is a celebration of Indian cinema, being the parallel to the 'Oscars', and a host of accompanying events featuring the who's who of Indian cinema, fashion shows, celebrity cricket match, an IIFA Film Workshop and a Global Business Forum.

Colombo, Sri Lanka joins a galaxy of high profile cities across the globe - such as London, Johannesburg, Genting Highlands Malaysia, Singapore, Amsterdam, Dubai, Yorkshire and Macan in hosting the IIFA Weekend and Awards in 2010.

Dialog Telekom, has been named the official connectivity partner to the Micromax IIFA Awards and the Videocon IIFA Weekend. Dialog's connectivity services span GSM, 3G, 3.5G HSPA mobile broadband, WiFi, and high speed data services. The Global business forum held in conjunction with the IIFA Awards will feature a host of business leaders from India and Sri Lanka.

The Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa will chair the forum. The IIFA weekend will also feature a celebrity cricket match starring Sri Lanka's cricketing idols alongside visiting Indian personalities.

In addition to extending its wide portfolio of connectivity services to the Mega international event, Dialog will connect its customers to the celebrity cricket match as well as to the glitz of Indian entertainment industry via MyTV.

Singapore Airlines:

Check-in experience simplified

Singapore Airlines customers who check in online and travel without check-in baggage now have a streamlined check-in experience, with the Airline partnering Changi Airport Group to introduce the Passenger Reconciliation System (PRS) for its flights at Terminals one and three from June 1.

Currently, customers with self-printed boarding passes are required to present their travel documents at the check-in counters for verification and endorsement. This is the case even for customers who travel without check-in baggage. Only after all documents have been verified can customers then proceed to the immigration access point.

With PRS, customers departing Changi Airport without check-in baggage can proceed directly to the immigration access point, where security officers with 2D barcode scanners will verify their self-printed boarding passes.

Customers who have visa or credit card verification requirements will, however, still need to present their documents at the check-in counters first. These customers should proceed to the designated self-service counters at Row nine in Terminal two and Row four in Terminal three.

To ensure a smooth travel experience, customers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 40 minutes before the scheduled time of departure.

Presently, close to a quarter of Singapore Airlines' customers check in online and over a third of these customers print their own boarding passes.

These numbers have increased significantly over the years.

Suncity offers Melbourne Towers

"Melbourne Towers" is a condominium apartment complex situated at Frazer Avenue, Moratuwa. Suncity Property Developers offer the buyers the opportunity to purchase high quality residential units with facilities and finishes similar to the apartment units in Colombo. The buyers are able to enjoy the luxury finishes with air-conditioned master bedroom, two bedrooms with ceiling fans, living and dinning area, servants rooms, fitted pantry, imported high quality sanitary fittings, elevators, swimming pool, roof top garden and 24-hour security services etc.

The project is conveniently located in close proximity to the railway station, bus stand, super markets and other shopping complexes, schools, police station etc.

Suncity Property Developers offer these new quality built apartments at affordable discounted prices and will be assisting in arranging bank loan facilities up to 70 percent.

Standard Chartered wins Gold:

'HRM Awards 2010 - Super 10'

Standard Chartered Bank received a Gold award at the 'HRM Awards 2010' held at the Cinnamon Grand hotel.

The Awards aim to identify and recognize outstanding human resource management practices in companies that focus on developing employees, improving business operations, and help the company to gain and sustain a competitive advantage.

Additionally, Standard Chartered received a Special Award for its outstanding Rewards and Recognition practices.

Standard Chartered strengthens brand

To sustain growth in the world's fastest growing economies:

Standard Chartered has begun a global brand campaign focused on its commitment to being a positive force in the markets where it operates across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The campaign will help to establish the bank's new brand promise, 'Here for good', underlining the bank's distinctive approach to international banking and creating a strong platform for continued growth.

Standard Chartered has delivered record income and profit for seven successive years, winning customers and market share, even during the financial crisis. The new brand promise captures the ethos that has driven this achievement, one which has remained consistent throughout the Bank's 150-year history. A simple phrase with multiple meanings, 'Here for good' sums up Standard Chartered's commitment to developing deep relationships with its clients and customers; its values, conduct and focus on sustainability; and its longevity, heritage and continued strong performance. Standard Chartered, Group Chief Executive, Peter Sands said, "Our brand is all about commitment. We are here for good, to create value for our shareholders, to support and partner our clients and customers and to make a positive contribution to the broader community. We're here for the long term. We don't run when things get tough. We don't dodge tough decisions and trade offs. This is the way we do business: it has underpinned our strategy and success for over 150 years across Asia, Africa and the Middle East; and it will be the foundation for our future."

Here for good will help reinforce stakeholders understanding about what Standard Chartered stands for and it will also serve to focus employees on what they should live up to everyday. From helping families to secure their financial future to supporting communities to create a prosperous and sustainable future, Here for good is Standard Chartered's promise and commitment.

The brand campaign will bring to life Standard Chartered's longstanding commitment to its customers, clients and communities; the bank's deep local knowledge and heritage in the world's fastest-growing economies; and its determination to build a sustainable business. The campaign, developed by advertising agency TBWA, will run globally in television, print, digital and outdoor media.

The campaign comes ahead of the bank's sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club from July 2010, which will significantly expand global awareness of the brand.

Negombo Edu Fair:

Opportunities for Negombo students

Overseas Education Information Centre (OEIC) organizes an education fair in Negombo to guide the Negombo students to choose suitable universities and colleges in UK, New Zealand, Singapore, Austria, India, Maldives, and Cyprus.

This fair will be held at Browns Beach Hotel on June 6, 2010 from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Overseas Education Information Centre (OEIC) is an International Education Consultancy with proven excellent credentials providing knowledgeable, professional and career oriented value based services to students who are looking for an opportunities to achieve their dreams.

ERI sponsors FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum

Environmental Resources Investment PLC (ERI), a listed company in the Colombo Stock Exchange, will sponsor the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum which is looked forward to with much enthusiasm and expectations by the business community and other key stakeholders in Sri Lanka.

The FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum - a highlight of the Videocon IIFA Weekend - will be held on June 4 at the Colombo Hilton amidst a gathering of over 40 Indian business leaders, local business magnates representing various industries together with key Government and public sector officials. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will deliver the key inaugural speech symbolizing the value and importance of the special relationship between India and Sri Lanka, the long-established business ties and bi-lateral cooperation.

Speakers billed to speak at the Forum are, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha, Parliament Member Dr. Shashi Tharoor, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, Chairperson and Managing Director, Jyotsna Suri, Steria Limited, Chairman and CEO, Dr. Mukesh Aghi, Micromax Informatix Limited, Business Director, Vikas Jian and Director Karan Johar among others will discuss the building of economic partnerships between India and Sri Lanka, investing and rebuilding the new North - East Sri Lanka and the future of 'cricketainment.' The Forum will include a panel discussion followed by a networking lunch.

Given the very conducive investment environment in Sri Lanka IIFA Global Business Forum holds special significance in marketing Sri Lanka's investment potential to India as well as the rest of the world. The forum will be aired by CNBC and CNN- IBC to over 46 countries.

"We are honoured to be associated with the IIFA Weekend in presenting the Global Business Forum at the Colombo Hilton which will help to position Sri Lanka as one of the most lucrative investment opportunities in the region," said Environment Resources Investment PLC Chairman Lalith Heengama. "We are happy to be partnering with IIFA in presenting an event of this magnitude to the business world," he said.

Lanka Hospitals Official Healthcare Partner for IIFA 2010

Lanka Hospitals has been appointed as the Official Healthcare Partner for the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards to be held in Colombo from June 3 - 5 this year. The signing of the MOU took place at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau last week, where Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyawardana, handed over the partnership to Lanka Hospitals CEO Lakith Peiris.

"It is an honour for Lanka Hospitals to be chosen as the Official Healthcare provider for the IIFA Weekend 2010," said Lanka Hospitals Chief Executive Officer Lakith Peiris. "We look forward to creating one of the most exciting partnerships between an international event and a healthcare organization in our inimitable spirit to set upon the task of making Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia.

The primary reason for associating with the event is that we too, as a public-quoted company whose controlling shares are owned by the government, have harnessed our resources in becoming a catalyst in positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive nation on par with international standards. Therefore this association is a result of the merging of the vision and goal of both our entities." he said.

According to Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, "Support from the private sector is essential to make this project a success and we are truly appreciative of the efforts taken by companies such as Lanka Hospitals to partner this event and provide us with much needed assistance."

IIFA 2010

Aitken Spence funds complete logistics operation:

The IIFA Awards, the celebrity charity match and the IIFA Fashion Show this week have brought in over 75 tonnes of cargo by air and 16 containers by sea. The complete cargo operation was funded by the Sri Lanka-based conglomerate, Aitken Spence.

The cargo comprises stage fittings, lighting and sound equipment, trussing, LED screens and cricket equipment of the Bollywood stars for the charity match. A chartered aircraft has been used by the organizers to airlift some of the urgent cargo from Luxembourg.

The logistics operation which is door-to-door from India to Sri Lanka will also cover post event re-export of the materials brought in to Colombo for the three events.

Aitken Spence who was chosen as the official Logistics Partner for IIFA 2010 will fund and provide the total logistics solution for the mega series of events this week. The company confirmed that the cargo which arrived in different lots during the past week or so has been a challenge.

"The operation was virtually a race against time. We handled close to eight shipments and daily air cargo during a span of about a week; all of which were required to be cleared from the port or the airport and delivered to the designated points in Colombo very quickly", said Aitken Spence Shipping Assistant Vice President Kavan Aluwihare.