ADVERTORIAL

Sampath launches BIZCASH

Indunil Hewage

Sampath Bank introduces its latest product named "Sampath BIZCASH". It is ideal for the medium and small-scale business community in the country.

Nanda Fernando

Sampath Bank PLC, Personal Banking Deputy General Manager Nanda Fernando said people have started investing in gold as it is an asset, which would appreciate in value over years.

Most of the people in the country were reluctant to start their own ventures, as the demand for credit was also low during the time of recession.

"Sampath BIZCASH" mainly targets the business community who needs instant capital to start business and expand their current ventures. They can obtain their loan easily by taking their gold to the bank.

Personal customers are also entitled to obtain the BIZCASH facility for their short-term financial needs.

The minimum value of the loan is Rs 250,000 and the main speciality of this product is that the customers are treated personally by the Branch Manager himself and customers need not stand in long queues to obtain their loan. The Branch Manager assesses the gold and prepares necessary documents to provide loans for customers.

BIZCASH can be also obtained as a short-term loan and as an overdraft facility according to the customers' wishes.

BIZCASH facility Initially will be introduced at ten Sampath branches in Kiribathgoda, Matara, Bambalapitiya, Gampaha, Negombo, Head Quarters ,Main Street ,Vavuniya ,Kandy Corporate and Kollupitiya.

Union Assurance wins at CNCI Achiever Awards

The Ceylon National Chamber of Industries recently concluded the CNCI Achievers Awards for the year 2010 at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel Colombo and the chief guest for the event was Prime Minister D. M. Jayaranthne. The primary objective of the "Achievers of Industrial Excellence" Awards is to promote industrial growth in the country by recognizing organizations that have excelled.

Corporate General Manager Niranjan Nagendra receiving the award. General Distribution Assistant General Manager Nihal Handunge looks on.

The growth and expansion of Union Assurance has undoubtedly helped Union Assurance achieve this success.

Union Assurance PLC one of the leading composite insurance companies in Sri Lanka was awarded the CNCI Achiever Silver Award for the year 2010 in the extra large category in the service sector.

This is the first time that an insurance company has been able to win this award.

The evaluation was made on number of criteria encompassing Turnover, Value Addition, Productivity, and Responsibility towards employees, Growth and Future, R and D, Quality Assurance, Environment Responsibility, Health and Safety and Social Responsibility. Union Assurance was the only insurance company to be recognized at the ninth CNCI Achievers Awards.

Union Assurance PLC Corporate General Manager Niranjan Nagendra said "UA has shown positive growth and has a strong capital base. Our dedication to duty is renowned, and we have had the honour of being embellished with several prestigious local and international awards over the years. These accolades reflect our continuous commitment to transparency, good governance, and customer focus."

Mercedes-Benz posts double digit growth

In August 2010, Mercedes-Benz brand posted double-digit growth worldwide for the tenth month in a row. Sales were up by 22 percent, and deliveries to customers around the world amounted to 81,000 units last month (compared to 66,200 units in August 2009). Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz has now sold 735,400 passenger cars, an increase of 16 percent from the figure recorded during the same period in 2009.

A Mercedes Benz vehicle

"The growth recorded by Mercedes-Benz in August marks a continuation of the current positive trend," said Mercedes-Benz Cars Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing Dr Joachim Schmidt. "We boosted sales in nearly all the regions we operate in and also posted strong growth in August in Germany, which is our biggest sales market."

The brand's growth continues to be driven primarily by the E-Class and S-Class, as well as by sales increases in China and the U.S. "We will be presenting a further highlight of our product range at the Paris Motor Show, where we will present the all-new generation of our styling icon, the CLS. The car will set new standards, thanks to its fascinating design, comprehensive range of safety features, and the new, fuel-efficient V6 and V8 BlueDIRECT gasoline engines," he said.

Mercedes-Benz recorded sales growth in its three main markets of Germany, the U.S., and China in August. Developments were particularly pleasing in the brand's largest market, Germany. Here Mercedes-Benz bucked the overall downward trend (minus 27 percent) with a significant increase in sales of 17 percent, leading to total deliveries of 15,800 passenger vehicles to customers last month. The E-Class, the E-Class coupe, the C-Class, and the smart fortwo all had the largest number of new vehicle registrations in their respective segments in Germany.

The United States remains the second biggest market for Mercedes-Benz, and thus a key contributor to the brand's sales success. Year-to-date unit sales for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. now total 139,900 vehicles, up 18 percent compared with the same period last year.

This result makes Mercedes-Benz the best-selling German premium brand in the country since the beginning of the year.

Mercedes-Benz is represented in Sri Lanka by one of the oldest Mercedes-Benz representatives in the world, Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO).

Bank’s CSR Trust Co-ordinator Richard Rodrigo hands over the CTG machine to Kuliyapitiya Hospital Medical Superintendent Ranjith Paul at a ceremony which included a session of training for the staff involved. Regional Manager (Wayamba) Ajith Naranpanawe and Kuliyapitiya Branch Manager Roshan Peries of the Bank were also present at the event.

Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital:

ComBank donates CTG machine

The Commercial Bank Kuliyapitiya Branch has donated a Cardiotocography (CTG) machine to the Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital Obstetrics Unit with the assistance of the bank's CSR Trust.

A CTG machine was critically needed by this hospital to support its efforts to maintain the high standards of safe deliveries it had achieved.

A large number of pregnant women now obtain the use of this newly-installed CTG machine, minimizing the risk factors connected with pregnancy.

This project was co-ordinated by Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital Consultant Visiting Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Wasantha Jayalath.

Zero interest from HSBC

HSBC is offering their credit cardholders the ability purchase a range of lifestyle products from leading establishments with an exclusive zero interest repayment scheme of up to 60 months.

The offer which is valid until October 31, will enable all HSBC cardholders to shop for world renowned brands of household goods and appliances at Abans, Singer and Softlogic and pay back in convenient monthly installments.

Brands ranging from Singer, Whirlpool, Welling, Sisil, Tefal, Rowenta, Moulinex, Kenwood, Unic, Prestige, Krups, Panasonic, Samsung and more, will be on offer with additional discounts of up to 10 percent on outright purchases. Cards and Consumer Assets head Nadeesha Senaratne said, “With the recent decrease in import duty on household appliances, we see an increase in demand by consumers for ‘white’ goods.

Hence, the promotion will offer a window of opportunity for HSBC card members to own these products and help enhance their lifestyles with very affordable and interest free monthly installments,” Senaratne said.

WSO2Con 2010 in Colombo

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, WSO2 the open source technology company, hosts the first WSO2 Conference - WSO2Con 2010 - at HNB Towers, Colombo on September 14 and 15.

“As an organization passionate about placing Sri Lanka at the forefront of the global market, we are happy to be hosting the first WSO2Con in Sri Lanka! WSO2Con will become an annual event and spread to other places around the globe, with the vision of bringing together a technology community to exchange knowledge, vision, and share best practices and success stories,” said CEO Sanjiva Weerawarana.

Designed to help prepare organizations for the future enterprise, WSO2Con 2010 stems from the recognition that enterprise IT architecture evolves at a rapid pace, constantly unleashing new possibilities and increasing both the expectations and the demands of business. At the centre of this rapidly changing environment stands the unique convergence of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Cloud computing. WSO2Con 2010 will focus on the implications of and opportunities unleashed by this convergence.