Sri Lanka Business News | Online edition of Daily News

Believers in the importance of prevention of disease through routine health check-ups are to be provided an opportunity to promote the cause by joining a walk to raise public awareness on the subject.

Organised by the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre, the walk will commence at 8.00 am on May 28 from the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre complex at Park Street, Colombo 2, with the participation of its regular customers, Senior Managers and staff of the Centre.

The walk is open to all members of the public and will precede the second edition of the 'Health Screening Month' observed by the Centre in June under the theme 'Prevention is more economical than cure'. Three health screening packages at concessionary rates are to be offered by the Centre during the month to promote prevention and early detection of diseases.

Leaflets on the importance and benefits of these two aspects will be distributed to the public by the participants in the walk. A health camp is to be held at the conclusion of the event providing attendees an opportunity to check their blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass, vision, height and weight and consult medical officers to obtain medical advice free of charge. Healthy drinks will be also distributed among participants. Stalls selling personal medical appliances such as Glucometers will be set up on the man-made island in the Beira Lake near the Gangaramaya Temple at which the walk will conclude. From the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre the walk will proceed along Park Street, Staple Street, past the JAIC Hilton on to Union Place, the Slave Island junction and Sir James Peries Mawatha to the Beira Lake Island.

Special screening packages to be offered by the Centre in June are priced at Rs. 2,500, Rs. 4,500 and Rs. 6,000. Each comprises of a series of tests covering general health as well as weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and vision and can be expanded to include liver profile, renal profile, thyroid and kidney function and other tests.

TKS Securities to encourage equity investments

TKS Securities (Pvt) Limited, Tuesday unveiled its first branch in Ratnapura as part of efforts to take the stock market to the outskirts of Sri Lanka. This also marks TKS's moves to expand its focus to include retail investors to its client portfolio.

The branch, situated at 172, 1/2 Main Street, Ratnapura, will offer equity investment advice to retail investors through trained professionals and live trading facilities to educate and encourage share trading among urban and rural retail investors. "Our main focus has been foreign, local institutional, and high net worth investors, and we want to expand our focus and reach out to retail investors as well. We aim to do this through a series of branch openings across the country," said Hussain Gani, Chief Executive Officer at TKS Securities.

The opening of the Ratnapura branch comes almost a week after TKS unveiled its plush retail lobby at its main Colombo office at Level 19, East Tower, World Trade Center. "We hope to add more branches to our network in key cities across Sri Lanka in the next few months as part of a long-term growth plan," added Gani.

AASL, SriLankan sign MOU

Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited has awarded SriLankan Airlines Ltd. the long-term exclusive franchise for ground handling and catering services for all airlines operating to Bandaranaike International Airport for a period of ten years.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently by Prasanna Wickramasuriya, Chairman of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, and Manoj Gunawardena, CEO of SriLankan, in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently by Prasanna Wickramasuriya, Chairman of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, and Manoj Gunawardena, CEO of SriLankan, in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.

AASL Chairman Prasanna Wickramasuriya, said: this MOU comes on the threshold of a major era of growth and development that will once again transform BIA.

"We want many more airlines to operate to BIA within a very short time, and intend to establish BIA as a regional hub for aviation," he said.

"BIA is the first point of contact with our country for many foreign visitors. We expect great things of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering in this process. AASL and SriLankan are close partners, and the success of each depends on the other," Wickramasuriya said.

BIA is about to embark on a new phase of expansion which will add a considerable number of new and sophisticated facilities. They include the construction of a Second International Terminal for both arrivals and departures to increase capacity to 13 million passengers per year from the present 6 million; a new Domestic Terminal; re-laying of the entire runway and taxiway; and the extension of the railway up to the Cargo Centre to allow containers to be shipped to the airport by rail.

The Airport Expressway is also nearing completion and would considerably shorten the time of travel between Colombo and BIA.

SriLankan CEO Manoj Gunawardena said: 'SriLankan Airlines is delighted to be awarded the long-term franchise for ground handling at BIA. We are mindful that we must now justify the confidence of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and AASL in our abilities. We will not regard this as a monopoly, but instead as the creation of a stable long-term environment for us to invest and contribute to the growth of services and facilities in Sri Lanka's main airport. The image of BIA depends on the quality of service and the competitiveness of our ground handling operation.'

SriLankan Airlines will be the exclusive ground handler at BIA's international terminals, covering passenger handling, baggage services, and cargo handling.

SriLankan Catering Ltd, the National Carrier_s subsidiary, will be the exclusive provider of food and beverage products for 10 years at all of BIA's many restaurants and passenger lounges.

It will also be the exclusive provider of in-flight catering. SriLankan Catering already manages BIA's 24-roomed Serenediva Transit Hotel.

There are also plans for a new 300-roomed transit hotel, a multi-storey car park with a monorail leading to the terminal, and a shopping mall.

Hameedia brands enjoy rating in Brands Annual 2011

Hameedia recently became the country's only clothing manufacturer and retailer to have three of its brands among the Top 100 Unlisted Brands in the current Brands Annual 2011.

Apart from the 'Hameedia' brand, its home grown brands 'Envoy' and 'LeBond' were among the Top 100, together with 'Adidas' the international brand it markets.

Managing Director Fouzul Hameed said they are delighted with this recognition and accolade.

"This is not simply all about getting into the Top 100, it is also a superlative endorsement of our relentless crusade against fakes in the Sri Lankan markets and the values we steadfastly uphold," he said.

"In recent years, Sri Lanka's flourishing apparel industry flooded local stores with large volumes of branded export surpluses. These were fakes and rejects from the numerous garment factories which top stores in Colombo sold under their own brand names and at incredibly rock bottom prices. We refused to be part of this and forged ahead with our own brand of originals," Hameed said.

It became the birth of 'Envoy', for the creme de la creme of Sri Lankan society with 'Le Bond' focusing on corporate executives for work and leisure and 'Signature' targeting the mass market. Hameedia even went a step further and entered into strategic partnerships with reputed brands such as Raymond, Lee, Arrow and Adidas, enriching the portfolio of original brands it offers the Sri Lankan consumer.

"The journey was very long and very hard. We were threatened along the way and yet we fought back. While promoting our brands we also educated customers on the difference between originals and fakes. I'm happy to say that this has all paid its rich dividends today", Hameed said.

Hameedia created history in Sri Lanka's clothing industry by winning its first ever awards at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2010 - a Silver Award for 'Service Brand of the Year 2010', and also a Bronze Award for 'Innovative Brand of the Year 2010'.

Emirates adds more flights to Germany

Emirates is responding to strong passenger demand in Germany by launching extra frequencies to Frankfurt and upgrading one of its Munich flights to an A380 superjumbo.

The moves will further bond two powerful trading partners - the UAE and Germany - whose relationship is worth billions of dollars annually. The UAE is the largest buyer of German products in the Arab world. The new, daily Frankfurt flight will take effect during the next winter schedule, making the city a triple daily service. Slot times will be confirmed in due course. Like all of its existing services between Dubai and Germany, the additional daily will be operated in accordance with the current air services arrangements between the UAE and Germany. From January 1, 2012, the airline's morning service to Munich will be upgraded to a superjumbo. EK 49 departs Dubai at 0910hrs and gets into Munich at 1245hrs, one of two daily flights.

Emirates will be the first foreign airline to return the A380 to its home in Germany and the first carrier to operate an A380 to Munich, supporting the airport's A380-readiness. "A third daily flight to Frankfurt and the German-built A380 serving Munich is another positive step in what is now a multi-billion US dollar relationship between Emirates and Germany, supporting thousands of German jobs," Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation, Salem Obaidalla said.

Asiri introduces Rotem machine

The Asiri Surgical Hospital (ASH), has achieved another pioneering step by introducing the first ever Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) machine to Sri Lanka. Rotational Thromboelastometry is commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment and follow up of patients suffering from illnesses that cause bleeding and thrombosis.

Prof. Sukesh Nair who delivered a presentation on the diagnosis, control and treatment, to the team of doctors and nurses of the Asiri Hospital said, "This is one of the few clinically proven machines that is known to simplify and accelerate the management of acute bleeding situations. It can analyse whole blood samples within 10 minutes, allowing doctors and hospital staff to monitor and control targeted coagulation therapies in double quick time."

This one-of-a-kind easy-to-use ROTEM delta system is commonly used as a leading point-of-care diagnostic solution for acute bleeding management where minutes count to stop the bleeding and in saving lives. Used in the treatment for illnesses that are caused by internal heamorage like heamophilia, and bleeding following cardiac and neurosurgery and trauma.

The ROTEM allows for the monitoring and quick control of theraphies, and enables the reduced usage of blood products. This, in turn, improves the outcome of the patients condition faster and allows for the stabilization of the patients condition. The ROTEM is an effective tool in the management of haemostasis, hence it is widely used in Western countries as a point-of-care instrument.

Dr. Manjula Karunaratne, COO Asiri Hospitals said, "This is another instance where our hospital is making great strides in bringing the best health care to the people of this country. This machine is not only safe and 100 percent accurate in its diagnosis, but also has a significant cost saving for the patients."

The ASH has already sent two of their technicians to the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Vellore to be trained under Prof. Nair in the use of rotational thromboelastometry.

The machine is installed at the Asiri Surgical Hospital making this accessible to all in-house and out-patients. The addition of this machine is indicative of the advancements at the Asiri Group of Hospitals making it the leading health care facility in the country.

Nations Trust Bank expands its branch network

Nations Trust Bank has been in operation for the past 11 years and has grown into a force to be reckoned with in the Banking industry. Its 42nd branch was declared open recently in Kalmunai further demonstrating their commitment and assurance towards providing convenience banking to its customers.

The town of Kalmunai today is developing in leaps and bounds and promises great prosperity in the years to come. Nations Trust Bank new addition to Kalmunai enhances its extensive reach through a banking network that's inter-connected islandwide to offer a wide range of products and services with greater convenience.

The new branch was declared open in the presence of distinguished invitees. Commenting at the opening, Director/ CEO, Saliya Rajakaruna said, "We have performed creditably during the quarter and posted good growth in core revenue streams and a strong balance sheet.

Having drawn up our strategic plan for the medium term, we have embarked on an ambitious growth strategy for the next three years. We are convinced that new products, new market segments, new geographies and new demographics will provide a lucrative landscape for the growth of the bank."

The new branch is based on the banks standard design concepts and is conveniently situated at 174, Batticaloa Road, Kalmunai offering its customers the ultimate in international banking standards with unprecedented customer service.

MTI takes a stake in Respere

MTI Technology, a subsidiary brand of MTI Consulting has taken a strategic stake in Respere. (www.respere.com), by investing Intellectual Capital - a concept that MTI has pioneered.

Respere is a leader in Humanitarian ICT Solutions, ranging from Disaster Management to Donor/Aid Management software solutions.

MTI Technology will start off by developing an international strategic plan, after which MTI will estimate the investment needed for Respere, to take its business model to the next level on a Global scale. Based on this, MTI's Corporate Finance (M&A Unit) will identify suitable investors, possibly both debt and equity, along with the new investor (who would ideally be able to bring in domain or market access experience).

The three parties will aggressively roll out the new strategic international expansion plan.

The concluding game plan would be to sell a stake of the company to international technology investors, thereby having all three parties benefit from a premium return for their investment.

Respere is a technology company which has specialized in providing Humanitarian Technology Solutions - combining world class professionalism with high skilled engineers and cutting edge delivery. Respere was founded in 2007, to provide solutions, services and support for the Sahana Disaster Management System and related technologies.

Over the years it has grown into a company that provides niche products and bespoke solutions that cater to the humanitarian domain.

Ananda celebrates Young Inventors' Day

Ananda College, Colombo will celebrate Aurora - 2011 - Young Inventors' Day for the second consecutive year at the Kularatne Hall premises from 12.30 onwards on May 31.

The Chief Guest of this celebration of Aurora will be ex-Ananda luminary President's Advisor, Chairman ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) Professor P. W. Epasinghe, one of the best personalities Ananda has produced in its 125-year history.

Aurora - 2011, organised by the College Young Inventors' Society with the untiring support of the relevant staff marks the best offer Ananda extends to the student community islandwide. Much preparation has been going on for this Day with a grade-wise exhibition from grade 6 to grade 12 to be held on May 26. Parallel to the grade-wise exhibition another exhibition is also due to be held displaying exhibits selected from the grade-wise exhibition.

Having always been keen on making the life of the people of the motherland more comfortable by innovative thinking and application of technology, Professor Epasinghe expressed deep joy at the progress his alma mater has made.

Another CSR initiative of Sierra Global

As part of the Sierra Global Network Private Limited’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) Program, 1,500 of school bags were donated to the schools in Bulathsinhala in Kalutara district. The school bags were handed over to Bulathsinhala Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Thusitha Kularatne by Sierra Global Director and CEO Dr Arosha Fernando. Gampaha Provincial Council Member Shalitha Wijesundara, Bulathsinhala Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Thusitha Kularatne, General Manager, Project Management Office (PMO) of Sierra Global Laffry Mazahir, Wing Commander Nihal Ratnayake - General Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs of Sierra Global and Project Management Office (PMO) of Sierra Global Deputy General Manager Gamini Illangakoon look on.

Ceylinco organizes 'walk for prevention'