ADVERTORIAL

HITS India launches Sri Lanka operations

The Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), India which also owns Orient Flying School, a leader in aeronautical engineering and piloting in India,

plans to launch operations in Sri Lanka shortly.

This was announced by HITS Pro-Chancellor Ananda Jacob Verghese at a media briefing in Colombo. He said “Hindustan with an unblemished record since 1968 have seen growth in the number of overseas students enroling for their courses from the region.

With Sri Lanka being our closest neighbour and the number of Sri Lankan students increasing in the recent years, we have strategically decided to commence operations in Sri Lanka to foster good relationships with our neighbours and also cater to growing demand of students embarking on higher studies overseas.”

Verghese said “Initially we would promote our current courses offered at HITS to Sri Lankan students, thereafter if the numbers justify for a local presence, we would seriously consider that option going forward, as our business plans too covers that option.”

Representing the HITS Sri Lankan office Firaz Hameed said, “It is a matter of pride to us to have the support and guidance one of India’s leading educational institutions in the calibre of HITS. This arrangement will now assist Sri Lankan students to pursue studies of the chosen fields at HITS, where the fee structure is affordable to all segments in society and that the students are not far away from home gives comfort for the parents as well.”

The Hindustan Group of Institutions (HGI), established in the year 1968 is well reputed in India and abroad for its academic excellence and infrastructure, especially in the area of aviation and automobile engineering. Founded by Late Dr. K.C.G. Verghese, a visionary and a leading philanthropist and educationist with a vision to “Make every man a success and no man a failure,” the Group has the following institutions under its fold today.

Organized by Tharunyayata Hetak:

NSB sponsors scholarship seminars

The National Savings Bank (NSB) has extended full sponsorship for the scholarship seminar series themed Mathu Lowa Dinumata, Nena Guna Wadawamu (Let’s develop knowledge and qualities, to win the future world) conducted islandwide by Tharunyayata Hetak.

This project, which was the brainchild of Namal Rajapakse MP, the Tharunyayata Hetakfounder and Chairman will especially target the students sitting for the year five scholarship examination in the under-developed areas of the island.

The National Savings Bank contributed to this program under its continuous CSR initiative and thereby the project receives multi-lateral contribution.

The organizers have already scheduled these seminars in Polonnaruwa, Matara, Galle, Badulla, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Colombo and Hambantota districts.

Planning for success with ANC

America is a known leader in every field and its impact on literally everything is undeniable. From medicine, science, and business to entertainment, computer technology, and engineering, America and American companies drive innovation, business, and opportunity. America accounts for nearly one third of the planet’s economy.

From Hollywood for entertainment, Wall Street for finance and Madison Avenue for advertising, to Silicon Valley for computers, Johns Hopkins for medicine, and Fifth Avenue for fashion, American destinations are among the world’s best known.

American brands and icons are synonymous with success and there simply isn’t a field without an American icon for achievement. In fact, well over 400 American companies rank in the World’s Top 1,000 (the Global 1000 by Business Week).

American education has helped produce these successes. American education combines a career-oriented approach with a broad-based general knowledge in the context of a classroom experience that is not based on merely reading textbooks and taking exams. American students focus on acquiring knowledge and learn how to apply that knowledge. There is what can be referred to as “continual assessment” and where relevant, an opportunity to apply knowledge. American students learn by interaction, participation, and practical activities as well as textbooks, classroom theory, and exams.

For graduates this means a greater chance of personal and professional success as well as global opportunities with thousands of American corporations and international companies they work with all around the world. And, with nearly 4,000 universities and hundreds of programs, American education not only offers the prospect of success, it offers the chance of success in the field that a student actually loves. There is ample opportunity for all students, regardless of their interests. And by studying in a field that is of genuine interest to the individual, a student will do much better and, therefore, increase their chances of success.

ANC has emerged as one of the leaders in American university programs for both Sri Lankan and international students studying in Sri Lanka.

A wide range of programs ensures an option to meet individual student and family requirements. Most students follow the American transfer program with “2+2” program where they do the first two years of their American degree in Sri Lanka and then transfer to the US to finish their Bachelor Degree in the final two years. Since ANC offers a fully accredited American program with US transcripts, ANC students can easily transfer to American universities all across the US and Canada.

It is essential that an international program, like an American program, has a strong international element. This is certainly true at ANC. All ANC students will benefit from a total American university environment, including American accredited programs, US university transcripts, American and American-trained professors and staff, American program supervision and quality control, US curricula, American university standard facilities, American teaching style, and a true American “look and feel.”

The only prerequisite to enter this American transfer program is successful completion of O/Level (pending results are also accepted). The SAT examination is also offered at ANC along with the degree course. Student can directly start with the degree after O/Level or A/Level.

With so many options in both education and careers, today’s student needs professional career advice. At ANC students will receive the advice they need from senior, experienced international professionals. If they join ANC, they will continue to receive education advising and career counselling throughout their education, ensuring a smooth and seamless transfer to the US, if they complete their degree overseas.

Mindshare revolutionizes Sri Lanka media

Introduces groundbreaking innovations with Etisalat and Unilever launches :

With groundbreaking innovations and historical launches under its belt, the first quarter of 2010 was a busy period for Mindshare Sri Lanka. Mindshare, one of the leading media agencies in the country and a part of the largest media group in the world, was the brains behind several campaigns which took the country by storm when it handled two of the largest brands, Etisalat and Signal, in SL during this period and set several industry benchmarks.

According to Mindshare Sri Lanka Leader Sabry Haniz, the Mindshare team in Sri Lanka has always been leading the media landscape in the country, providing out-of-the-box media innovations that have taken the industry as a whole to greater heights. "The first quarter was very exciting for Mindshare, Etisalat was a revolutionizing launch and we are happy to have been part of that success," he said.

The Etisalat launch was one of the biggest in Sri Lanka's media history. Not only did Mindshare bring the country's attention to the UAE-based operator, which took over Tigo to commence mobile operations here, it also brought never-before-seen technology to the media landscape of the country.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, Mindshare used Building Projection Technology where for an entire week, the eye-catching and addictive Etisalat advertisement was projected on the blank wall of Majestic City, in the heart of Colombo. Using the latest digital technology, Mindshare also piqued the interest and the curiosity of the people in Sri Lanka through successful teasers with its Projection Hoarding lighting up the walls in several key areas in the country.

Mindshare also introduced the exciting Video Mapping technology with the Etisalat billboard in Thimbirigasyaya.

The billboard which appeared as normal and traditional during the day transformed into a riot of activity and moving images, using projection technology, at night. Mindshare also captured attention through Etisalat's unmistakable presence in local media. From teasers a part or whole of the logo (called 'Hero') in the editorial section of the publications, it also extended the press innovations to have the front pages coloured green and the morning news show hosts on TV picked it up as novel and "never-been-done-before" campaigns.

It was undeniable that almost every individual in Sri Lanka learnt about Etisalat's entrance to Sri Lanka. Continuing with its comprehensive coverage, Mindshare ensured that the Etisalat theme song ran in all 19 radio stations in the country for two weeks prior to the launch, while an animated teaser crawler ran on all TV channels.

"The launch has been extremely successful as we have a relationship with Mindshare that follows the "win-win" model," said Etisalat Senior Manager Brand Marketing, Sunjeewa Perera. "It should be mentioned that Mindshare has strived to be ahead of the game at all times, in delivering innovation consistently. We are proud to have worked with Mindshare during this massive launch.

The agency was also a part of the Tigo launch back in 2007 and they have continued to impress with their groundbreaking media innovations. This is a result of both commitment to understand the brand requirements and the manner in which it is handled. Our relationship goes beyond ten years and we appreciate it very much," he said.

Mindshare also successfully launched another multinational, Unilever Sri Lanka's 'Sooryalanka' by Sunlight initiative, one of the largest media-led CSR campaigns in the country. Launched by Unilever with the aim of recognizing selfless individuals who have worked to uplift society and still remained unrecognized, the campaign also aimed at strengthening Sunlight as a brand.

Through a process that lasted six months, Mindshare utilized the reach of the press by dedicating a part of the cover page and pages two and three for Sunlight in several national newspapers.

Stage-by-stage coverage of nominees' stories were published and FTP technology, usually used for news broadcasting, were used for broadcasting of commercial content on TV for the first time.

Taking media innovations a step further, Mindshare on March 5, created media history by blocking a national TV channel for an entire day and dedicating its advertising space for a single product, Signal. According to Mindshare, the innovation was possibly the biggest buying project undertaken for a single client for a single event in recent times.

After three months of negotiation, the Mindshare and Unilever team's combined efforts resulted a major TV station agreeing to the campaign, where from 8.00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., the channel dedicated airtime (even during prime time slots) to the advertising of the Signal Active Micro Calcium formula.

TNT supports 'Ending child hunger'

TNT, the air express delivery company once again joined the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) to provide local assistance to the UNWFP's global fund raising initiative 'Walk the World.'

This year's awareness building theme was the 'hunger train' which was unique in comparison to other awareness building strategies adopted across the globe by UNWFP. TNT's assistance in organizing the train for UNWFP reaffirms TNT local commitment to WFP efforts to ending child hunger in Sri Lanka.

'Walk the World' is a global initiative to raise funds for UNWFP's school feeding program which was initiated by TNT employees' way back in 2004. By providing a midday meal to students, TNT and the UNWFP hopes to increase attendance in schools as well as improve learning through the old adage "a healthy body equals a healthy mind". UNWFP and TNT believe that these efforts lay the foundation for a healthy workforce that would build a bright future.

In the year 2002, TNT CEO Peter Bakker and former United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) Executive Director James Morris entered a ground breaking partnership to support UNWFP to end global hunger. The partnership resulted in TNT becoming the biggest corporate partner of UNWFP. Being a specialist in logistics and transportation, TNT was in a position to provide its expertise to UNWFP to make a life saving difference by 'getting aid to the right person at the right time'.

At present, UNWFP provides midday meals to students considered as under-nourished in several areas of the island. UNWFP's challenge is to find local donors for this worthwhile project that ensures sustainability through consistent involvement of local donor partners.

TNT Country Manager Jerome Brohier said TNT initiated 'Walk the World' in 2003 and this is the eighth consecutive year TNT employees are engaged in building awareness on the UNWFP's main objective to end global hunger under the theme "End Hunger, Walk the world." The walks also helped to create awareness on the WFP's school feeding initiative. TNT employees and their friends in Sri Lanka raised Rs 913,000 for local school feeding through these walks in the past.

Airtel connects with Africa

Bharti Airtel Limited ("Bharti") took a giant step towards becoming a global emerging market telecom operator by completing the acquisition of Zain Group's ("Zain") mobile operations in 15 countries across Africa for an enterprise valuation of USD10.7 billion.

With this acquisition, Airtel will become the first Indian brand to go truly global with a footprint that covers over 1.8 billion people. Bharti also becomes a major Indian MNC with operations in 18 countries across Asia and Africa with a customer base of over 180 million.

The transaction is the largest ever cross-border deal in emerging markets and will result in combined revenues of over USD 12.4 billion and EBITDA of over USD 4.7 billion, based on the last audited results. Bharti is now among the five largest mobile operators in the world.

Bharti Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Bharti Mittal said, "We are delighted at the closure of this transformational deal for India and Bharti.

We would like to express our deep gratitude and thank the Governments of all the fifteen countries as well as the Government of India for their overwhelming support to this landmark event.

This will further strengthen the historic Indo-Africa economic and social ties and provide a big boost to South-South cooperation.

Bharti, which has been working towards its vision of expansion into Africa, is committed to contributing to the growth of telecom in the region by taking networks deep into these countries and providing affordable services that touch the common man. We also promise our customers in Africa a superior brand experience and a portfolio of innovative products and services.

We would like to welcome over 6500 talented and highly qualified professionals to the Bharti family and look forward to working with them to take these operations from strength to strength. We would like to thank the Zain team for their professionalism, which enabled us to close this transaction in a record time."

John Keells celebrates World Environment Day

The World Environment Day (WED) 2010 on June 5 was celebrated around the world under the theme Many Species. One Planet. One Future. The United Nations also declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity, making it doubly opportune to stress the importance of biodiversity for human well-being, reflect on achievements to safeguard it and encourage a redoubling of efforts to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss.

The John Keells Group commemorated WED through many environmentally-friendly initiatives spearheaded by John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation.

As a lead up to WED, a poster campaign was carried out across the Group's business premises with the posters being printed on recycled paper. As the Group's contribution to The Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign which is a worldwide tree planting initiative facilitated by the United Nations Environment Program, the Foundation initiated a tree planting campaign which witnessed the planting of trees across the Group's different business locations.

The Plant for the Planet initiative was launched on June 4 with Group Chairman, Susantha Ratnayake, planting a Na sapling at the John Keells Holdings PLC premises at Glennie Street. Several Group companies contributed to the initiative by planting trees within their own premises, and some others took it a step further, planting trees in public areas as well. Strategic Group IT, a Group centre function, planted 20 Ehala saplings in the Vihara Maha Devi Park with the collaboration of the Colombo Municipal Council, while Group company Ceylon Cold Stores planted 12 fruit and other saplings in its factory premises in Ranala.

Other such noteworthy contributions by Group business units are the initiatives by Cinnamon Lodge Habarana in the planting of 100 trees in total within the hotel premises as well as close to famous Habarana Tank, and Yala Village which planted over 50 trees which belong to the dry zone such as Kohomba, Kumbuk, Agil and Esala.

Bentota Beach Hotel's contribution to the tree planting initiative was the inauguration of its 'Herb Garden' with spice plants unique to Sri Lanka within the hotel premises as well as the planting of 30 coconut plants within the hotel premises with the participation of both staff and guests.

Other Group companies which actively contributed to the tree planting initiative are Chaaya Blu, Chaaya Citadel, Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa, Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo, Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Island Alidhoo, Cinnamon Lakeside, John Keells Stock Brokers, Lanka Marine Services, Tea Small Holder Factories PLC, Union Assurance PLC and Walkers Tours Ltd and Whittalls Travels Ltd.

Other businesses of the Group commemorated WED with other initiatives such as reef cleanups launched simultaneously under the 'Go Green' initiative at all four of the Maldivian resorts belonging to the Group.