Sri Lanka Business News | Online edition of Daily News

The performance of Aepona during year 2010 was commendable. It was a very good year for the company. The company reached profitability in 2009 and continued to grow revenues and stay profitable throughout 2010, Aepona Global Sales, Services, and Support Senior Vice President, Michael Mayfield told Daily News Business.

He said the company intends to expand their business within the mobile cloud provider segment, which was a new market for Aepona during 2010.

"We have plans to expand our sales coverage in Asia and introduce a new eCommerce and mCommerce solution that is currently in development in partnership with a major US broadband customer," Mayfield said.

"The Sri Lankan operations are a key component of our overall solution delivery value chain. The company is impressed and pleased the efforts of Sri Lankan Research and Development (R and D) centre. We look forward to continue the success in 2011 and beyond. Sri Lanka will continue to grow in significance and size over the years to come," he said.

The convergence of Cloud Computing, Software-as-a-Service, and Mobile Computing create the perfect storm for Aepona. "Our value proposition is well aligned to these market trends and with our colleagues in Sri Lanka, we're prepared to take full advantage," Mayfield said. Aepona provides the software engine that powers the convergence of open mobile networks, mobile cloud computing, on-demand enterprise solutions, and web and mobile applications.

Aepona has been supplying state-of-the-art, telco-grade software products to the global communications industry for over one decade. Aepona's solution makes it easy for enterprise solution providers and web or mobile application developers to turbo-charge a wide variety of applications and services, enriching them with powerful mobile network features and intelligence.

"Our products have been deployed with over 25 mobile operators and service providers across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia, processing in excess of 1.2 billion network and payment transactions per month, while enabling more than US $ one billion in annual revenues for service providers, mobile operators, application partners and content providers," Mayfield said

Sun Aqua launches mineral water

Sun Aqua Managing Director Suri Rajan and Sun Aqua Director Gowri Rajan at the opening

The brand contains no additives and has a shelf life of two years. It is packed in food grade pet bottles and is registered and certified by the Health Ministry and awarded the SLS certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.

The source, plant and surrounding environment at Kotagala (situated at 4400 feet above sea level in the Nuwara Eliya district), is pollutant free and nothing is extracted during the production process to change its unique characteristics which is on par with related international brands . A spokesperson at Sun Aqua said, "Drinking chlorinated water destroys beneficial bacteria in the body which will weaken and eventually damage one's immunity. Studies have revealed that where there are higher levels of THM's in drinking water, this may result in higher incidence of cancer.

Pure drinking water is one of the most essential and critical resources of our lifetime and our children's lifetime. High quality water is essential to health, recreation and growth and it is with this idea that Sun Aqua has brought natural mineral water in its purest form.

Sun Aqua has been conceived and marketed by Worldwide Enterprises, a subsidiary of Kandy's Sun and Asoka Group of Companies.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated a new branch of People’s Bank at Nugegoda yesterday. People’s Bank Chairman W.G. Karunajeewa and Deputy Finance Minister. Geethanjana Gunawardena were present. Here, Minister Rajapaksa accepting the first deposit from a customer after the opening. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya

Embark helps over 7,000 dogs in 2010

Embark, the community animal welfare initiative of ODEL has with the support of partner organizations, assisted a total of 7,183 stray dogs since its inception in March 2007.

The program, which leverages ODEL's intuitive skill at fashion retail to raise funds for the cause and promote care for street pooches, said 2010 was its busiest year to date, with multiple projects and campaigns generating wider community participation.

In the twelve months ending December 2010, Embark had sterilized and vaccinated 1802 stray dogs, provided vaccines for another 831, rescued 155 injured animals off the streets, provided special treatments to 803 more and found homes for 88.

This brought the cumulative number of dogs sterilized and vaccinated to 4,306, and the number of dogs vaccinated to 1,547. Special treatments had been provided to 909 street dogs and a total of 207 injured had been rescued. The number of strays re-homed by the program stood at 214.

"All of these dogs would have been exposed to disease and injury and would have been suffering on the streets if not for the efforts of Embark," said Blue Paw Trust (BPT) Trustee Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere which works with the objective of conducting humane dog population and rabies management programs in a professional and scientific manner, balancing both human and animal needs and welfare.

People's Bank new branch in Nugegoda

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated a new branch of People's Bank at Nugegoda yesterday. People's Bank Chairman W.G. Karunajeewa and Deputy Finance Minister. Geethanjana Gunawardena were present. Here, Minister Rajapaksa accepting the first deposit from a customer after the opening. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya

SiA to fly to Sao Paulo

Singapore Airlines will begin services to Sao Paulo in Brazil on March 28, subject to regulatory approvals.

Sales have now begun and tickets can be purchased over singaporeair.com or from appointed agents. Flights will operate three times per week on a Singapore-Barcelona-Sao Paulo routing. Spanair will be codesharing on the flights.

Sri Lankan electronic market growing

The country's electronic market is growing and there are conducive policies to sustain the growth momentum.

Softlogic Holdings Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Pathirage, Panasonic Corporation Asia and Oceania Corporate Management Division Managing Executive Officer and Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Managing Director Ikuo Miyamoto, Japan’s Panasonic Corporation Asia and Oceania Sales Group General Manager Kazuhiro Yamanishi and Panasonic Asia Pacific Corporate Communications Group, Group Head Katsumi Takahashi.

"We see an increase in the demand in the electronic market as the products have become more affordable to the consumers. The change of life styles and growth in the level of disposable income have a positive impact on the market," Softlogic Holding Chairman Ashok Pathirage said.

The country is adopting to fast changing technologies and is equipped with advancements in the technological field. This has resulted in latest technologies being introduced to the country which are available in the developed world, he said.

Softlogic is a fast growing company which has ventured in to many fields catering to different segments of the society. This diversification has enabled Softlogic to reach US $ 100 million annual turnover. The company introduces environmentally friendly products for the benefit of local customers.

"Sri Lanka is poised for an exciting phase of development and there is a vibrant business environment.

We are catering to a quality conscious market to support, enrich and enhance the quality of lives. Softlogic strives to elevate the level of consumption of product quality to be on par with developed countries," Pathirage said.

Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte. Managing Director, Panasonic Corporation, Asia and Oceania Corporate Management Division Management Executive Officer Ikuo Miyamoto said Sri Lanka is becoming a rapidly growing economy with dynamic market conditions.

These emerging economies will drive the global economy. Without these countries the economic growth could not be sustained, he said.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company fetes high performers

The Richard Pieris Tyre Company, felicitated over 200 dealers in the North Western region at Kurunegala's Seasons Hotel, attended by Richard Pieris Tyre Company Director and General Manager M Pushpika Janadheera. The dealers were briefed about new products and also the business approach during the gathering.

From a distribution network of 1300, across the country regional conventions are held throughout the year encouraging the dealer community. The best compete in the Annual Dealers Convention which not only recognizes best performers but also an event as an occasion to be able to meet and bond with fellowship and camaraderie.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company Director and General Manager Pushpika Janadheera, who was the chief guest for the occasion said, "As a team we believe the company growth should be reflected with our dealer strength as well.

"We strive to produce high quality products and market the same economically to cater to our valued consumers. Though the current rubber price is increasing steadily, Arpidag products remain unaffected through better management of our resources. We have identified the needs of our valued dealers and we will continue to add value for both our dealers and our customers".

All the participants were recognized for their valuable commitment to the tyre sector.

Vallibel Finance ties up with Scienter

Vallibel Finance has tied up with the renowned Scienter Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd to take its technology platform to the cutting-edge. Vallibel Finance is now poised to further elevate its service spectrum with a custom-built IT platform created by its partner in this venture, Scienter Technologies.

Vallibel Finance Managing Director Jayantha Rangamuwa and Scienter Technologies (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director Rajiva Witharana exchanging documents. Both organizations’ officers look on

Vallibel Finance is swiftly moving towards augmenting its IT platform as the demand for financial services thrives in the post-war boom.

The four year-old company's strategic push to upgrade their system at this crucial time is keeping with its long and short-term plans to make innovatively modern financial tools more accessible to the masses.

"We at Vallibel Finance are always looking to make our services more user-friendly," said Vallibel Finance Managing Director Jayantha Rangamuwa. "Being on the cutting-edge of technology will help us deliver a better, more efficient service by streamlining our procedures. This venture with Scienter Technologies is the ideal solution for us, and we are confident that they will do a great job," he said.

Scienter Technologies, a 14 year-old company which began as a small IT business venture, gained the rare distinction of winning the Overall Gold Award at the National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) in 2009. The company has received ISO 9001:2008 certification for software quality assurance and markets software solutions in the fields of financial services including leasing, fixed deposits and micro finance, tourism and hospitality, apparel, exports, HRM and many more.

"Scienter Technologies' expertise in the field of financial software systems leaves us no doubt that this technology boost will be exactly what we need to push forward with our mission," said Rangamuwa. "With this key technological alliance putting our IT platform firmly in place to take on the future, we will continue to forge ahead with our expansion plans across the island, bringing progressive financial tools to all Sri Lankans," he said.

OCBT launches foundation diplomas

In today's competitive, fast paced world, students are becoming increasingly more in favour of embarking on a higher educational pathway immediately after O-Ls.

While offering a number of selected degree programs of International repute, OCBT Industrial Campus provides a practical, professional approach to bridge the knowledge gap of students - especially after O-Ls, who aspire to complete their higher education quickly and efficiently. OCBT is currently preparing to groom their latest batch of O-L qualified (or after O-L) students from this January onwards, through the Foundation Diploma in Business and IT and Foundation Diploma in Software Engineering programs. These programs provide automatic entry to degree programs and they are highly recognized among universities and academic institutions - locally and internationally.

Since the minimum age limit is only 16 years, and the minimum qualification for these programs are O-Ls (pending results are accepted), students are able to gain six months of invaluable training towards their degree and their professional career - at a very young age. As the courses are cost effective, it is inevitably a highly profitable investment for quality seeking, yet cost conscious parents.

To nurture the talent of promising students, OCBT also offers valuable scholarships, which are granted according to students' merits. Because OCBT places a high emphasis on maintaining high standards towards their academic courses, every applicant for these Foundation Diplomas will undergo a compulsory placement test prior to the commencement of the course on January 28.

Registrations for the Foundation Diplomas in Business and IT and Software Engineering are now open and applications will be accepted until January 26.

Further details could be obtained from OCBT, No. 120, 2nd Floor, High Level Road, Kirulapona, Colombo-6. Email: [email protected] or log on to www.ocbt.lk

Sampath Bank appoints HR Head

Sampath Bank PLC has appointed Jayanta Jayaratna, a leading HR practitioner, as its HR Head. Jayaratna who has extensive experience in the HR discipline at leading corporate entities in Sri Lanka, lastly held the position of Commercial Bank of Ceylon Deputy General Manager (Human Resource Management).

In 2003, he provided the leadership to the Commercial Bank to become the winner of the first-ever 'HR Excellence Award' jointly organized by the Institute of Personnel Management, the Association of HR Practitioners and the Post-graduate Institute of Management.

In the same year, he was the winner of the 'Lifetime Gold Medal for the Best HR Practitioner' Award by the Institute of Personnel Management.

Emirates, Montblanc mark A380 design

Emirates has partnered with Montblanc - purveyors of fine luxury products, to offer customers the opportunity to win an exclusive Montblanc Skeleton A380 Limited Edition writing instrument worth US$ 19,650, inspired by the world's most advanced aircraft the Airbus A380.

Montblanc Skeleton A380 Limited Edition Writing Instrument

Customers on board all Emirates flights who purchase the Montblanc StarWalker A380 fineliner from Emirates' Duty Free, can register for a raffle draw to win a luxury trip to Germany's Hamburg, where they will receive the Montblanc Skeleton A380 Limited Edition. The promotion will run until June 30.

The winner, along with a companion, will be flown First Class on Emirates to Germany's Hamburg, to visit Montblanc's Artisan Atelier, birth place of Montblanc's Limited Edition writing instruments. They will witness master craftsmen at work and will also have the opportunity to visit the Emirates A380 aircraft at Airbus' assembly line in Hamburg.

"The dynamic design of the iconic Airbus A380 provides the ideal inspiration for a partnership between Emirates and Montblanc. It is reflective of our constant goal to provide our discerning customers with an offering that is both distinctive and exclusive, from a high level of comfort on board, to services that cater to their tastes and a wide-range of duty free sales options," said Emirates Retail Services Vice President John J Sime.

"Once again, we are delighted to team up with Emirates for another prestigious onboard campaign. Our artisan craftsmen wanted to create an exceptional masterpiece as a tribute to the Airbus A380, which sets new standards for passenger comfort," said Montblanc Western Hemisphere President Karl-Heinz Handke.

"With its premium services and exclusive customer base, Emirates is the ideal partner for Montblanc to showcase a precious and unique writing instrument," he said.

The Montblanc Skeleton A380 Limited Edition is a masterpiece inspired by the world's most advanced aircraft, the Airbus A380, and intricately handcrafted by Montblanc. With a shared vision in craftsmanship, technical perfection and exquisite aesthetics, the Montblanc Skeleton A380 Limited Edition is a collector's dream.

Its dual-levelled windows and dark blue precious resin dominates the writing instrument's 18k white gold barrel and is designed to resemble the A380. 28 flawless diamonds adorn the rings of the writing instrument, while the crown bears the Montblanc emblem. An engraved 18-carat gold nib with platinum plating adds the perfect finishing touch to this exceptional Limited Edition masterpiece.

Aepona to expand