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SLT excels in CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) forms an integral part of the business strategy and corporate identity of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), as the national telecommunications service provider who has been established in the industry for over one and a half centuries. By delivering this extensive industry and brand experience to the consumers, the company has succeeded in acquiring a place amongst the first five companies of top fifty business entities for the fifth consecutive year, as confirmed by the country's top business ratings.

The SLT brand has been renowned throughout Sri Lanka as being a responsible corporate citizen who is trustworthy, strong and reliable, and forming an important part of people's lives, and shaping their futures.

SLT has worked towards developing and maintaining this reputation in every aspect of its business and interactions with all its stakeholder groups through the formation of lasting relationships built on quality and reliability in line with the values of simplicity and proximity that the brand represents.

Having a strong conviction of the need to be transparent in all its business operations, the company has continuously worked towards being accountable for its activities in the eyes of all its stakeholders by working in a manner that ensures sustainability in the environment, social and economic spheres. In each sphere, the company has worked to anticipate the future and taken appropriate measures to create empowered, stronger markets that will benefit individuals, businesses and industries and expedite development of the nation.

In the environmental aspect, SLT always works towards minimizing adverse impacts on the environment through its operations, while minimizing wastage and maximizing productivity. The company also endeavours to make technological changes to protect the environment and reduce energy use by adapting to new technologies.

In Sri Lanka's business end, SLT is a reliable and trusted partner for any business, enabling business productivity through "modern ICT solutions" that are on par with international standards. In the residential and small business segments, SLT is a household brand name with their telecommunication service spanning across generations.

Through a futuristic approach, the company continues to strengthen and add value to its operations for the benefit of all its stakeholders by introducing the right technology at the right time, with the right infrastructure to the right place.

SLT has enhanced its services from single-play to triple-play solutions with improved wired and wireless technologies to provide the best features of Voice, Broadband and Entertainment services. Presently SLT has already started migration of its communication backbone to NGN to better cater to the changing future demands and to improve overall service quality throughout the country.

SLT has initiated innovative ways to improve the lifestyle of Sri Lankans towards a Digital lifestyle, encouraging the philosophy of "connected life and work" for sustainability. Contributing to connected life and work forms part of SLT's core business, where the company is keen to help customers and other stakeholders to enhance their quality of life and work. Examples of this include products and services that enable online working, e-government solutions such as the 'Lanka Government Network' that bring flexible local government closer to all citizens of Sri Lanka.

SLT aspires to provide ICT access for as many people as possible - regardless of where they live, their age, level of media competency or abilities. Digital integration is an important and necessary step toward equal opportunities in our information and knowledge rich society. As the company continuously expands its broadband networks around the country and connects rural regions to ultra-fast Internet, even the undeserved areas in the North and the East have connected to the Global village, via SLT's modern information super highway.

Other ongoing CSR projects carried out by SLT that are not directly linked to the company's core business include "preserving heritage for tomorrow" and "spreading the wealth of knowledge" initiatives.

These are futuristic programs, carried out with a long-term vision of securing the sustainable development of Sri Lanka. Through the "preserving heritage for tomorrow" program, SLT attempts to make a significant contribution towards conserving the rich heritage of Sri Lanka - in terms of nature and environment, art and culture, for the benefit of future generations.

Under this initiative, the company carries out Sinharaja awareness programs for schoolchildren with the intention of effecting lasting attitudinal change amongst the community through proper education regarding the importance of maintaining existing ecosystems, wildlife and environment, for the continuing existence of life on earth.

The company also produces calendars and complementary items each year that richly depict the heritage of Sri Lanka in terms of environment, art and culture, providing a wealth of information to readers.

The "spreading the wealth of knowledge" project focuses on providing educational support to schools, universities and other educational institutes through the donation of books on a wide variety of subjects, thus helping to enhance the quality of education in the country.

MPL moves with logo change

Maritime Placements Limited, serving a large clientele including multinational and national companies in its history of 32 years has decided to move with a change of its logo as MPL.

"We have been catering to a varied and diversified customer base as the pioneer in the placement industry throughout the period and today it has grown to be one of the well recognized institutes when it comes to job placements,"MPL Director and Consultant, Charmaine Vanderhoeven told Daily News Business.

MPL before known as Maritime Placements Limited has been catering to the middle management to the junior level placements which later diversified to value added service such as outsourcing.

"The company is geared to meet the challenges of today's world with its strong and efficient management. We have served over 5000 clients by keeping with new Human Resource trends in the highly challenging market," she said.

With the economic boom and setting up of many companies in Sri Lanka, there will be endless opportunities for MPL to cater with its highest capacity.

It is expected that there will be an influx of competitors due to the economic boom and there is a large base of local placement companies.

"However, MPL holds the unique distinction of being the pioneer and market leader in local placements and continues to provide a very valuable service to Sri Lankan organizations for 30 years on and continues to do so," she said.

Apart from the local placement and outsourcing of staff and carrying out more focused headhunting/search operation for the middle management positions, MPL has been engaged in HR Processing, administering and management of payroll, providing of temporary and contractual staff for a specific period, manage and run customer service desks and help desks, data entry assignments, salary surveys, refernece checks, secretarial functions, designing and publishing of advertisements and any other specific requirements.

Commercial Bank slashes credit card interest rate

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reduced the interest rate applicable on all credit cards issued by the Bank.

"The interest rate on outstanding balances on our Gold, Silver and Electronic cards has been reduced from 35 percent to 22 percent per annum or 1.83 per centper month with effect from November 1, a company spokesman said.

"This reduction is in line with the trend of reducing lending rates, and is even less than the 24 percent rate requested by the Central Bank from the credit card issuing banks of Sri Lanka, and comes in addition to the many promotional benefits, discount packages and zero percent installment benefit schemes available on ComBank Credit Cards," he said.

DFCC Vardhana Bank sees growth

DFCC Vardhana Bank’s (DVB) assets, liabilities and branch network has seen an unprecedented growth since its inception in 2003.

“We have been able to achieve such profound growth due to the strong support extended by the DFCC Bank and the clientele we have been catering to during the last seven years.

“We have seen a growth of over 15 percent from 2009 to the third quarter of this year while the liabilities of the bank has gone up by 15 percent,” DFCC Vardhana Bank’s Chief Executive Officer and Director Lakshman Silva told Daily News Business.

DFCC Vardhana Bank set up 31 new branches and service centres around the country during the last year, while the target for 2010 is an additional 50 branches and service centers. DFCC currently has 115 service centers Islandwide.

“We have set up branches in Jaffna, Batticoloa and Ampara which are progressing fairly well. New branches in Trincomalee and Vavuniya will be opened soon,” Silva said.

“DFCC Vardhana’s main branches are located in the major cities to support the other branches which in turn are supported by a cluster of extension offices which are scattered around the main branch in the area. We have partnered with the Sri Lanka Postal Department with which we signed an MoU in 2008 which allows us to open DVB service centres within Post Offices.

These extension offices make it possible for customers to do their banking transactions at the Post Office similar to a one stop shop concept.

“The setting up of DVB extension offices in 2008 has been a huge success. We have been able to increase the habit of saving and thus give our customers the benefit of higher returns” he said.

DFCC Vardhana Bank also introduced a mobile banking facility, Vardhana M-Banker. This unique service provides door-to-door banking to customers, thus letting them carry out their banking activities in the comfort of their homes.

“The interest difference between fixed deposits and savings has become minimal and thus many customers are attracted to savings accounts as opposed to fixed deposits as it comes with a greater flexibility. DFCC Vardhana Bank has a large number of products catering to everyone from a new born child to an adult,” Silva said.

Vardhana Junior, the savings accounts for children gives them multiple benefits. Major milestones achieved during the tenure of the account gives junior account holders a number of benefits and gifts.

Vardhana Mega Bonus is yet another unique product from DFCC Vardhana which is a savings account which provides higher returns based primarily on the amount of money saved.

“We have also introduced float savings products directed towards business personnel. Our customers can save for a temporary period of time whilst earning the current market interest rate. We have a benchmarked interest rate based on the current market inter bank money market rate for these savings accounts,” said Silva.

DFCC Vardhana Ran Varama provides financial advances on jewellery at the lowest possible interest rate in the market.

DVB has also introduced the Vardhana Nenasa education loan scheme for students who need monetary assistance to complete their higher education. The student loans are given at a low interest rate and on flexible repayment terms.

Sandella, a housing loan, provides loan facilities for professionals who are looking to build their own home.

DFCC Vardhana Bank has issued its chip based VISA credit card during the last year.

The bank is currently in the process if issuing its internationally valid VISA debit card which will be accepted at over 31 million merchant establishments and over two million ATM’s worldwide.

DVB together with DFCC Bank, works towards supporting the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) by providing long term loan facilities on concessionary terms to start their new projects or existing projects. HP

ABE (UK) programs in Jaffna

The Association of Business Executives(ABE) - UK programs are introduced for the first time in Jaffna.

A seminar was held at Jaffna Central College recently, which was organized by the Sri Lanka branch of the ABE (UK) with the coordination of the Gateway Jaffna branch.








 

HSBC makes overseas travel more affordable

HSBC had unveiled an exclusive travel promotion for all its credit cardholders to experience the joy of overseas travel with a special zero percent instalment payment scheme offered with no surcharge.

The promotion valid until December 31, entitles HSBC credit cardholders to purchase airline tickets and travel packages on-line at seventeen popular airline and travel partners with easy settlement in twelve equal monthly instalments at zero interest and no surcharge.

Customers have the option of choosing their travel from the following partners - Air Asia, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, King Fisher, Malaysia, Mihin Lanka, Oman Air, Qatar, Singapore, SriLankan, Thai, Classic Travel, Gabo Travels Pvt Ltd, Hemas, Mackinnons and SriLankan Holidays.

HSBC Cards and Consumer Assets Head Nadessha Senaratne said, “Our customers seek to explore the world and we are happy to offer them an affordable option to plan their leisure travel.

The new instalment scheme will reduce the cost constrain on airfare, and allow customers to enjoy a blissful travel experience to their preferred travel destination anywhere in the world, as it is now affordable with their HSBC credit card.”

The promotion also allows cardholders to earn HSBC Rewards points for every on-line booking, and earn Air Miles when they fly onboard Cathay Pacific, Qatar, Singapore Airlines and Kingfisher, each time they travel.

Plastishells septic tanks to Maldives

Arpico Pastishells sent the first shipment of specially designed septic tanks to the Maldives recently. From left - Assistant Business Development Manager Duvindra Corea, Sales Executive Jiffry, Production Manager Sisira Balasooriya, Factory Manager Hementha Perera, Managing Director Sunil Liyanage, Marketing Director Emil Senanayake, Senior Sales Manager Hiran De Silva and Senior Brand Manager Derrick Perera with the shipment.