ADVERTORIAL

Namal Rajapaksa MP opening the CIC Ink Shop at Kilinochchi. Picture by Sudath Malaweera

ABC felicitates dealers

ABC Trade and Investments (Pvt) Ltd., the authorized importers and distributors for Verbatim products in Sri Lanka held their Western Province Dealer Meet recently during INFOTEL 2010 Exhibition at BMICH.

The felicitated dealers

The objective of this event was to appreciate all partners for their continuous support and loyalty kept towards Verbatim products during year 2009.

This event presented six main awards based on the best performed dealers on Verbatim optical and non-optical products.

The best Verbatim optical dealer award went to Sahala Trading and the second and third awards were won by Dinal’s and Digital 8 respectively and the award was given by Verbatim Marketing Singapore, Manager South Asia, Tan Teow Seng, The best Verbatim non-optical dealer award went to J- Net, while the second and third awards were won by Kumarasiri Enterprise and Premium Stationery.

Apart from the presentation awards, authorized dealers were recognized with Verbatim dealer certificates. Over 100 dealers participated at this event, with the presence of Verbatim Marketing Singapore, Manager South Asia, Tan Teow Seng, Verbatim corporation, a Mitsubishi Chemical media company is an international organization that develops and markets innovative, high-quality products for storing, moving and using digital content. Known for its leadership in the removable storage media and related accessories markets, the company provides reliable, unique technologies and products that are highly sought after and distributed worldwide.

Verbatim brand media is marketed in North America, Europe, Latin America and other areas of the world. In Japan, IT is sold under the Mitsubishi brand.

SLIM - MBA Graduates feted

The passed finalists of the highly successful MBA program conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) were lauded for their achievements at a gala fellowship dinner organized at the Earls Court, Cinnamon Lakeside this evening. Most graduates had recently attended the graduation ceremony in UK’s Buckinghamshire New University, at the High Wycombe Campus.

Rohan Somawansa congratulated the graduates and thanked SLIM Past President Dayawansa taking the initiative of introducing the MBA program to Sri Lanka.

Somawansa also extended an invitation to all MBA finalists, to attend the SLIM graduation ceremony which is to be held on November 26 at the Cinnamon Lakeside.

First launched in 1989, the Buckinghamshire MBA program has been taught in a number of countries besides Sri Lanka, including Germany, South Africa and Hungary. At a subject review undertaken by the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in 2001, the university’s Business School scored an impressive 22/24 points in recognition of the excellent teaching quality delivered in the field of business and management.

MBA graduates, their spouses and lecturers were present at this event. Also in attendance were the members of the SLIM Council comprising President Rohan Somawansa, Education Vice President Tilan Wijeyesekera, Projects Vice President Thushara Perera, Past President R M P Dayawansa and Exco Member Charitha Jayasinghe.

Nolimit Arapaima Super Waasi :

Winners to visit Bangkok

A night view of Bangkok

Nolimit launched the Arapaima Super Waasi - a special promotion to reward, honour and recognize the loyalty of NOLIMIT Arapaima cardholders. Nineteen winners will be awarded 19 holiday packages to Bangkok in Thailand.

The 19 winners will comprise one winner from each fashion store.

Arapaima cardholders can enter the raffle draw by redeeming 200 Arapaima points they had earned at any of NOLIMIT’s 19 fashion stores inclusive of Glitz, Pallu and the discount fashion store.

For each of the additional 100 Arapaima points redeemed against purchases, an Arapaima cardholder is entitled to an additional coupon to enter the raffle draw. The promotion will conclude on November 15. Nineteen winners will be chosen at the grand raffle draw to be held after the conclusion of the special promotion and awarded 19 holiday packages to Thailand’s Bangkok.

Last year 16 winners of the NOLIMIT Arapaima promotion were awarded holiday packages in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In previous years too, the NOLIMIT Arapaima promotion awarded weekend holiday packages, electronic appliances, mobile phones and many other prizes to their loyal cardholders.

Kamsins launch ceremonial wear

Continuing to offer customers new experiences in shopping, Kamsins, the designer collection, launched its ceremonial wear, an exclusive section, during a lavish opening ceremony.

The new section promises much more exclusivity and presents designs and styles that are trendy, unique and varied.

Models feature Kamsin sarees

‘We are now nine months old with the existing clothes.

This will be an exclusive area, with added customer comfort and new shopping experience where we will have more variety, designer outfits and catalogue shopping, in terms of bridals and special occasions,” said Kamsins General Manager Ram Mogan.

The newly launched section features an array of bridal and ceremonial wear for the entire family, ranging from sarees, salwars, cholis and kurthis for women to kurthas, suits, shirts and trousers for men as well as a wide variety of attire for children. Customers can also choose from a selection of accessories to complete their outfits.

To ensure enhanced customer comfort and convenience, Kamsins provides the option of ‘catalogue shopping’, which enables customers to pick their desired outfit from a range of designs and styles from various catalogues.

Alternatively, customers can select the outfit of their choice online and present it to Kamsins, where its dedicated staff will guide customers through the designs the store has to offer and match their needs.

To help get a glimpse of how the outfit will look on the particular individual, Kamsins offers facilities whereby, once an outfit is worn by a customer, this is displayed on a screen.

Housed on the first floor of Kamsins store, the design of the interior itself adds to the customer convenience.

Youth in Ampara and Jaffna:

NDB Bank, DIMO to offer automotive training

As a successive step to NDB Bank’s recently launched NDB Jeevana livelihood development scheme, NDB Bank entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), to provide training in the rapidly growing automotive industry to the youth in the North and the East of Sri Lanka.

As part of the NDB Jeevana livelihood development scheme, 30 youth each, from Ampara and Jaffna will be selected to undergo training for six months, comprehensively covering in-house and practical training in automotive service and maintenance skills focused primarily on TATA commercial vehicles and Mahindra tractors.

The training sessions offered under the guidance of DIMO will cover a range of subjects including tutorials on automotive components, instructions on using all applicable tools and equipment, exposure to DIMO’s state of the art workshops, and much more.

The training will instill all the necessary skills for each trainee to handle any kind of service or maintenance for different vehicles.

NDB Bank CEO Russell de Mel said, “Having successfully enroled 30 students in Trincomalee to undergo training in the hospitality sector as the initial step of this scheme, we then pursued the idea of partnering with a leader in the automotive industry, namely DIMO, to offer an opportunity for the youth in Ampara and Jaffna to be exposed to training in this industry.

As we launched this initiative with the objective of providing financial backing and expert training on sectors that clearly contribute to the development of our nation, we feel that automotive field is a career choice that would enhance the lives of the youth in these areas.” “As DIMO is undoubtedly a market leader in the automotive industry, it gives us great pleasure to enter into this agreement with the mutual objective of uplifting Sri Lankan lives.”

DIMO Chairman and CEO Ranjith Pandithage said “Ever since DIMO’s inception, we have made it a priority to educate and train our people with the necessary skills in the automobile industry that would boost their career paths.

Along with NDB, we are confident that we will be able to further extend our vocational training services to Ampara and Jaffna that will lead to an enhancement of peoples’ lifestyles and result in the economic prosperity of the two regions.”

The ‘NDB Jeevana Livelihood Training/Loan Scheme’ is combined with a special personal loan issued at a concessionary rate with a grace period for payment. NDB Bank has targeted high demand sectors such as hospitality, automotive, construction and nursing for students who wish to pursue careers in these industries but lack the facilities and financial support to do so.

The loan component will comprise an allocation for tuition and training costs and other required amenities. In addition, it will also entail a personal accident insurance cover; that covers the training period.

Developing Sri Lanka:

Charter House in the forefront

As a provider of premium bathware in Sri Lanka, and also a leading supplier of industrial equipment and other engineering solutions, Charter House is well positioned to play a key role in the nation’s rapid progress. Founded over 20 years ago as a trading company, Charter House has been representing some of the world’s exclusive brands which has helped the company to grow to keep pace with an evolving Sri Lanka.

In the bathware industry, Charter House represents Grohe, Inda, and Bravat - brands which have won global acclaim and found favour in Sri Lanka. Committed to the highest standards of quality and service, the company has serviced some of the finest hotels, luxury apartments and prestigious residencies with the range of quality products they have to offer.

A modern bathroom suite imported by Charter House

In the industrial segment, Charter House is also a pioneer, providing engineering solutions to a wide range of clients in fields as diverse as petroleum, power and water supply. Some of the leading product lines they represent are Tokheim fuel dispensing equipment and systems, Istobal garage equipment, Piusi pumping and metering equipment, liquid controls, flow monitoring equipment, Protech lube management systems and a host of other industrial equipment.

The company in the recent past was able to secure a contract for the supply of a state-of-the-art lubrication management system for Toyota Lanka’s service bays. In the petroleum sector, Charter House was the preferred supplier to Lanka IOC filling stations throughout the country, where the latest Tokheim digital dispensers are now installed. With the expansion of business to the north and the east, Charter House is geared to play a leading role in the building of a new Sri Lanka.

As a first step to diversifying their business, the company established Charter House Engineering, which holds the sole distributorship for Motul, one of the oldest and most trusted brands of lubricants in the world, and one of the main sponsors of the Moto GP. Motul is now widely available through a wide distribution network which has been set up in all parts of the country. The company is currently in the process of strengthening its distribution network, especially in the north and east, to meet rising demand for Motul products.

In addition to lubricants, Charter House Engineering plans to take over the engineering equipment division currently handled by Charter House and will be providing complete garage and workshop solutions under one roof. This would include vehicle lifts, auto washers, lubrication systems and vehicle test equipment to cater to the growing demand in this sector.

Built on a foundation of superior after-sales service, Charter House operates a fully equipped workshop that is manned by trained technical personnel. After the company’s recent restructuring, Charter House is prepared to go even further beyond customer expectations to deliver the most professional solutions in the industry.

Unimo launches JMC trucks

Unimo Enterprises Ltd (UEL), a fully owned subsidiary of United Motors Lanka PLC recently launched its range of JMC trucks.

JMC, introduced to the Sri Lankan market in 2007, began with the JMC single cab, which was well received by both private and public sector companies in Sri Lanka.

A JMC truck

UEL decided to launch the range of JMC trucks after discovering there was a sizeable opportunity for marketing commercial vehicles at a competitive price.

JMC vehicles are manufactured by China’s Jiangling Isuzu Motor Company (JIMC) which is a subsidiary of Jiangling Motor Company.

JIMC is a joint venture between Jiangling Motors Company Ltd, Isuzu Motors, Itochu Corporation and Isuzu (China Investment Company) Jiangling Motor Company is one of the biggest commercial vehicle manufactures in China, remaining amongst the top 100 listed companies in the last five years.

Furthermore, JMC has become one of the biggest light diesel engine commercial vehicle exporters in China, exporting vehicles to over 60 countries.

JMC products have proven to be of high quality as well as reliable, comparing well with imports from around the world.

The JMC range of trucks include the JMC crew cab and Cargo truck which are marketed both in long wheel and short wheel base.

These vehicles have been tested in Sri Lanka in the roughest terrains and have proved to be extremely suitable for Sri lankan conditions. The trucks come with a 100,000 or three year warranty for the engine and gear box.

These trucks can be test driven at UEL showrooms in Hyde Park Corner Colombo 2, Kandy, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Matara and Nuwara Eliya.

Singer service backs Samsung

Samsung’s new 3D LED television and the rest of its groundbreaking product range are now available at more than 360 Singer retail outlets nationwide, including Singer Plus, Singer Mega and Sisil World stores. Backed by the unique, dependable and islandwide after-sales service of Singer, customers who purchase Samsung products at Singer stores will be able to rely on a service network that stretches across the island and includes seven regional services centres, as well as over a hundred service agents.

Samsung is renowned for introducing cutting-edge technological advances into consumers’ lives. With an award-winning line of products that includes 3D LED televisions, LCD televisions, air-conditioners, refrigerators, home theatre systems, DVD players, microwave ovens, washing machines, and much more, Samsung gives its customers the very best in quality and convenience. Samsung’s line of 3D LED televisions allows viewers to become part of the experience, with thrilling three-dimensional images that fulfill viewers’ wildest expectations.

Samsung’s commitment to bringing consumers the latest in technology is matched by its dedication to helping them lead more eco-friendly lives. Its “Planet First” initiative is a reflection of the company’s vision of creating new value through eco-innovation. For example, Samsung LED TVs are Energy Star-compliant and use half as much power as previous models.