Sri Lanka Business News | Online edition of Daily News

The AVIVA NDB Award of Excellence was presented to veteran actor cum dramatist Jayalath Manoratne at the AVIVA NDB Sales Conference held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre recently. He received the award amidst a standing ovation of the large gathering of 1600 best performing Wealth Planners and invitees.

Eminent persons who have taken the nation's art and culture to greater heights are felicitated at the annually held sales convention to reaffirm AVIVA NDB's commitment to excellence. This year the award was presented to Jayalath Manoratne for attaining excellence in his chosen sphere of performing arts in his own unique, inimitable and lovable style.

Over the past three decades, Jayalath Manoratne has portrayed a wide array of colourful characters from the remote villager to the urban middle class executive for the delight of the Sri Lankan audience. In 1974 he was awarded, Best Actor for his stellar performance in Lucien Bulathsinhala's Ratu Hettakari. He also received awards for his roles in Puthra Samagama, Thala Mala Pipila, Socrates and Dwithwa at the State Drama Festival.

Expanding from acting to direction Manorathne created many popular stage plays such as Puthra Samagama, Maha Giri Damba, Andarela, Grutharuwa, Sandagira, Lokaya Thani Yayak and Sudu Redi Horu. As an exceptional personality with enormous acting talent and visual capacity he conquered the small screen as well as the silver screen bagging the awards for best supporting actor in films Mangala Tegga and Sudu Kaluwara.

For his performances in tele dramas he was presented the Best Actor Award for the roles in 'Sanda Amawakai' and 'Arungal'. Manorathne who holds a Masters degree, is a visiting lecturer at the Sri Jayewardenepura University. Over the past 15 years Jayalath Manorathne has played a key role as a cultural ambassador to Sri Lanka through his performances all over the world. During his acting and directing career he has immensely contributed towards taking Sri Lankan cultural values across our shores and out into the world.

As a playwright, director and actor Jayalath Manoratne's work is praiseworthy, as his roles and creations have enhanced the creative capacity of Sri Lankan theatre lyrically and dramatically. The AVIVA NDB AWARD of excellence has been presented to distinguished persons whose achievements are a source of encouragement and inspiration to AVIVA NDB wealth planners with ambitious goals.

Among the renowned personalities who have received the award since 2003 are Dr Lester James Peris, W D Amaradeva, Chithrasena, Vajira, Dr Premasiri Khemadasa, Henry Jayasena, Nanda Malini, Sybil Wettasinghe, Malini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama, Dr D B Nihalsinha, Rohana Weerasinghe and Senaka Senanayake.

AVIVA NDB Managing Director Shah Rouf said: "AVIVA NDB is committed to excellence and we recognize and appreciate professionalism, skill and inherent talent in every sphere of work.

That is why we honour extraordinary personalities who have attained the highest level of excellence in their chosen fields. We consider these individuals as true role models whose diligence and determination our Wealth Planners should emulate.

We believe that Jayalath Manoratne's passion and vision to achieve great heights would be a true inspiration to all our Wealth Planners".

World Cup action on giant screens

SriLankan Airlines Business Class passengers travelling during the Cricket World Cup can watch the action on giant screens at the airline's plush Serendib Lounge at Bandaranaike International Airport.

SriLankan's Airport Service Delivery Manager Ajith Fernando said: "Many of our passengers are from countries around the Commonwealth where cricket is almost a religion, including India and the UK. We have installed two 55-inch LED backlit screens at the Serendib Lounge on which every match will be shown live. The giant screens are now permanent fixtures in the Lounge for passengers to also watch the latest blockbuster movies of their choice from Hollywood and Bollywood.'

To add to the ambience, staff of the Serendib Lounge will be sporting Sri Lanka Cricket T-shirts during the World Cup. Sri Lanka is gearing up for an influx of fans for the seven matches to be played on the country, five in Colombo, and one each at Kandy and Sooriyawewa.

The Serendib Lounge is open to all of SriLankan Airlines Business Class passengers in transit, arrival or departure.

Long rated among the finest airport lounges in the world, the Serendib Lounge was recently transformed with the addition of the latest sophisticated entertainment systems. This added to the extraordinary experience it already provided high-end travelers with its superior ambience and facilities.

The Serendib Lounge provides a panoramic view of the airport's apron, with a floor to ceiling viewing glass. The finest cuisine, prepared by SriLankan Catering Services, is on offer with full meals and both hot and cold foods being available on a buffet at its own cafe. There's also a selection of specialty teas and coffees.

The lounge includes the latest in luxury such as specially designed armchairs that swivel, four separate sleeperettes with fully reclining armchairs for passengers with longer transit times, showers, a general seating area, and a separate smokers' room with eight seats. Another unique feature is the Siddhalepa massage service.

SriLankan Airlines has built a solid reputation for world class service both in the air and on the ground, and recently transformed its entire customer experience to suit an even more customer-friendly image.

Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport, where SriLankan is the sole ground handler for all airlines, is reputed as the finest in the Subcontinent region with its modern aero bridges, new arrivals and departures terminals, new pier, elegant airport hotel, and well-stocked duty free centre.

Sritrims in Jakarta

Sritrims Far East Ltd a garment accessories manufacturer and supplier in China joined with Nitra Jaya elarus in Jakarta, Indonesia to supply ecologically approved garment accessories to their group factories.

Here Sritrims Far East Ltd owner and the Managing Director Nishantha Delgoda exchanging the agreement with Nitra Jaya elarus Managing Director Nelvin Surjadin.

Sritrims Far East Ltd is a sister concern of SPEED Water Systems and has its presence in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Singapore, Pakistan and India and cater to most internationally renowned buyers.

HR automation highlighted as key factor

hSenid, the market leader in providing Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) in Sri Lanka, held its International HRM Conference 2011 at Colombo Hilton on February 10 and 11.

The conference started with the CEO's breakfast forum, and was addressed with valuable thoughts from the chief guest, the US Ambassador in Sri Lanka and the Maldives Patricia A. Butenis. "The theme of maximizing human resources is very timely for companies to reach their goals and for Sri Lanka to reach its true potential," said Butenis.

Themed 'Unleashing HR potential to compete globally' hSenid HR conference 2011, poised out total leadership on the latest HR industry trends and best practices providing delegates from various industry backgrounds with the ideal opportunity to explore and tap in to the full spectrum of HR expertise whilst staying abreast with key HR topics being discussed across the world all on one common platform.

hSenid, the premier HRIS software solutions provider serving a customer base of over 650 installations in 24 countries with its flagship product HRM Enterprise has grown to be a truly indigenous multinational company operating from United States, Singapore, Malaysia, and India and with three R and D centers in Colombo.

The rising global demand for quality software solutions and the company's consistent performance allows hSenid to stand tall as a multinational company that will continue to reach greater heights as one of the most preferred software solution providers in the world.

Lowe Worldwide Ad Agencies launch new identity and value

Lowe + Partners Ad Agencies across the Asia Pacific region launched new Agency identities.

Each of 15 lead offices across the region launched its own unique identity, agency livery as well as digital corporate sites. The Asia Pacific launch is the first of a global rollout, with other regions soon to follow.

Lowe + Partners Worldwide Chairman, Tony Wright said: - "The new identity rollout gives us a unique opportunity to reflect our more organic, decentralized feel with a strong Lowe at the core, surrounded by wonderfully diverse expressions developed in each of our offices. It feels absolutely right that we are rolling it out first in Asia-Pacific."

Lowe Asia Pacific President Rupen Desai said: "As a global communications company, our biggest competitive strength is the synergy of diversities. We operate in a multi cultural environment and the new identity is our way of expressing uniqueness of each culture whilst staying truthful to one Lowe DNA."

Lowe LDB Sri Lanka Founder CEO Lilamani Benson said: "We are a multinational Ad Agency with a Sri Lankan soul. We subscribe to Lowe Worldwide's professional disciplines, yet interpret them with an intimate understanding of local marketplace values.

Which is why all over the world, each of our agency offices is recognized as the high value ideas company, uniquely relevant to the marketplace it operates in.

"We join with Lowe Asia Pacific to launch our newly designed individualized logos, which have distinct meaning. The Sri Lanka office will gradually shed its blazing red symbolism which has well served its fiery personality for 18 years, since its inception in 1993.

This year it will gently rollout its new logo to synchronize with the country specific and marketplace specific look and character."

Sri Lanka's logo motif celebrates the country's recently regained unity and territorial integrity by positioning itself as the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' as it was called in ancient times; one nation, indivisible, moving forward vibrantly towards a new progress and vitality, to the eternal rhythm of the waves.

SIBA science degree program

The Buddha, coined as the greatest leader of all times, was revolutionary. Today, in corporate parlance, Buddhist Leadership has poorly been focused. Extreme courage, persistence, tolerance, awareness and equal treatment seem several qualities the Buddhist Leadership advocated. "Let's take a popular gender related issue! Modern corporate world calls for equal rights for women, and the Buddha addressed the issue 2600 years back.

The Buddha admitted and ordained women into Buddhist Leadership," Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) Rector Professor G. A. Somaratne, said.

SIBA, located in Pallekele, Kandy sets itself in a sprawling 40-acre natural preserve near Kandy.

The unique eco-friendly setting leaves space for spacious lawns, courtyards and natural walkways.

This comprises a beautiful urban campus that includes research, office, meditation and warehouse space for opportunities to enhance research and other academic programs. SIBA aspires, logically, to be the foremost Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Educational Porgrams.

SIBA believes in leadership based on the development of wisdom and inculcation of moral values.

SIBA expects to form an exclusive pioneering fraternity in Sri Lanka and abroad that reinforces SIBA effect all over the world.

SIBA foundational social science degree program offers French, English, Economics and Buddhist Leadership for prospective students.

'Pranama' marks a decade of scholarships

New scholarships worth Rs 7.6 million were awarded to 142 young Sri Lankans at the tenth edition of Ceylinco Life's 'Pranama' scholarships program recently.

The presentation of these scholarships brought the cumulative value of Pranama scholarships disbursed by Ceylinco Insurance to Rs 50 million.

Students from all parts of Sri Lanka were honoured for academic and extra curricular achievements in the presence of school principals and parents at the ceremony at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel.

Ceylinco Life's Managing Director and CEO R Renganathan said: "Since the inception of this scholarship program in 2001 we have given 1292 scholarships to brighten up the lives of the future leaders of our country. We are happy to see how most of our scholarship winners have now become doctors, engineers, accountants and lawyers and are doing well in society."

"As parents, we are aware that the best gift we can give our children is education because unlike money and money-oriented things, knowledge can never be stolen. Today, education has become very important, competitive and expensive but the incomes of parents do not increase proportionately. We are therefore happy to be able to support the education of the country's future leaders through this program," he said.

He said that the company's bond with the scholarship winners does not end when the scholarship period ends. Last year, the company initiated the 'Pranama Club' that brings together all past scholarship winners, who can be considered Ceylinco Life ambassadors, for various activities that would enhance their knowledge and personalities. Examination Commissioner Anura Edirisinghe who was the Guest of Honour said he is honoured and happy to be able to participate in this event for eight years and commended Ceylinco Life for continuing this program for a decade.

"The company shares a part of its profit to support the future generation of this country and sets an example for other corporate entities in Sri Lanka," he said.

Ceylinco Life awarded the Examinations Department a special plaque for its contribution and support to the Pranama Scholarship program.

"Ceylinco Life Pranama" is one of the main components of the company's 'Life Rewards,' portfolio of special benefits.

This year's Ceylinco Life Pranama Scholarship recipients included 24 students who excelled at the Year Five scholarship examination in 2010. Each of them will receive Rs. 90,000 in instalments over five years. Twenty two who excelled at the G.C.E. (O/L) in 2009 were also awarded Rs.72,000 each, payable monthly over two years.

Twenty three students placed first in their districts at the G.C.E. Advanced Level received scholarships worth Rs 126,000 each, payable over a three year period, while 59 students placed second, third and fourth in their districts at this exam were awarded Rs 10,000 each.

Ten national merit award recipients who had excelled at the national level in sports, aesthetics, invention and creativity received Rs 35,000 each.

Additionally, special cash awards of Rs 25,000 were presented to each of the students who achieved the highest marks islandwide in mathematics, biology, commerce and arts at the G.C.E (A/L) examinations in 2009, irrespective of whether or not they are the children of Ceylinco Life policyholders.

The Finance appoints Director Board

The new Board of Directors of The Finance Co. PLC is led by Preethi Jayawardena who was appointed Chairman. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Jayawardena currently serves as Chemanex PLC Managing Director and CEO. He is also a Non-Executive Director of CIC PLC. Jayawardena accounts for more than 30 years of experience both locally and overseas in many senior positions specializing in finance and treasury operations. He is also a member of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Monetary Policy Consultative Committee.

The new Board Members are R Nadarajah who is a Director of Seylan Bank PLC and Chairman of its subsidiary - Seylan Developments PLC, Ajith Devasurendra Deputy Chairman of Brown and Company PLC and Managing Director and CEO of Taprobane Holdings Ltd, Dr T Senthilverl who holds a number of directorships including Amana Takaful Insurance PLC, MBSL Savings Bank Ltd, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC and Anura Fernando the former Ferntea Ltd Chairman and presently East Tech Consultants (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director. The present Executive Directors namely Kamal Yatawara who will function as the Chief Executive Officer together with Nayana Rupasinghe, Violet Dissanayake and Tissa Ekanayake will continue to serve the company.

GSK acquires rights to BMS products in Sri Lanka

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has acquired the rights in Sri Lanka for the products of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), a reputed global pharmaceuticals company, following a similar acquisition in Pakistan, the regional headquarters of BMS.

The union of GSK's and BMS's globally reputed and diverse product portfolios will further strengthen supply to the prescription drugs market, and will significantly benefit customers, GSK said.

BMS's product portfolio in Pakistan includes many market leading antibiotics, oncology products, cardiovascular products and products to treat hepatitis, and encompasses over 30 brands. Cardiovascular and oncology therapeutic areas are especially expected to be strengthened by the acquisition of rights by GSK, GSK Pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka Managing Director Stuart Chapman said. The merging of the two product portfolios will be mutually beneficial as it will enable GSK to provide greater access and visibility to BMS products and enhance the company's operations in the country while broadening the diversity of GSK's own product portfolio with the addition of high quality BMS brands, he said.

"The partnership between GalxoSmithKline and Bristol - Myers Squibb, two leading and innovative pharmaceuticals companies committed to excellence, will generate many new opportunities," Chapman said.

"The combination of the considerable expertise and experience of the two entities, as well as research and development facilities in the region, offers much scope for future growth," he said.

GSK has recently further enhanced its operation in many emerging markets including Sri Lanka, with a series of mergers and acquisitions of mature brands that complement its product portfolio. GSK and BMS both posses advanced research and development facilities and have successfully partnered in many regions globally, including the Middle East.

Established in 1858 in Brooklyn, New York, Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global Bio Pharmaceuticals leader recognized as eighth among 500 of the largest corporations in the USA. The company's mission is 'to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.' BMS has won many prestigious awards including the National Medal of Technology in the USA, the Lasker Award for Medical Research and the Prix Galien Award. BMS medicines help millions of people to fight cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis, obesity, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV-AIDS.

In 2010, GSK Sri Lanka took over the local operations of Stiefel Laboratories, a specialist in dermatology and enhanced its portfolio of dermatology products in the local market.

Rated Sri Lanka's most respected pharmaceuticals company by LMD in 2010, GSK and its predecessors have been doing business in Sri Lanka since the late 1930s. A world leading pharmaceuticals and vaccines company, GSK is the only pharmaceuticals company to tackle the three "priority" diseases identified by the World Health Organization (WHO): HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. GSK distributes 35 doses of vaccines every second; 1,100 prescriptions are written for GSK products every minute; every hour, the company spends 300,000 Pounds on the discovery of new medicines; and every day, more than 200 million people use a GSK brand.

Diamond Dreams launches unique jewellery

Diamond Dreams launched a special collection of pendants that say more than just 'Happy Valentine's Day'. A collection of 18kt diamond hearts that express the feelings of the giver in unique way.

The elegant collection includes five beautifully crafted 18kt diamond pendants that feature floating diamonds. Each pendant represents a heartfelt and personalized love message and is given maximum brilliance as it features a floating diamond which is designed to delight the receiver. All floating diamonds are discreetly arranged to convey the messages: 'you are mine,' 'we are one', 'yours forever', 'love blooms' and 'I love you'.

Diamond Dreams Director Kamal Chandrawansa said, "We believe in capturing the desires of our customers every instance. Love can be expressed in so many different ways, but the most cherished gift a lover can give is a heartfelt love letter which will be cherished forever.

And this time around the love letter becomes extra special and more meaningful where the romance of the love letter is combined with the eternal elegance of jewellery."

The special Valentines Collection is now available at its exclusive store down Joseph's Lane, Colombo 04.

Siddhalepa sales staff rewarded gold

The Siddhalepa Annual Sales Conference was held at Mt Lavinia Hotel on January 31 under the patronage of Siddhalepa Group Chairman Dr Victor Hettigoda and the Board of Directors. The sales representatives who excelled last year were rewarded in gold. Here, Siddhalepa Group Chairman Dr Victor Hettigoda awarding a trophy to a Sales Representative.

Manoratne receives award