ADVERTORIAL

Asian Alliance Insurance opens branch in Wattala

The newest addition to the Asian Alliance Insurance (AAI), regional distribution network was opened last week. Situated in 396/1/1, Negombo Road, Wattala, this latest addition will function as a Divisional Office taking the number of branch offices up to 23.

Wattala Mayor Mohammad Naushad was the chief guest. Director and CEO Ramal Jasinghe, the Executive Committee members and senior management of AAI were present at this opening of another outstanding office that is geared to further strengthen the distribution arm of the company.

Negombo Zonal Manager Mihilal Nishantha commenced the opening with his welcome note. Sales and Marketing General Manager, Chula Hettiarachchi, shared the strategy outlining this milestone, which is in fact aligned to the expansion of the company amidst the prevailing competitive landscape in the industry.

Further, he elaborated the evolutionary journey of AAI from a new entrant to the industry to the most profitable insurance company in the industry within 10 years.

Hettiarachchi said, "We are confident that AAI will double the profitability of the company in the next decade". He also shared the strategies of company's expansion plan designed to provide protection from various risks to the target market islandwide by increasing the branch network to 30 during 2011. "Maintaining high standards of professionalism whilst abiding by the Company's value system is critical in our journey of progress," said Hettiarachchi.

Wattala Mayor, Mohammad Naushad welcomed AAI to the city, which is a financial hub of the country and expressed his views on the importance of the private sector contribution towards the development of the country's economy. Director and CEO Ramal Jasinghe said that the branch management has a greater responsibility towards providing protection to the residents of Wattala which is a melting pot representing a cross section of the economy. "I'm confident that we have the strength to progress as the most profitable player in the industry whilst abiding by the regulatory requirements as per the recent amendments to the Insurance Industry act; we are on the correct direction to achieve the objectives set for ourselves," said Jasinghe.

The newest branch in Wattala is geared to service both life and non life businesses, using its successful formula of "professionalism". AAI has resourced this unit with experienced staff and state-of-the-art ICT offering scientific and tailor-made insurance solutions to the residents in Wattala.

Spread light against women's abuse

This year, CARE International - Sri Lanka is using the thorana medium which attracts hundreds of thousands daily, as a platform to give out a pertinent message to the public: Let's create a society that respects women.

The thorana will be open for public viewing till May 22 from 6pm onwards at Sri Uththarananda Mawatha (behind Cinnamon Grand) in the Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zone.

This initiative idea was conceptualized by JWT, a leading multinational advertising agency, for CARE International - Sri Lanka.

Bitumix moves forward

Charumini DE SILVA

Bitumix as the flagship bitumen producer and hot bitumen distributor in the island, has grown parallel to the industry growth.

The company has increased its production capacities by almost 50 percent during the past two years and established distribution points out of western province including the North, Bitumix (Pvt) Ltd., Managing Director, Ashoka Siriwardhane told Daily News Business.

He said, "this year we are geared to accelerate our growth rate and look forward to exceeding company growth above the industry growth.

"President's Mahinda Chintana programme has given priority for the development of the road net work of the country with new roads, highways and also rehabilitation of the existing network. This has given us a huge momentum to enhance the business volume in the bitumen industry. However, to uplift the industry many changes especially in the quality and standards of bitumen products used should be enhanced further," Siriwardhane said.

"Bitumix is an ISO certified company and we have always been highly concerned about the quality of our products. We have a well equipped laboratory, trained staff and developed good manufacturing practices in raw material handling, in-process, storage and transportation activities. We work with several local and foreign consultants for continuous improvement of process and product quality."

NSB rewards seven cars to SMILE customers

The Grand Draw, which was introduced under the programme 'SMILE Suba Gaman' by the National Savings Bank, to mark the accession of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to the office for the second term, was held with the participation of First Lady Shiranthi Wickramasingha Rajapaksa recently.

The salient feature of this event was awarding of 07 brand new motor cars to the winning customers of this 'SMILE Suba Gaman' Grand Draw. At the Grand Draw of 'SMILE Suba Gaman', motor cars were won by the customers from the areas such as Gampaha, Ratnapura, Baddegama, Chavakachcheri, Jaffna, Ranala and Nittambuwa. The winners, who got selected at the Grand Draw, received their prizes recently, under the patronage of First Lady Shiranthi Wickramasingha Rajapaksa at a function held at NSB Head Office, Kollupitiya.

Accordingly, the Customers who opened a Smile Account with Rs 1000 or maintained a balance of Rs 1000 in the same account starting from November 15 to 30, 2010 were eligible for this grand draw.

In addition to the above 07 motor cars the SMILE Account also offers prizes worth of millions of rupees through a series of draws, once in every 3, 6 months and annually.

The SMILE Account was introduced by The National Savings Bank and the Postal Department as a joint project to enhance the volume of the savings of the people, which is needed for the development of the country and to develop the savings habit among the people of the country.

NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, Working Director Sumanadasa Abegunawardhana, NSB Board Directors, GM/CEO H M Hennayake Bandara, the NSB Senior Management Staff, invited customers and well-wishers participated at the event.

Hayleys celebrates Vesak in traditional style

Employees of the Hayleys Group celebrated Vesak in customary tradition at the Group's head office at Deans Road, Colombo earlier this week.

Large crowds of staff, family members and passers-by participated in the event and demonstrated their appreciation of the Group's effort to mark the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment.

The evening's events included an inter-group competition for the best Vesak lantern, which saw 18 entries representative of the diverse business sectors in the Group, devotional songs (bhakthi gee) by Hayleys employees, a kadala dansala and the illumination of Deans Road in the colours of the Buddhist flag.

Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage, Group Directors and the Group Management Committee members participated in the event and mingled with the crowds of Vesak sightseers.

Bren Security holds annual raffle draw

Bren Security (Pvt) Ltd, held its annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year raffle draw for its Security Officers.

The chief guest on the occasion was Defence, Public Security, Law and Order Ministry Additional Secretary, Damayanthi Jayaratne, Managing Director, Major Tissa Aluwihare welcomed the invitees on behalf of the company.

The raffle has been an annual event for the past 12 years, the main aim being to recognize the dedication and loyalty of the security officers who work tirelessly to protect the interests of clients on behalf of the company and also to further nurture the bond which exists between the main stakeholders, the security officers, the regulatory authorities, the clients and the company Fifty Valuable prizes were given away on the draw, including LCD TVs, Home Theatre Systems, DVD players and home appliances.

Jaffna Teaching Hospital gets extensive facelift

Pears, handed-over the renovated and refurbished paediatric wards of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital to medical authorities recently. The renovation was carried out as the 17th project under Unilever-Pears 'Safe Hands' CSR initiative.

Due to the conflict situation in the peninsula especially during the last few years, the hospital had been in poor condition. Under the 'Safe Hands' CSR initiative Pears channelled more than Rs 7 million to restore the paediatric wards of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. In addition, the diarrhoea ward, the common areas, and the children's play areas were also renovated.

Pears Brand Manager Nadee Wickramasinghe said, "The paediatric wards of Jaffna Teaching Hospital were initially renovated under the 'Safe Hands' program in 2003, but the infrastructure deteriorated very badly as a result of the conflict situation that arose later. When we visited the hospital post-war, we discovered that the place needed a lot more attention than in the past and we infused the highest measure of resources and funds we have ever funnelled for a 'Safe Hands' project."

The Pears 'Safe Hands' initiative that commenced on October 1, 2002, on World Children's Day aspires to create social wealth by improving facilities in the maternity, neonatal and paediatric wards of government hospitals. The Pears 'Safe Hands' project is a self-funded CSR initiative. The fund is financed by channelling 25 cents from each Pears product that is sold.

Jaffna Mayor Yogeshwari Patgunaraja, who was present at the ceremony, emphasized the important role the private sector can play through such philanthropic gestures and become partners in re-building the nation.

The first 'Safe Hands' project was carried out by refurbishing and renovating the Emergency Treatment and Nebulization Unit of Lady Ridgeway hospital. During the past 10 years 16 'Safe Hands' projects have been conducted in government hospitals situated in rural areas, as well as special tsunami rehabilitation projects in the Southern Province with a contribution of Rs. 32 million, reaching out to more than two million people across the country.