ADVERTORIAL

AVIVA NDB launches Poson Safety Campaign

AVIVA NDB is poised to ensure that the one million Poson pilgrims who will throng Anuradhapura during the forthcoming Poson weekend are safeguarded while they bathe in the tanks and reservoirs in the vicinity for the 17th consecutive year.

Every year AVIVA NDB launches an extensive campaign to keep Poson pilgrims aware of the dangerous waters that have claimed many lives before the safety campaign was launched. Enhanced safety awareness has reduced the number of deaths from drowning among pilgrims to zero.

AVIVA NDB’s safety campaign includes the distribution of leaflets starting from entry points to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, with hoardings, banners, pennants and public address systems reminding pilgrims to safeguard themselves. The company facilitates the presence of around 550 professional lifesavers at almost all the tanks and reservoirs with the collaboration of the Sri Lanka Police, Navy and the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka.

AGM - Marketing Amal Perera said “Many pilgrims camp out and depend on the waters of the reservoirs for their ablutions.

They have to be motivated to seek safe bathing spots, especially as many come with young children as well as grandparents. As an insurer, we are happy that our safety campaign has over the years provided much-needed protection to the large numbers of devotees that come to the Sacred City for Poson.” Apart from launching a multi-media public awareness campaign to draw attention to the danger of drowning in tanks that look inviting but are treacherous with mud, weeds and rocks that can prove to be hazardous, the company facilitates the presence of warning boards at unsafe waters and identifies the waters that are safe for pilgrims to bathe in.

Last year, 10 persons were rescued. The youngest was a 14 year from Kandy who was rescued when he plunged into Kala Wewa. Two female asthma sufferers, one aged 52 from Yakkala, bathing at Nuwara Wewa and the other aged 35 from Kurunegala at Tissa Wewa were rushed to the nearest hospital by the lifesavers.

Mobitel SMART Recharge Bonanza:

Maruti Suzuki to Nugegoda

U.G.C. Kusumlatha from Nugegoda was the sixth winner of a Maruti Suzuki Alto Sportz car as she was declared the winner of the March 2010 edition of Mobitel SMART Recharge Bonanza recently.

Reflecting Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel’s accessibility across many cities, Premathilaka Bandara of Abanpola, Sampath Pushpakumara of Badulla, Sisira Deshapriya of Kahawatta, P.H. Amarasinghe of Karandeniya, and Gamini Sisirakumara Ranjith of Pannala, were selected as recipients of Asus Laptops, complete with Mobitel M3 High Speed internet dongles.

Mobitel rewarded their retailers at the same event. Mobitel retailers in all 25 districts in the country were entitled to the draw.

The prizes distributed were high-end, cutting edge laptops with M3 High Speed internet dongles.

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Senior General Manager, Sales, Marketing and Distribution Chandika Vitharana said “As a company that continuously affirms its promise of caring, the SMART Recharge Bonanza is just one way of showing our appreciation to our valued customers.

The immense popularity of our services is made clear by the interest shown in this competition.”

SLT holds Call Centre Star Awards

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), conducted its Call Centre Star Awards 2010, an awards ceremony aimed at recognizing the top performers in the company’s call centres for the sixth consecutive year. The ceremony was held at the SLT premises recently.

“Being one of the main faces of SLT to customers, it is very important that the Call centre staff understand and are given proper recognition and rewarded for the important role they play in positively impacting the way the SLT brand is perceived by our customers. Since its inception back in 2004, the call centre has seen much transformation and improvement. Customer centricity is the top priority of the call Centre, which has been proven by improved, high average service levels recorded. I can indeed confidently say that the call centre is the proven partner for exciting communication experiences delivered with passion, quality and commitment,” said SLT Chief Executive Officer Greg Young.

Amul Lite for calorie conscious

Amul has introduced it’s brand range to Sri Lanka including ‘Amul Lite’ - a low-calorie bread spread.

‘Amul Lite’ low-fat, low-calorie and low-cholesterol bread spread, is a healthier substitute for other bread spreads such as butter and margarine which have at least 26 percent more fat and calorie content.

The total fat content in ‘Amul Lite’ is 59 percent as compared to 80 percent in butter and margarine. And, the calorie content in 100 grams of ‘Amul Lite’ is 531 as compared to 720 calories in butter and margarine of equal quantity.

Being a low-fat, low-cholesterol bread spread, ‘Amul Lite’ is particularly suited to those for whom consumption of high cholesterol and high saturated fat products are restricted. Its low-fat and low-cholesterol content reduces chances of heart ailments as it is low on saturated fat and high on PUFA, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fat contents which help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. It is further fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D which help to improve vision and healthy skin. Amul Lite is ideal spread for toasts, sandwiches and bread.

Nenasa connects rural schools in East

Dialog Telekom with the Education Ministry connected 28 rural schools in the Eastern Province to the Nenasa network, Sri Lanka’s first and only satellite-based distance learning bridge. The television sets and documents were handed over to the Principals of the selected schools by the Eastern Province Governor, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema. Sixty one (61) more schools in the province would be added to the network before the end of the year.

Nenasa TV is funded and facilitated by Dialog Telekom with the Education Ministry and the National Institute of Education. The channel beams the ordinary level school curriculum to underserved schools in rural areas, with the objective of providing parity education to all students in Sri Lanka. Nenasa aims to connect 1,000 schools all over Sri Lanka by the end of the year.

Rear Admiral Wijewickrema addressing the Principals and Education Officials in the area directed them to capitalize on this opportunity and improve the knowledge and performance of students in the province. The Governor also took speedy measures to provide solutions to security and power supply issues in these schools.

ANC students excel in performance

A record number of students has successfully completed their Monash College diploma in Business (equivalent to first year of Monash University) at ANC Education, Sri Lanka and entered the second year of Monash University to continue their studies in a range of disciplines including Accounting, Marketing, Management, Banking and Finance and Business Law. On completion of their studies at ANC, students can choose to enter Monash University campuses in Australia or Malaysia.

Popularity is increasing for the Malaysian campus due to factors such as proximity to Sri Lanka and being a financially beneficial option.

ANC Monash College programs Dean Alan Robertson, sharing insights into student performance at ANC and university, said that on average an 80 percent pass rate is maintained across the Diploma of Business at ANC and that students continue to maintain this pass rate at Monash University, with a significant proportion receiving high distinction, distinction and credit passes in their units. As Australia’s largest university, Monash educates more than 52,000 students each year. Of these, more than 12,000 are international students from 100 countries, making Monash a vibrant and multicultural study environment.

Monash University is a member of the “Group of Eight”, Australia’s leading universities recognized for their excellence in research, scholarship and teaching. The university is ranked among the top 50 universities in the world and the quality of their graduates is ranked at number 13 in the world.

Isuri Beneregama is a third year student studying the Bachelor of Commerce degree at Monash University, Australia.

Isuri commenced her Monash College Diploma at ANC after her A/Levels at Ladies College. “At ANC we were taught to be innovative and flexible in our way of thinking.

These skills have helped me improve my way of learning and play a significant part in my success at university,” she said.

About her experience in Australia she said “Monash University is an extremely friendly multicultural place, where students from all over the world have an opportunity to learn together.”

Chamithri Ratnapala completed her final semester of the Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Banking and Finance) degree from Monash University, Malaysia and will be attending her graduation ceremony shortly. “My dream has always been to go to one of the best universities. For this reason I chose to commence my undergraduate studies at ANC.

Thanks to the Monash College diploma, I was able to pursue my dreams by beginning right here in Sri Lanka at a fraction of the cost” said Chamithri who has already secured employment as a business analyst.

ICASL scholarships aiming at fortifying student potential

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) at present has a number of scholarships that benefit students based on their respective needs and capabilities. These scholarships have been more predominantly implemented since year 2007 and presently around 200 students are benefited under this. There are three main scholarship programs of the Institute, one being the L.A Weerasinghe Memorial Scholarship (in memory of ICASL Founder President) which is granted for 40 students per annum taking into consideration their examination performances and income standards. This scholarship is aimed at strengthening the student capability that needs to override their economic concerns.

The ICASL Merit scholarship is the other scheme which is provided for 12 students each year rewarding the talents possessed by them which needs to be commended.

The Top Ten Awards is another unique scholarship scheme presented by ICASL for those who have championed themselves in the most arduous Advanced Level examination. The top ten students of each four A/L streams are awarded this scholarship to complete their education at the institute.

All scholarship schemes of ICASL provide the opportunity for students to undergo education at the institute without being subjected to financial commitments in return, and in the case of the L.A Weerasinghe scholarship students would also be provided with financial guidance by the institute.

The institute has given special emphasis for North Eastern students under this program and accordingly 20 deserving students from the region were benefited in 2009 through the scholarship scheme.

HP T10 Fiesta

Your chance to compete with the stars:

HP Personal Systems Group launched their new promotion, the HP T10 Cricket Fiesta.

The HP T10 fiesta is a special 10 over ‘softball’ cricket match, featuring HP Brand Ambassadors Angelo Matthews and Jehan Mubarak. The two teams will be led by Angelo Matthews and Jehan Mubarak and the players for these teams will be chosen from lucky customers who purchase HP notebooks within the period June 15 and August 12.

Customers will be able to mingle and play with these leading stars of Sri Lankan cricket. To stand a chance to participate in the HP T10 Cricket Fiesta, all customers have to purchase any HP notebook PC of the HP Pavilion series, Compaq Presario Series, HP Pro Series or HP Mini Series from an authorized HP dealer. Customers would then have to fill a coupon and submit their entry with proof of purchase to the dealer. The winners will be chosen by the HP selection panel. HP Personal Systems Group Country Manager Lackshmindra Fernando said, “We expect a huge response from this contest.

It will be a great opportunity for all cricket loving Sri Lankans to be ‘up close’ with their idols. Our goal is to make available these innovative, stylish and affordable notebooks to all sections of Sri Lankan society.”