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NCUK International Foundation Year and International Diploma:

ANC launches new courses

The American National College together with the Northern Consortium United Kingdom (NCUK) has a International Foundation Year (IFY) an equivalent qualification to A/L which provides access to more than 2000 courses in a total of 20 of the best UK universities. These include well known research specialist institutions such as Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds as well as employment and professionally focused universities such as Manchester Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam. This Foundation course has been developed and refined over a period of 20 years and applies the rigorous standards required by the UK Government's National Qualifications Framework at Level three (the same level as "A" levels).

This special Extended International Foundation is run over 39 weeks and is made available to students who have completed their "0" levels. It has a total of 11 modules, plus English for Academic Purposes (EAP) as well as study skills. Students are required to take EAP and study skills and then choose three additional modules according to the academic discipline they wish to take at university.

NCUK has also developed an International Diploma (Int. Dip), which is equivalent to Year One of university studies and is accepted by all 11 of the member UK universities such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Salford, Sheffield Hallam, Huddersfield, Manchester Metropolitan, Leeds Metropolitan and Liverpool John Moores for direct entry to Year Two of selected undergraduate degree courses.

The International Diploma is available in two degree pathways: Engineering, Business and Accounting / Finance. More than 650 degree options await students who have completed the Int. Dip in one year from "A" levels or from the IFY

NCUK has teamed up with ANC a well known and long established University College, Which has being delivering these UK university programs for the last two years and has successfully transferred two batches to NCUK member and partner universities. ANC UK has been further strengthened due to the presence of a new Academic Manager, a renowned Engineering Professor with wide international experience.

Students who wish to specialise in pathways offered at Int. Dip level are able to stay in Sri Lanka for two years after "0" levels before proceeding to the UK for just two more years to complete their BA/BSc/BEng degrees. IFY students in other areas can gain entry to UK universities after just one year from "0" levels. Because of the much smaller class sizes at ANC students are also given individual attention while still getting the necessary skills to complete their studies in the UK.

New appointments at Phoenix Ogilvy

A recent number of high profile internal promotions at Phoenix Ogilvy set the stage, as the agency yet again, reaffirmed its commitment to partner brands and the watchwords of David Ogilvy himself, "we sell or else."

Industry veterans Uma Rajamantri and Lalith Sumanasiri lead the appointments, as they ascend as Joint Managing Directors, Ogilvy Media, set to take forward the premier media AOR in the island. Whilst Sudesh Sundhara Moorthy takes on the reins as Director, Operations, he will be complemented by Shani Karunaratne, who takes the helm as Director, Client Servicing.

Joining Phoenix Ogilvy from O and M Bangalore is Siddhartha Roy, as Director, Planning. Sid, a master in his field, will add value as he brings to the table, the planning component across all brands handled by the agency. Completing the list is Adrian Selvadurai, who rises as Associate Director, Ogilvy Media.

Uma and Lalith - Joint Managing Directors, Ogilvy Media

Having joined Ogilvy Media as a Media Executive, Uma Rajamantri counts 24 years of dedicated service to the agency and over the years has built up a reputation of being one of the most resourceful and influential people in her field. Uma's credentials include having followed a Specialization Course in Media Strategy and Planning at the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad.

Over the last 11 years, Lalith Sumanasiri has proven himself to be one of the most prominent personalities in the local media landscape. Lalith possesses an MBA from the University of Colombo and a BSc. in Marketing Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in addition to being a Certified Professional Marketer. To date, Lalith continues to be a Visiting Lecturer at both the Colombo and Kelaniya Universities in addition to being a Guest Lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Lalith alongside Uma, have been responsible for positioning Ogilvy Media as one of the most eminent and respected media AORs in the island.

Sudhesh - Director, Operations

Sudesh Sundhara Moorthy possesses 12 years of experience in the fields of advertising and brand building. Sudesh's qualifications, that include an MBA and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing, in addition to a broad gamut of industry know how, has even resulted in a duo of brands overseen by him, be recognized for Effie awards.

Despite early intentions of becoming a missionary, Sudesh's career path has given him the pleasure of handling brands such as Coke, IBM, Kodak, Cadbury and Sri Lanka Tourism. Today, Sudesh continues to follow old fashioned work ethics coupled with a modern day, approach and attitude to his work.

Shani - Director, Client Servicing

Shani Karunaratne, counts 13 years of experience in the industry. With a broad depth, of globally acquired service related training, Shani has previously been a brand steward for big industry players that include Dialog Telekom, Hemas Manufacturing, Kodak and most recently Nestle Lanka.

Shani, who is passionate about brands, is always keen on taking up the challenges involved and approaches her day-to-day tasks in a manner, that delivers results, ten out of ten times.

Sid Roy - Director, Planning

Joining Phoenix from across the shores is Sid Roy, who after majoring in Chemistry from Kolkata University, succumbed to the media bug and followed a Post Graduate qualification in Mass Communication, from the Xavier Institute of Communication, Bombay.

Over the last eight years, with the Ogilvy family, Sid has been a part of a number of major campaigns recognized for their marketing effectiveness, across a diverse range of categories including, telecom, retail and FMCG.

Besides his self confessed love for music, movies and travel, Sid who is on his first quarter at Phoenix, intends to supplement its creative output with incisive strategic thinking, which will serve to further augment the agency's stature.

Adrian - Associate Director, Ogilvy Media

In his third year at Ogilvy Media is Adrian Selvadurai, who is currently responsible for the Coke and Hemas AORs, in addition to being the media Team Leader for Ceylinco and NDB.

Adrian counts 13 years of experience in the media field with extensive network training.

Chairman, Irvin Weerackody commenting on the recent appointments said: "These new positions will in turn, lead to a greater devolution of responsibilities. These are some of the smartest people in the industry and they will now begin to hold the reins."

First cervical cancer vaccine in Sri Lanka:

GlaxoSmithKline launches Cervarix

Indunil HEWAGE

GlaxoSmithKline has launched the first cervical cancer vaccine named Cervarix in Sri Lanka, that can prevent the most common types of cervical cancer.

Cervarix is the first vaccine for cervical cancer to become available in Sri Lanka. It has been approved in 110 countries, and is being used in immunization programs in six countries including the UK and the Netherlands.

This is acting as a preventive vaccine. Cervical cancer is considered as a global disease and the second leading cancer among women in Sri Lanka.

Janashakthi expedites flood-related claims

Janashakthi Insurance has received over 400 flood related claims so far since the onslaught of the torrential rains. The total amounts to approximately Rs 150 million.

Of these, 300 were motor claims, while the balance 100 claims were non-motor (buildings, houses, livestock, property, stores etc). The company is currently in the process of speedily assessing, processing and expediting payment for all of these claims.

Janashakthi's General Manager- Insurance Dayalanie Abeygunawardana said that the Janashakthi team was working to assess the damage and process the claims. "Settling these claims immediately is a top priority for us. As a responsible corporate, we understand the trauma the people are undergoing, hence the dire urgency to honour those claims", she said.

The torrential rains have rendered nearly 450,000 people homeless.

The precise extent of the damage to property has still not been quantified since most places are yet unreachable. Abeygunawardana affirmed that the most number of claims came from the Colombo, Panadura, Galle, Negombo, Kelaniya, Elpitiya and Gampaha areas.

With the recent catastrophe, she said that it would be prudent for both the public and businesses to rethink their insurance options.

Landmark IVF birth at Lanka Hospitals

Lanka Hospitals previously known as Apollo Hospitals Colombo achieved another milestone with its 50th IVF baby being born on April 5, 2010. Within a span of 17 months, the IVF Fertility Centre of Lanka Hospitals has achieved a rare feat of 234 pregnancies and 50 newborn babies.

The Fertility Centre commissioned in September 2008 proved to be not only the most modern centre for fertility treatment in Sri Lanka but also the most successful with a success rate of 42 percent in COH IVF cycle. "The success rate of The Fertility Centre at Lanka Hospitals is on par with the best IVF centres in the world" said Lanka Hospitals CEO Lakith Peiris.

The Lanka Hospitals IVF Centre is the only centre in Sri Lanka that performs IVF cycles seven days a week instead of batches.

Dialog TV partners Orange Electric

Dialog TV tied up with Orange Electric, to promote its range of entertainment packages. DTV will leverage the islandwide distribution network of Orange Electric to educate customers on the basic needs and benefits of a satellite entertainment connection.

Dialog Television Chief Executive Officer Nushad Perera (Left) handing over the agreement to OREL Mfg Managing Director Kushan Kodituwakku, From left are DTV Manager Corporate & Enterprise Sales Reza Aniff, Dialog Telekom PLC Modern Channels and Group Channel Services Head Orville Simmons, DTV Chief Operating Officer Suren Goonewardena, OREL Mfg Chief Executive Officer Kamil Hussain, OREL Mfg Group Director/ Legal and Corporate Affairs Channa Ranasinghe, OREL Mfg Chief Operating Officer Piyal Aponsu.