ADVERTORIAL

Innovative Techniques in Construction:

Access wins award

Access Engineering Ltd won the only award given for innovation techniques in construction at the National Awards for Construction 2010, reinforcing their distinction of being pioneers in innovative technologies and construction methods in Sri Lanka's construction industry. This was in addition to winning four other National Awards for civil engineering projects, making the company one of the biggest winners of the night.

Bridge project Projet Manager and Coordinator Kosala Wickremasinghe (first from left) and Sangupiddy Bridge Project Manager Iyantha Sirisena (second from left) receiving the award from Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa

Access Engineering's Optical Fibre Network Development Project (Phase 1) won the award for Innovative Techniques in Construction while their work on raising the Unichchai Tank Bund in Batticaloa, the construction of the Kelaniya Railway Crossing Flyover and the construction and detail design of the Hikkaduwa-Mirissa-Puranawella Fishery Harbours won the company Performance Awards under the Civil Engineering Projects category.

"We have some of the best available human resources in the industry which presently stands at 1400 employees including over 100 engineering professionals.

This outstanding achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work put in by our team of engineers which is why today we stand in the forefront of the civil engineering sector in Sri Lanka, rendering our expertise in diversified fields, providing turnkey engineering solutions including design, procurement, construction and commissioning of many multi disciplinary engineering projects for our customers in the public and private sectors," said Access Engineering Ltd Joint Managing Director and CEO Christopher Joshua.

Today, Access Engineering is an industry leader in many areas it operates and concentrates on co-areas such as; roads and highways, bridges and flyovers, irrigation and land drainage, harbours and marine work, environment and waste management, water supply and waste water management, dredging and reclamation, piling and buildings as well as telecommunication infrastructure.

"We look forward to implementing many challenging projects in the future providing our team the opportunity to display their competence and skills, making our contribution to build the much needed infrastructure of our country while contributing to lift the standards of our industry," said Access Engineering Ltd Chief Operating Officer and Director Rohana Fernando.

Access Engineering is recognized with many accreditations with seven ICTAD C1 gradings for various disciplines of construction, a major and specialist contractor by the NCASL, as an Institute for training engineers for the engineering charter for disciplines in design and construction by the IESL. They have received many business excellence and construction excellence awards for their performances and is an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified company.

Akbar gets ISO 9001:2008

Akbar Pharmaceuticals a wholly owned subsidiary of the Akbar Brothers Group of Companies, is the first pharmaceutical company to receive the prestigious ISO 9001:2008 award for quality management.

SLSI Chairman Kanchana Rathwatte presenting the ISO certificate to Akbar Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Asgi Akbarally

The parent company Akbar Brothers is the No one exporter for tea in Sri Lanka and has received many prestigious awards such as the Presidential Export Award and SLIM Brand excellence award to name a few.

Akbar Brothers has received the ISO 9001:2008 for quality management, and ISO 22000:2005 for food safety.

Akbar Pharmaceuticals began their operations in 1995 with a staff of four employees.

Initially they functioned as the distributor for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and at the same time they took over the business of then Central Medical Stores which was one of the oldest and most reputed agency Houses in the country.

Thereafter the company went on to tie up with many leading manufacturers around the globe and has emerged to be among the top suppliers of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, surgical and medical devices, surgical instruments, dental products, and leading brands of OTC products such as Salonpas and Carnation foot care products.

Today their employee strength has gone up to sixty. As the company is well established and its systems are in place the Management decided to work towards receiving the ISO certification. The company represents reputed manufacturers from Japan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

Akbar Pharmaceuticals took another step forward by commencing their manufacturing unit in the year 2006.

They manufacture topical applications such as Winterpan and Dermafield and are working towards receiving the WHO GMP certification.

NDB Bank 'Divi Aruna' now in Chilaw

Vice President, SME and Specialized Commercial Markets Head Raj Aboobucker handing over a financing facility to one of the beneficiaries engaged in the dairy industry. The SME Banking Team and Small Dairy Farm Development Company partner S M Lional Dharmasiri look on

NDB Bank's SME loan scheme, 'Divi Aruna' was successfully introduced to the people of Chilaw recently. The scheme aims to provide funding that will develop the lives of the communities, elevate their social standing and empowering them to make the most of their entrepreneurial skills, and to be part of the rapid economic growth in post war Sri Lanka.

SME and Specialized Commercial Markets Vice President Raj Aboobucker and his team handed over funding for those in the sectors of fisheries and dairy at the event held in Chilaw. The salient feature of the loan scheme is that the borrowers are able to obtain loans at concessionary rates without collateral. The Divi Aruna scheme also encourages a savings culture among the borrowers, so that they will create equity for their future.

Previously, NDB 'Divi Aruna' was launched in the Jaffna, Batticaloa, Ampara, Matara and Trincomalee districts, and has been a successful effort where repayments are prompt and regular.

This will also bring these communities to the mainline banking stream, and further obtain other banking facilities that will assist them at different stages in their lives.