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PM launches Ranaviru Harasara Second Phase

Pan Asia Bank loan scheme for war heroes:

Pan Asia Bank has launched a special loan scheme called Ranaviru Harasara for the benefit of the heroic members of the Army, Navy and Air Force. This loan scheme is available not only for currently serving service personnel but also to the disabled war heroes as well as families of those who were killed or went missing in action during the war.

Ranaviru Harasara account scheme was originally launched as a special deposit scheme to cater to Sri Lanka's war heroes during the peak of the war in December 2008 under the auspices of the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ratnasiri Wickrmanayake.

Marking the second phase of this special account scheme, Ranaviru Harasara loan scheme was launched by the Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne at his office last week with the participation of Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera. Pan Asia Bank Chairman A G Weerasinghe, Corporate Management team of Pan Asia bank, officials from the Defence Ministry, Seva Vanitha Unit Heads of three forces, "Ranaviru" Authority Chairperson and officials of the welfare directorates of three forces also attended this ceremony.

Ranaviru Harasara loan scheme is a versatile loan scheme that could be used for purposes such as purchasing a land, building or renovating a house, purchasing a motor bicycle or a three wheeler, start self employment, cover wedding expenses, purchase a computer, higher education or even children's education.

Ranaviru Harasara account holders are entitled to receive an additional 2.5 percent interest for their deposits and will be serviced by a dedicated officer at each Pan Asia branch. In addition, they also receive a free specially branded ATM card and a special savings pass book. Under the Ranaviru Harasara account scheme, children of account holders are also given special privileges such as special gifts including bicycles and computers based on their Ranaviru children's savings account balance.

Another unique feature of this account scheme is a hospitalization room charge expenses reimbursement facility of up to Rs.30,000 per year for a child.

On World Environment Day:

Touchwood organizes field study trip

Gayan KANCHANA

The forest cover in Sri Lanka started to decline with the introduction of typical commercial crops. Clearing of forests for agricultural and residential purposes

further contributed in reducing the natural forest cover.

Early in the 19th century it is likely that Sri Lanka's forest cover probably was as high as 90 percent and today it has declined by around 14 percent, Touchwood Investment PLC Agro Forestry Consultant Dammika G. Mahipala said at a field study trip organized by Touchwood Investment PLC simultaneously with the World Environment Day on June 5.

"Established in 1999, Touchwood Investments celebrates its 11th year anniversary this June, which marks a decade and more of nurturing and propagating a truly sustainable business model. Engaged in agro-forestation and the sale and maintenance of cultivated areas to investors in the local and overseas market, Touchwood is a business with a difference. Driven by the Triple Bottom Line of people welfare, profit growth and concern for the planet, the company is an embodiment of how businesses can generate profits and leave behind a sustainable legacy for future generations," Mahipala said.

"Touchwood Investments has built up a formidable portfolio of investors in the country, while planting and managing approximately 2,500 acres of Vanilla, Sandalwood and Mahogany trees in 35 plantations covering the four districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura, Matale and Badulla. Touchwood has spread its branches to Thailand and Hong Kong as well. The company has an impressive track record, operates to Global Reporting Initiative standards and is ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited and approved by the Board of Investment of both Sri Lanka and Thailand," he said.

Touchwood Investment PLC Plantation Head Prageeth Herath said, "The Touchwood Group takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and is committed to pursuing industry best practice in environmental performance. Touchwood succeeds in uplifting rural areas by employing the local populace in the plantations and by using organic methods of farming and improving land productivity, greater benefits are unleashed in the rural community.

Seylan goes to Killinochchi

Seylan Bank has opened a banking unit in Killinochchi to meet the banking needs of the people of the area.

The Killinochchi branch was opened by Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on the invitation of Seylan Bank Chairman Eastman Narangoda last week.

The opening of the Seylan Bank Killinochchi branch will also help the development of the economic activities in the North specially in fast developing Killinochchi, thereby paving the way to find solutions and better access to the financial needs.

Killinochchi is the 94th branch of Seylan Bank and it is the second branch opened in the northern region after ending the 30-year-old conflict. Seylan Bank operates three other branches (Vavuniya, Jaffna and Nelliadi) two extension offices (Chankani, Manipay) in the region.

ABC Trade and Investments felicitates Central Province dealers

ABC Trade and Investments (Pvt) Ltd, the authorized importers and distributors for Verbatim and Print Rite products in Sri Lanka held their Central Province dealer meet and awards night recently at Queens Hotel in Kandy.

The objective of this event was to appreciate all partners for their continuous support and loyalty towards Verbatim and Print Rite products. Six main awards were presented at this event based on the best performance of Verbatim and Print Rite dealers. The best Verbatim dealer prize was won by Gift Paradise and the second and third prizes went to Reagal Enterprise and Seetha Trade Center respectively and the awards were presented by Verbatim Marketing Singapore, Manager South Asia, Tan Teow Seng.

The best Print Rite dealer prize went to Paper Line, the second and third prizes went to Tele Print and Cyber Soft respectively and the awards were presented by ABC Trade and Investments (Pvt) Ltd. Director/CEO A. Jayaseelan. Authorized dealer certificates for both Verbatim and Print Rite products were also presented to the Central Province dealers. The best ABC Trade and Investments (Pvt) Ltd Central Province Sales Person was also recognized and the award went to G. Vinothan.

NDB Bank donates books to Jaffna Library

Reviving a great landmark:

NDB Bank has donated a large number of books to the Jaffna library recently. High quality supplementary reading material on different subjects was donated by the bank, catering to the needs of young children as well as university students.

NDB Bank is playing its part to revive this great landmark of Jaffna.

With the reawakening of the Northern and Eastern provinces, the communities have the opportunity to rebuild their lives and achieve their ambitions. The Jaffna library plays a vital role in this activity, enabling the students to obtain the relevant reading material required for their studies.

NDB Bank is one of the fastest growing commercial banks in the country with NDB Group having regional operations in the Maldives and Bangladesh.

The bank offers a wide range of commercial banking services through its growing island-wide branch network; which has now grown in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces.

In addition, as part of the NDB Group, its customers have access to a full range of banking and financial services, including retail banking, corporate banking, Project finance and SME lending through NDB Bank; investment banking, stock brokering and wealth management through the Investment Banking Cluster, and Insurance solutions through AVIVA NDB Insurance.

SriLankan launches Shanghai Special

As SriLankan Airlines launches its maiden flight to Shanghai in China, ‘FlySmiLes’, its frequent flyer program brings this newest destination closer with its ‘Cash + Miles’ promotion.

Not only does it make travelling to Shanghai easier and exciting for all FlySmiLes members and their nominees, but also very economical.

Flights leave Colombo on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday leaving Colombo at 01.25 in the morning and arriving in Shanghai at 12.45 in the afternoon. The return flight leaves Shanghai at 4.20 in the afternoon and arrives in Colombo at 9.55 p.m.

Shanghai has been described as “the most dynamic city in the world’s fastest-changing nation”. Located at the middle part of the coast of mainland China, it sits at the mouth of the Yangtze and was originally a fishing and textiles town.

Samsung Flagship Store opens in Colombo

Softlogic, the authorized distributor for Samsung consumer electronics and home appliances in Sri Lanka, opened the first Samsung Flagship Store in Sri Lanka recently.

Samsung electronics has great plans for the Sri Lankan market. Having launched its latest technology Full HD 3D LED TV range to the market, the Store also carries the entire line-up of Consumer Electronics and home appliances, from LCDs, Plasma TVs, flat screen TVs, audios, home theatre systems, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, LCD monitors to mobile phones.

The Samsung Flagship Store covers an area of nearly 3,000 sq.ft dedicated to provide a superior consumer experience to the customer with ample space to move around in and appreciate the state-of-the-art Samsung products on display, all designed with the customer in mind. The Store is located on Duplication Road, Colombo.

Aitken Spence team gets ready for Culinary World Cup 2010

The Heritance Hotels and Resorts culinary team has been invited to team up with the Golden Horse Shoe Culinary team from Canada, for the forthcoming culinary world cup which will be held in Luxembarg later this year.

Aitken Spence Hotels has had tremendous success in the World Culinary Cup in the past with its Group Skills Development Chef, Master Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe securing nine Gold medals at the Culinary World Cup 2004 and Culinary Olympics 2006 becoming the first individual to win 9 Gold medals at a World Cup competition.