Sri Lanka Business News | Online edition of Daily News

Emirates has given a new meaning to the expression 'Time flies' with its plans to launch flights to the "birthplace of watch-making" - now just eight weeks away.

Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President (Commercial Operations, Worldwide), Richard Vaughan on stage with cabin crew during the Emirates’ Road Show event at Geneva Palexpo. The airline will launch a daily flight to Geneva from 1st June.

Geneva will be added to the airline's European route network from 1st June. More than 600 guests from the travel industry and the city's wider business community recently attended a high profile road show event in Geneva as an introduction to the airline and its home of Dubai.

For many, it provided an opportunity to get close up to the airline's flagship A380 aircraft, which has already carried more than four million Emirates passengers around the world.

A First Class Private Suite was also on show at the city's Palexpo for guests to sink into, as were life-size replicas of the Onboard Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge.

The Dubai-Geneva service will be operated by a combination of Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The aircraft will be arranged in a three-class configuration, offering First Class Private Suites, lie-flat seats in Business Class, and a spacious cabin in Economy Class.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy the latest version of the airline's much admired ice in-flight entertainment system. It offers a staggering array of over 1,200 channels, making time fly like never before whilst at 40,000 feet.

Geneva is sometimes referred to as the "birthplace of watch-making" as the industry dates to the mid 16th century in the city. Even in 1790, Geneva was exporting more than 60,000 watches a year. In 2010, Swiss watch manufacturers exported more than 26 million finished watches, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. The luxury sector, including watch making, is amongst the top three employers in the Geneva region, representing 60 percent of its exports.

Each Emirates' 777 aircraft serving Geneva will have 15-20 tonnes of cargo capacity - space for plenty of luxury watches, along with high-end fashion goods, diplomatic cargo, relief shipments for the International Red Cross, pharmaceutical products and electronics.

Guests at the Emirates Road Show event at Geneva Palexpo next to the life-sized replica of the airline’s A380 onboard shower spa. More than 600 guests attended the event, promoting the launch of passenger services between Dubai and Geneva on 1st June. Also on display at the function were an Emirates’ A380 First Class Private Suite and Onboard Lounge.

"Geneva is our second gateway into Switzerland after Zurich. We see strong demand for both leisure and business travel, bearing in mind the presence of hundreds of international organisations and Geneva's status as a major financial centre," said Richard Vaughan, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide.

"We're just eight weeks out from the launch and the road show event helps drive awareness throughout the travel trade about the new flights and the additional cargo capacity they offer in and out of Switzerland," Vaughan added.

As with Zurich, passengers flying Emirates from Geneva can travel non-stop to Dubai, where they are able to connect to an impressive network of destinations throughout the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, Africa, the Far East and Australasia.

Starting 1st June, EK 089 will leave Dubai daily at 0855hrs and arrive in Geneva at 1345hrs. From Geneva, EK 090 departs at 1515hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2330hrs.

Geneva will become the airline's 26th destination in Europe and 112th point globally. On 1st August, Emirates launches flights to Copenhagen, its first passenger service into Scandinavia.

Customer confidence reconfirmed

Here from left to right: Product Specialist Thanakorn Thanasongtarakul, Manager Training Thomas Yip, Technical Head Takahiro Isobe, Canon Singapore Vice President Lim Kok Him, CEO Metropolitan Office Ltd Ivor Maharoof, Canon Regional Manager Marcus Sebastian, General Manager, Metropolitan Office Ltd Ali Asgar Roshanali, Canon Singapore Director Yukio Takato.

Metropolitan records an impressive 29 percent target achievement growth in 2010 over the same period in 2009 becoming Canon's best target achieving country in South Asia for last year. At the Canon Round Table Meeting held in Singapore recently, Metropolitan was presented with the award for outstanding target achievement beating fellow South Asian countries with larger domestic market potential.

The award is presented annually based on the achievements of targets and the sales growth percentage. Metropolitan was selected out of seventeen countries under Canon South Asia region which includes 9 main distributors. "Our success lies on the trust of our brand and the confidence in our service by all our clients," said Canon copiers Sales and Marketing General Manager Ali Asgar Roshanali.

During its 52 years in the business, Metropolitan Office Ltd has received many achievement awards such as Best Distributor award, Best Service award, Top Achiever award, etc.

This target achievement award only adds to Metropolitan's many successes and reconfirms customer confidence in both the Canon brand and the Metropolitan service assurance. Metropolitan is the oldest distributor of Canon in this region and has represented the brand for more than 35 years. Metropolitan offers a range of printing and copier machines ranging from 4th generation image runner series, starting from small A4 type copier printers for SOHO markets to high speed production equipment for professional printing.

CSCT BSc in alliance with Salford Uni UK

The Colombo School of Construction Technology (CSCT) is pleased to announce the delivery of a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Quantity Surveying in partnership with the School of Built Environment, University of Salford, UK.

This is the first time a private educational institute is able to offer a full four year honours degree program (three years taught + one year industrial training) in Quantity Surveying in Sri Lanka. This is a great accomplishment for CSCT and significant opportunity for students seeking an alternative to travelling overseas for higher education.

There are many institutions offering 'top-up' degree program however the program offered by CSCT is a program with a sound academic standing and awarded by the University of Salford, UK which is a RICS partner University. This programs has been designed with a 1 year industrial placement at the end (unlike many other programmes who either do not have an in-built industrial placement or the placement is in the middle of the program,) to allow for a smooth transition into the professional work force.

By joining CSCT, parents and students alike will have the peace of mind knowing that the teaching staff at CSCT are of the highest calibre and that on completion, students will be given assistance in obtaining work placements here in Sri Lanka; the Middle East and beyond,. Unlike those parents who pay millions of rupees in tuition fees to send their children for overseas study and also have to find money for living expenses without any assurances of post degree employment. The University of Salford is world renowned for its excellence in teaching and research, in the field of Built Environment. It's Centre for Disaster Resilience is one of only five academic institutions recognized by the United Nations and is one of the top rated universities for Research.

The program design is such that students from a variety of academic backgrounds may gain entrance. Entry is possible on completion of Sri Lankan or London A-levels or for those having completed an Edexcel HND or equivalent.

A fast track placement option is also available for students who have completed an Edexcel HND in a Construction Industry related field and achieved a merit for all H2 level subjects where entry is possible to the 2nd year of the program. For those having completed other qualifications such as National Diploma in Technology (NDT); National Certificate in Technology (NCT); and other similar qualifications, entry options are available on a case by case basis. Students wanting an 'overseas' experience have the option of completing part of their studies at Salford or attending their graduation in the UK with other Salford Graduants. The UoS-CSCT collaboration provides a sound cognate honours degree that is recognized worldwide particularly by employees seeking QS degree holders.

Website for Pettah trading

Innovation Pvt Ltd launched a website yesterday at the Intercontinental Hotel Colombo, which is dedicated to trading in Pettah market.

Company's Managing Director Sakula Wickramasinghe said that 10,000 traders in Colombo will be benefited by this web portal titled www.petah.lk.

Wickramasinghe said that although Pettah is the heart of the Sri Lankan Business and key distribution point for the islandwide traders, a lot of ordinary people do not have access to the products or traders at Pettah market.

The objective of this effort is to enable Pettah traders, outstation traders and even the consumers to have direct access to updated market information with greater convenience.

Innovation Pvt Ltd will have an office in Colombo shortly to support the traders who are not familiar with internet facilities and to help them facilitate trade deals online.

Janashakthi offers free Personal Accident Cover

Janashakthi Full Option has re-launched a novel scheme for Sri Lanka's three-wheeler drivers which brings them both great peace of mind, and security to their families.

Janashakthi stickers on three-wheelers

Henceforth, the next of kin of all three-wheeler drivers who have a Comprehensive Insurance Cover with Janashakthi Full Option, will receive Rs 100,000 in the event of the driver meeting with an accidental death in the three-wheeler.

Furthermore, if a three-wheeler driver has a Third Party Policy with Full Option or is even insured by a competitor, his next of kin will receive Rs 50,000 in the event of the driver meeting with an accidental death in the three-wheeler.

To qualify for these benefits however, they have to display the free Janashakthi branded sticker on the back of the three-wheeler at all times.

Stickers can be collected free from any of the Janashakthi branches and propaganda vehicles across the island.

Outlining the rationale behind this campaign. Janashakthi's Sales and Marketing General Manager Ravi Liyanage said, "There are over 500,000 three-wheeler drivers out there on the roads.

Every one of them is trying to make a better living and give their families a better life.

In 2009 alone there were a total of 54,822 accidents reported to the Police out of which 6246 were three-wheeler accidents. Out of the total accidents 2413 were fatal.

The death of a bread winner means that an entire family has to bear the dire consequences. Bearing all this in mind, we have transformed the Janashakthi sticker into a symbol of security and peace of mind".

"Sporting it on their vehicles, they know that Janashakthi's care and assistance will always be there in the event of a fatal misadventure.

We have even gone a step further and encompassed those three-wheelers which are insured by competitors.

This is Janashakthi's dedication and commitment to the three-wheeler drivers of Sri Lanka", he said.

HNB Assurance holds sales convention

HNB Assurance held its sales convention, on April 04 at Hilton Hotel, Colombo. The main objective of this glamorous event was to reward the members of their sales force and also the distribution management who have excelled in their performance during the past year letting the company record another successful year with a commendable growth. The company had recorded an excellent growth of 15 percent in its turnover and 20 percent in profit after tax.

For the first time in its nine year history, both life and general GWP measures of the company had crossed the Rs one billion mark, thereby achieving a GWP of Rs 2,428 million.

This prestigious award ceremony is the most awaited event at HNB Assurance, since it is the occasion at which the company pays tribute to the pillars of its success. The star performers from 51 branches spread islandwide participated at this glittering night.

Special Avurudu treat from NDB Bank

NDB Bank celebrates Avurudu this year by rewarding its savings and fixed deposit account holders with special Avurudu gifts. Standing firmly as a truly Sri Lankan bank, NDB Bank celebrates the widely celebrated Sinhala and Tamil New Year with the true nature of giving.

Continuing this tradition NDB Bank will reward its customers with savings deposits. In addition, from April 7 to 20, customers who deposit more than Rs 10,000 or open Fixed Deposits with NDB Bank will receive a number of attractive gifts.

Customers who deposit more than Rs 10,000 in Savings Accounts or Rs 20,000 in Fixed Deposits will receive a valuable flask, while deposits above Rs 25,000 to Savings Accounts or Rs 50,000 in Fixed Deposits will receive a toaster.

Deposits above Rs 50,000 to Savings Accounts or Rs 75,000 in Fixed Deposits will receive a gas cooker and a blender will be on offer for deposits above Rs 100,000 to savings accounts.

Deposits above Rs 200,000 to Savings Accounts will receive a valuable rice cooker.

Customers who deposit more than Rs 10,000 in Minor Savings Accounts will receive a watch for children.

The gifts further reiterate NDB Bank's commitment to their valued customers and will be on offer on a first come first served basis.

All branches of the NDB Bank will be open on Avurudu day, April 14 from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm providing the opportunity for customers to do their Avurdu Ganu Denu.

NDB Bank hopes that this thoughtful gesture during the Avurudu season would encourage and nurture more savings habits amongst citizens and also helps them enjoy the rewards for their savings.

This is part of NDB Bank's Lets save, build ourselves and our nation, a nationwide initiative launched last year, which inculcates the habit of saving and sends out a message that savings is no longer a luxury accessible to a few, but an option for everyone.

ICASL recognizes Seylan Bank

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) recently recognized one of the country's leading banks, Seylan Bank PLC as a strategic level training partner.

At a ceremony held at the Institute, the ICASL awarded the strategic level training partner certificate to Seylan Bank PLC Finance AGM Chamika Dodanwela welcoming the bank onboard.

As a training partner, the organization provides practical training which in result assists the long term development of the accountancy profession in the country.

NTB opens in Horana

The Nations Trust Bank (NTB), opened its 41st branch in Horana recently. Apart from providing personal financial solutions to the individual customers, the bank is now geared to provide a wide range of products and services to the small and medium business customers as well.

Nations Trust Bank PLC Director and CEO Saliaya Rajakaruna said, "The year 2011 is a year of expansion and the opening of this Horana branch is an important milestone in our expansion plan. We are pleased to introduce our innovative concepts such as 365 day banking with extended banking hours, 24x7 Customer Service Hotline and 'Bank-At-Your-Doorstep Service' to the valued customer segments in Horana."

The new branch is conveniently located at No. 192B, Rathnapura Road, offering enhanced banking facilities with unprecedented customer service that keeps constantly improving to cater to the ever increasing customer needs.

Nations Trust Bank PLC is one of the fastest growing banks in Sri Lanka today. Its market positioning of being the benchmark of convenience is now ably supported by a host of financial services and products that cater to the needs of the individual, corporate and institutional clients. The bank believes in a customer centric approach and therefore has brought their private banking and inner circle propositions, together with SME banking and leasing to the people of Horana. The Bank now has 41 branches, six Personal Banking Centres and is the sole issuer and acquirer for American Express Cards in Sri Lanka.

Second gateway into Switzerland after Zurich