ADVERTORIAL

Janashakthi launches global campaign

'Make Roads Safe' with Michelle Yeoh:

Janashakthi joined the United Nations, the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMS) and the global governing body for motor sports and road safety the UK's Federation Internationale de I'Automobile (FIA) - launch the global campaign - a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 in Sri Lanka. The event was launched in the presence of renowned Academy Award winning Malaysian actor and brand ambassador Michelle Yeoh and FIA President and former Ferrari Motor Sport Head Jean Todt.

The `Make Roads Safe' campaign is coordinated by the UK's FIA Foundation, whose members have played a pivotal role in driving the campaign forward and making the decade a reality. The FIA Foundation will work in close association with Janashakthi and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club in Sri Lanka to focus on taking necessary measures to significantly reduce deaths and injuries caused by road accidents. Janashakthi's Marketing Head Paddy Weerasekera said, "As an insurance company we have always been concerned about safety. Our past media campaigns focused on building awareness about road safety, covering key areas such as driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, the importance of wearing seatbelts, the use of mobile phones while driving, child safety and related factors. We are happy to be part of a global initiative and hope to further bring about awareness of this topic in the years to come.

Ceylon Motor Sports Club President Niroshan Pereira, Janashakthi Marketing Head Paddy Weerasekera, FIA President Jean Todt, Actress and Make Roads Safe Brand Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, racing car driver Dilantha Malagamuwa and Janashakthi Sales and Marketing General Manager Ravi Liyanage

"Janashakthi has always been a part of the Ceylon Motor Sports Club for many years and has supported many initiatives in the past. A CSR project of this nature is made possible only with the assistance of corporates such as Janashakthi coming forward to extend their full support, and we aim to host a series of activities in the coming months in relation to the program", said Ceylon Motor Sports Club President Niroshan Pereira. Globally renowned Sri Lankan GT race car driver Dilantha Malagamuwa graced the event and pasted the first sticker to kick start the campaign.

Statistics reveal that fatal accidents take place every six seconds on the worlds roads, with nine in ten road deaths and injuries occurring in developing countries. Research in India and Bangladesh has shown that at least half of families affected by a road death or serious injury fall below the poverty line, with the economic cost to such developing countries estimated by the World Bank at up to US $100 billion annually. According to UNICEF and the WHO, 260,000 children die and another 10 million are injured in road crashes each year, and it has been predicted that by 2015, the leading cause of premature death and disability in developing countries as a result of road accidents will affect children aged five and above.

Since the launch of Decade of Action for Road Safety campaign in 2006, the FIA Foundation has campaigned for and achieved success to host the first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, resulting in the implementation of this campaign. During this Decade of Action the Foundation will continue to involve a broad-based coalition consisting of political stakeholders, public health bodies, industry leaders, motoring organisations and other international organisations to prioritise road safety.

The goal of the campaign will focus on improving existing road design and place emphasis on pedestrian safety, safer vehicles, motorcycle helmets, seat belts, action on drink-driving, driver training, licensing and tackling speed - measures which seek to decrease the amount of road deaths. The campaign seeks to advocate the policy recommendations of the Commission for Global Road Safety and the 2004 World Report on road traffic injury prevention.

Global Ambassador for the `Make Roads Safe' campaign and one of Asia's most celebrated actresses, Michelle Yeoh, said that in her role as global ambassador for this venture, she advocates for road injury to be recognized as a global public health and development priority. "I am delighted to see the Make Roads Safe campaign being launched in Sri Lanka. There is much more work to be done in all parts of Asia, starting from simple things like wearing a seatbelt. I am delighted to see that Janashakthi has stepped forward to take this message to the whole country, and I am sure that many activities will take place henceforth in order to drive home awareness about road safety".

The 7th Frontier opens designer fashion store

The D’divas store

The 7th Frontier became the first ad agency to foray into fashion when it launched its own designer label under the name D'divas. The integrated communications agency which recorded another first by conceptualizing and developing KumbukRiver, the internationally-acclaimed eco resort opened its own fashion boutique and produces its own designs for brand D'divas.

Rapidly developing as the iconic 'Red' shop along Colombo 2's Braybrooke Street, D'divas seeks to offer discerning women a respite from mass-market garments with a diverse range designed and produced by its own team and marketed considerably below the pricy tags associated with designer wear. From everyday wear to selective high street fashion, D'divas designers use their drawing boards to create designs which are unique yet practical and according, its design head and the man behind The 7th Frontier Dinesh Watawana, his band of path-breakers have been defiant against all odds, consolidating their reputation as Colombo's ideas team.

D'divas has been on the plans boards for quite some time and the team insists that the primary goal of designers is not to create yet another prohibitively exclusive brand but to bring designer wear within practical confinements of aspiring women.

Nawaloka opens Pain Management Centre

Pain management - one of the latest modes of medical treatment in the modern world - will be launched as a state-of-the-art medical centre at Nawaloka Hospitals today at 3. 00 p.m. This will herald an era of great comfort for a multitude of people in Sri Lanka as well as from overseas, who have been thus far deprived of such healthcare.

The medical specialists who will be serving in this centre will comprise both prominent local and foreign experts possessing immense experience and expertise in pain management.

Diseases which cause significant and prolonged pain such as back-pain, neck-pain, joint-pain of knees, shoulder, hands or feet as well as other types of body or organ related pains brought on by various diseases will be treated at this latest Pain Management Centre at Nawaloka hospital.

During consultations patients will be thoroughly evaluated by the specialists.

Following this they will be given a detailed explanation regarding their medical problem and the various treatment options available. Adequate time will also be given to answer any questions regarding their disease.

Treatment will be started initially with drugs and injections, these will be complimented by the newest methods in physiotherapy and soft tissue massage. State-of-the-art interventions ranging from x-ray guided facet joint injections, nerve root blocks, pulse radiofrequency of nerves, discography, intra discal electro thermal ablation and spinal cord stimulators will be available to patients who don't respond to initial treatment.

The centre will be professionally supervised by an internationally renowned pain-management specialist from England Dr Namal Senasinghe (MBBS Dip in Pain Med, FFARCS, and FFPMCA) He is a Pain Medicine Consultant at Kent and Canterbury Hospital Pain Medicine Centre and also the Kent Pain Services Ltd UK's Director. He will be offering Sri Lankans a specialized care in pain management which comparable with similar centres in UK the and the USA.

His counterpart will also be another Sri Lankan - Dr Harindu Wijesinghe (MBBS, MD, MRCP). He is a Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Consultant. He has returned from Australia after a fellowship at Sydney's Concord Hospital and the New South Wales Institute of Sports Medicine. Currently serving at the Sri Jayewardenapura General Hospital, he brings his expertise in management of arthritis, neck-pain, back-pain, sports injuries and other soft-tissue injuries.

This Pain Management Centre will also consist of Physiotherapists, Masseurs and other complementary medical specialists.

Gulf Air A320

Gulf Air receives new aircraft

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has taken delivery of two more brand new Airbus A320 aircraft, taking the number of new aircraft in the airline's fleet to 14 in the last 14 months.

The two new aircraft that arrived a few days back have already been inducted into fleet.

The technically and environmentally advanced A320 aircraft are now flying on Gulf Air's short and medium haul routes. Gulf Air currently operates a total fleet of 34 aircraft.

ComBank supports Ranaviru Sevana

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has installed an Automated Teller Machine at the Ranaviru Sevana in Ragama, in a gesture of support to the over 400 disabled war heroes accommodated at the Complex.

A disabled war hero uses the new Commercial Bank ATM as Ivan Fernando looks on

The new ATM which was opened on the International Disabled Day, will enable disabled service personnel residing there to withdraw cash and obtain all other ATM based facilities.

This ATM will also benefit inhabitants of the nearby Ragama Civil Rehabilitation Hospital, those residing in the locality and other members of the public.

"The establishment of this ATM was greatly appreciated by the disabled service personnel and the people in the area who can now withdraw cash without having to travel to the Ragama town and the nearby branches," said Commercial Bank Colombo Metro Regional Manager Ivan Fernando.

"We are encouraged by the positive response received from these service personnel who otherwise had to be accompanied by another when visiting banks and ATMs.

We are happy at being able to assist the valiant soldiers who paved the way for the present peaceful times," he said. Customers of other banks holding a Maestro or Visa card can also withdraw cash from Commercial Bank ATM machines.

Commercial Bank Colombo Metro Regional Manager Ivan Fernando, Sri Lanka Army Rehabilitation Director Brigadier R V Samarathunga and Commandant Ranaviru Sevana - Brigadier D J I Reramunigamage opened the new ATM.

MBSL Savings Bank relocates Kotahena branch

MBSL Savings Bank Chairman M R Shah receiving the first transaction from a customer, at the opening of the newly relocated Kotahena branch.

MBSL Savings Bank recently relocated their Kotahena branch to a more central location , situated at "Belcon" Building, No.174, George R De Silva Mawatha, Colombo-13.

The MBDL Savings Bank Chairman M R Shah was the chief guest at the opening of the newly relocated branch, while the MBSL Savings Bank CEO Sujam Rathnayake along with other senior officials of the bank, including the Kotahena Branch Manager J P Nimal Don were also present.

A large number of prominent entrepreneurs and professionals in the area graced the occasion.

The newly relocated branch at Kotahena will offer superior service to the people in the area through a host of innovative savings and lending products and is fully equipped to provide the customers with a easy and convenient access to all banking facilities.

MBSL Savings Bank CEO Sujam Rathnayake said, that the rationale behind relocating the Kotahena branch, was to provide specialized services to customers in spacious surroundings which is easily accessible.

SLI expands in North

Sri Lanka Insurance corporation Ltd (SLI) expanded its presence in the North by relocating its Jaffna branch at a more modern and spacious location at No. 571, Hospital Road, Jaffna and opening a new branch at No 31, A9 Road, Kilinochchi last week. Both branches are fully networked and equipped with modern technology to provide integrated services with speed and efficiency when servicing the insurance requirements of its customers.

Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda opening the SLIC Jaffna branch. Sri Lanka Insurance MD and CEO Mohan de Alwis looks on

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda was the chief guest for the event. Sri Lanka Insurance Managing Director and CEO Mohan de Alwis and the Sri Lanka Insurance Senior Management was present at this occasion.

Speaking at the event the Minister stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa's achievement of winning the war against terror is an historic achievement to Sri Lanka as well for the world. He said that the Government has taken speedy steps to uplift and enhance the standard of living of the northern people of Sri Lanka and one such occasion is the relocation of Sri Lanka Insurance Jaffna branch at a new location equipped with all the modern faculties.

Sri Lanka Insurance Managing Director and CEO Mohan de Alwis said, "Sri Lanka Insurance, the largest Government owned composite insurance provider in Sri Lanka with over 72 billion assets under management, half a million policies in force and a history of a decade of committed service to the nation, is today marching swiftly forward in fulfilling the company's vision of being the No. 1 Insurance provider in the country." He also said that Sri Lanka Insurance as a profit-making entity in the State sector has taken on many investment initiatives such as the recent acquisition of the multinational 'Shell Gas' rebranded as 'Litro Gas' and the Investment in hotels through Sri Lanka Insurance Hotels and Spas (Pvt) Ltd.

Jaffna Mayor, Jaffna District Secretariat District Secretary, Sri Lanka Insurance Life Insurance Assistant General Manager Nilanga Wickramasinghe and Jaffna branch consultant Ranee Ariyanayagam were also present.

SriLankan wins Effie Award

SriLankan Airlines won the Travel and Tourism category at the recent Effie Awards for its 'Hotseats' marketing campaign, the latest accolade received by the National Carrier.

SriLankan received a Bronze for the campaign, which was produced by Grant McCann Erickson. It was the highest award presented in the Travel and Tourism category, and one of just 16 awards - five Silvers and 11 Bronzes - presented at the Effies ceremony at the Waters' Edge, from among nearly 100 entries. There were no Golds presented.

SriLankan has in recent months won a series of international and national awards in passenger transport, marketing and IT.

Global recognition for Janashakthi

At World Brand Congress:

Janashakthi Insurance PLC, clinched dual honours for two consecutive years at the 19th World Brand Excellence Awards Ceremony held in Mumbai, India.

Non Motor Brand Manager Rajitha Samaranayake, Research Manager -Nilupul Chandrasena, Marketing Head Paddy Weerasekera, Sales and Marketing General Manager Ravi Liyanage, CRM Manager Sanath Senanayake, Motor Brand Manager Chatura Udawatte and Assistant Brand Manager Jude Silva

It was bestowed with the “Award for Banking and Financial Services” and the “Award for Overall Brand Leadership”.

The awards were presented by the World Brand Congress as its 19th World Brand Summit.

Janashakhti Insurance Sales and Marketing General Manager Ravi Liyanage hailed this as a “total endorsement of their endeavour in brand building and brand management efforts.

We attribute this achievement to our underpinning brand propositions; the unmatched quality of our service and the creation of greater value via constant investment in brand building. The Janashakthi team is delighted and deeply honoured with this recognition where our customer-centric deliberations in developing brand and related activations have been appreciated by a global jury consisting of an eminent panel of judges, Liyanage said. The World Brand Congress is the single largest rendezvous of the best brains behind some of the world’s most successful and sought after brands.

The Congress is an annual meeting place for leaders from every sector and continent and is a non-profit making activity aimed at a professional cause of development and growth.

With a membership embracing 60 countries across the globe, Brand Asia is a body committed to raising the standards of marketing and brand management across all industries in Asia and the world. This year’s winners include global brands such as LG Electronics, Microsoft Windows, Honda, Star News, Canon and Yahoo.

HNB reaches 350 ATMs

HNB has kept to its commitment to aggressively expand the bank’s electronic delivery channels with the commissioning of the 350th ATM.

The 350th ATM was opened at the Ragama General Hospital premises.

The bank currently maintains 291 on-site (at customer centre premises), and 59 off-site ATMs spread across the island. This number also includes two drive-thru ATMs located at the Bank’s Head Office, “HNB Towers”, and at its Priority Banking Centre at Greenpath.

The 350th ATM was officially opened by Personal Financial Services Assistant General Manager P Sridharan on December 29, 2010.

During the year 2010, 40 new ATMs were commissioned in total, out of which 27 locations are outstation, and 14 are off-site locations at key public places.

This consolidates HNB’s position of having the widest spread of ATMs in the country.

The HNB ATM network not only caters for the bank’s own debit and credit card holders, but for all VISA, MasterCard, credit and debit cardholders of Sri Lanka and tourists.

The entire HNB ATM network has been upgraded providing the stable backbone required for this aggressive expansion. An advanced ATM monitoring system coupled with a 24 x 7 customer help desk, improved service levels by reducing response time.

The upgrade to ATM services included the dispensing of Rs 2,000- denomination notes at selected ATMs and increase of withdrawal limit to Rs 100,000- at all ATMs. The bank has also introduced several value additions to the ATMs ranging from the facility to change your ATM PIN (Personal Identification Number), to cheque book request, display of Un-cleared effects, mini statement of the last 10 transactions, and the transfer of funds to any HNB account.

In addition to settlement of HNB Credit Cards, the bank recently introduced “utility bill payments”, facilitating settlement of bills to Sri Lanka Telecom, Lanka Bell, Ceylon Electricity Board and Lanka Electricity Company.

The value additions and expansion of the ATM network this year coincides with the bank introducing its VISA International Debit card, which replaces the proprietary ATM card.

Contribution to education :

CBL’s Munchee recognized

Ceylon Biscuits Limited’s (CBL) flagship brand Munchee, was recognized recently with an award for its contribution towards improving the standards of education in Sri Lanka, during the recently concluded Best Corporate Citizen awards ceremony. In addition Munchee was positioned among the top ten companies of Sri Lanka that practises corporate citizenship initiatives recording this as the fourth occasion Munchee achieved this significant accolade.

Munchee’s contribution towards education can be categorized as follows;

Munchee Tikiri Shishyadhara (Munchee scholarship scheme)

Munchee Hapana Year five Scholarship Workshops

Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana (Munchee village re-awakening program)

CBL Nena Medura (CBL Knowledge Centre)

Munchee Samaga Piyumvila (Munchee exam coaching program)

Munchee Tikiri Shishyadhara program (Munchee scholarship scheme) is an important initiative that has recognized that every child has an equal right for education and in this context Munchee has come forward to award scholarships to needy children in rural area and under-privileged families. Around 2000 children have been benefited through this program that has been continuing for ten years and the benefits will continue depending on their performance until they complete their education.

Munchee Hapana Scholarship Workshops are conducted on a weekly basis for students who sit for year five scholarship examination mainly from rural areas. In addition, with the objectives of reaching to a greater number of students Munchee also runs a educational supplement in a national newspaper to touch on the year five scholarship study material. More than 125,000 students benefit from these programs annually.

Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana is a comprehensive social and economical value enhancement program targeted at under-privileged villages. As part of this program Munchee has undertaken to develop village schools and provide essential infrastructure such as libraries, laboratories and drinking water to facilitate better and more comfortable learning opportunities for students.

CBL Knowledge Centre (Nena Medura) is located in Pannipitiya and was initiated with the sole objective of uplifting the intellectual standard of communities living in the vicinity of the Munchee factory and adding value to the students learning experience. The library located in the Knowledge Centre (Nena Medura) offers free membership.

Apart from this vocational and skills training courses are conducted regularly at Nena Medura.

Munchee Samaga Piyumvila is an enhanced educational value addition program targeted at coaching the under-privileged Ordinary Level students free of charge before their exams. In addition to the recognition received at the Corporate Citizen award ceremony, Munchee also won a Silver award for corporate social responsibility at the recently concluded Brand Excellence Awards ceremony, organized by Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).

Commercial Safety opens showroom

Commercial Safety (Pvt) Ltd, opened its exclusive Viro Product Showroom at No. 26, Messenger Street, Colombo 12 recently. The new state-of-the-art showroom was opened by the Italy Embassy Mission Deputy Head Dr Gianluca Rubagotti.

Dr Gianluca Rubagotti, also launched the official website of Safety (Pvt) Ltd, www.comsafe.lk, where customers can view and order Viro products as well as other safety and protection goods the company imports and markets in Sri Lanka.

Commercial Safety (Pvt) Ltd., engages in supplying safety and protection goods and utilities as well as general hardware items to reputed and well known companies in Sri Lanka more than a decade. Because of Commercial Safety (Pvt) Ltd’s dedicated service and customer care and its good reputation for importing and supplying quality products, the company was awarded the Sole Distributorship of VIRO S.p.A. Italy products in Sri Lanka from 2007.

Sri Lankan customers can purchase original Viro products from the authorized retail sellers all around the island certified by Commercial Safety (Pvt) Ltd., said the company’s Managing Director Faizal Buhary, who said that customers can reach the sales personnel of the company on a dedicated hotline at any time throughout the day and advised not to get caught for counterfeit products. He said that any person or company importing or distributing counterfeit Viro products in Sri Lanka will be legally prosecuted in future.