ADVERTORIAL

Through ‘Digital Reach’:

Virtusa reaches out to Eastern Province

Virtusa Corporation, a global information technology (IT) services company that provides IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services through an enhanced global delivery model, successfully achieved another milestone through the donation of computers to Parameswara Vidyalaya, Vavunatheevu in the Batticaloa District as part of the Digital Reach initiative which is one of the pillars in their sustainability programme.

Virtusa set the platform to create a more digitally inclusive society by constructing a technologically friendly environment for the school. ‘Digital Reach’ strives to strengthen the opportunities and provide all students with a promising future by giving IT education and access to the right information forming the stepping stone for a cohesive knowledge economy. The project reaching out to more than 250 children also included a training programme on soft skills such as introduction to MS Word and Excel.

“IT education is important to all children in today’s world. By leveraging access to vast information at an early age, they elevate the potential of the country as a whole to reach unbelievable levels intellectually. We at Virtusa believe in bridging the digital divide and acting as a facilitator enhancing their experience” said Virtusa General Manager and Vice President Madu Ratnayake.

The Virtusa Digital Reach team for the project comprised of C Samuel, Jugini Sivagananathan, Nagenthiran Nirmalan and Shalini Fernando. The ceremony was attended by chief guest District Educational Board Head A. M. E. Paul and West Batticaloa Sub Division Educational Board Deputy Head K. Baskaran.

Speaking at the event, Parameswara Vidyalaya Principal M. Yohenthiran expressed his gratitude to Virtusa for considering a remote school for this project. He urged the students to take maximum advantage with such an opportunity.

Virtusa Digital Reach aims to promote digital literacy through access to information technology and seeks to build a more digitally-inclusive society, thereby improving the quality of life in the communities in which the company operates.

SLIIT, UK’s SHU conduct design competition

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) teamed up with Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) UK to conduct a t-shirt designing competition recently. A voting procedure marked the selection for the best design, and representatives from SHU were present to hand out the awards and certificates to the creative participants of SHU degree programmes at SLIIT.

H.N.Y.C. Herath won the competition, with P.T.N.H.C. Gunasinghe and Mithun Ruwan Pathirana bagging the second and third prizes respectively. Certificates were handed out to the other participants of the design competition.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company felicitates high performing dealers

The Richard Pieris Tyre Company celebrated their annual Top Dealer Awards Ceremony 2011 and fellowship builder for families recently at Chaaya Village, Habarana. Themed Reaching Heights the Top Dealer Awards 2011 was attended by Richard Peiris Group Chairman Dr Sena Yaddehige and Richard Pieris Tyre Company General Manager Pradeep Samaratunga.

From a distribution network of 1300 dealers across the country the best 60 dealers were short listed, even covering the North and the East of the country. The company has four decentralized factories located in Nawinna, Kandy, Kurunagala and Weligama. Families of the top performing dealers consider the event as an occasion to be able to meet and bond with fellowship and camaraderie.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company General Manager Pradeep Samaratunga said, “I am proud to comment that this event is anticipated by many of the dealers. We consider it our pride to invite a group who facilitate successful business relationships and confidence in continuing to produce the best results in the tyre market. This joyous occasion for our dealers needs to be celebrated by the entire dealer families.

We introduced a new awards system to appreciate our consistent best performers who adds more value to our business. We constantly innovate to produce better product levels and quality resulting in enhanced business values to our valuable dealer network.

Expansion plans installing new factories to cater to the growing demand which will also boost our service levels are well under way. We will introduce more products to the trading category”.

The dealer convention and awards ceremony added a new dimension to the awards categories. The event comprised awards under the two divisions of re-treading and treading under which platinum, gold, silver, bronze awards were granted, with certificates, cash prizes and overseas trips was also on offer. The platinum award is awarded to the dealer who has won the Most Outstanding Dealer awards for more than five consecutive years in the tyre re-treading category.

In addition award categories included Brand Excellence awards, Most Promising Dealer award, Most Consistent Dealer award, Most Creditworthy Dealer award, Provincial awards and Awards for best Sales Executive and Best Sales Representative for the year.

H. M. Wasantha Kumara of Asiri Tyre Traders Negombo who won the Gold award in the tyre re-treading and trading sales categories was also awarded the prestigious Platinum Award. Sisira Tyre House Rambukkana Proprietor W. A. W. W. Sisira Kumara and Supiri Tyre House (pvt) Ltd, Kandy Managing Director A. M. Kithsiri Bandara respectively won the first and second runner-up Gold Award at the awards ceremony. I. A Karunathilaka from Hiruni Tyre House Pannala and S.J. Winny from Jayantha Brothers Ambalanthota won the first runner-up and second runner-up slots respectively in the trading sales awards category.

Fifty dealers with sound sales on Arpidag, Arpico and Arpi Radial Rebuilding of Tyres and 10 dealers who achieved best sales on Birla, Casumina and Corsa brands were shortlisted based on the performance during the financial year 2010/2011.

More projects from Hydro Power Free Lanka

Two more hydro power projects now under construction by Hydro Power Free Lanka PLC (HPFL), a subsidiary of Free Lanka Capital Holdings will supply around 2 mw to the national grid on completion. The two projects owned by the company are located at Thebuwana at Kuruwita and at Stellenberg at Gampola.

The company has obtained BOI and other relevant approvals for these projects which are scheduled to be completed by mid next year after which the power produced by them will be purchased by the government. Construction work began in January this year. A company spokesman said that the power purchase agreement has been signed with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for a period of 20 years.

With the expansion of the hydro power projects HPFL has formed three subsidiary companies to manage and operate them. One of the subsidiaries, HPFL 2 owns the Thebuwana project and the stellenberg project is owned by HPFL 3. The third subsidiary,.Free Lanka Power 1 (Pvt) Ltd owns two mini hydro power projects - Halgran Oya I and II . Hydro Power Free Lanka PLC is already supplying a total of 3.2 Mw to the national grid from its Sanquhar and Delta Plant. These two have received the Certified Emission Reduction (CER) certification - commonly referred to as carbon credits - from the United Nations.

Explaining the company’s rationale in moving on to hydropower sector, the company spokesman said that they were guided by government policy of developing the hydropower generation potential of the country to its full potential as it is a major indigenous resource for power generation. During the past decade, country’s electricity demand reports an average annual growth of 7-8 percent. This is expected to increase with the post-war boom on the industrial sector and also the government continues with sound infrastructure development programmes mainly to enhance the living standards of the society.

Samsung launches Smart TV lineup

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The new Samsung Smart TV lineup was launched to bring in Smart functionality, enhanced 3D capabilities and breakthrough product designs to the forefront last week in Colombo.

Samsung’s launch of its new Smart televisions seeks to provide a smarter, more connected viewing experience. Available in the LED D series, Samsung Smart TVs allow viewers to easily search for movies, TV shows, browse the web, explore Samsung apps, chat with friends and find many other types of new interactive TV content.

“There is significant progress in the electronic market in Sri Lanka and the ability to innovate technology enables us to capture the market fast”, Samsung South West Asia President and CEO, Jung Soo Shin, said. Samsung Smart televisions now feature the convenience of Samsung’s Smart Hub-offering an easily accessible gateway to favourite music, games, movies, TV shows, pictures, and virtually any content online or on a network connected storage device, he said.

Key features of the Smart Hub include Your Video - which delivers recommendations based on a user’s viewing history; Search All - which makes it easier to search for desired content on TV and other DLNA-certified connected media storage devices, networked PC and mobile devices, and Internet and video-on-demand services; Web Browser, which offers full web browsing right from the TV; Social TV - which makes it easier to chat with friends and family in real-time while watching the same TV content; and Samsung Apps - the world’s first HDTV-based application store offering about 400 paid and free apps globally that help people connect to their various passions - whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking, due to integration with social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Talk.

Samsung has expanded the capabilities in its 2011 line of products and has included 3D and smart features in a broader range of LED TVs models, providing consumers with the ability to bring the smarter life into their homes, no matter what their price range.

To provide a minimalistic, more immersive viewing experience, Samsung’s LED-D series are virtually edgeless. Featuring a super narrow bezel, the TVs offer a larger screen size without increasing the overall size of the TV, and blend more harmoniously with their surroundings when turned off.

Outlining the 2011 strategy for the flat panel TV category, Shin said, “As a company that was the first to launch LED TVs and 3D TVs, we are also taking the lead by introducing Smart televisions to consumers in Sri Lanka. We are looking at Samsung’s Smart TV becoming the uniting, dominant piece of technology in the home that connects, enables and entertains the entire family,” he said.

Samsung has launched a range of four Smart television models in the screen sizes between 40” to 55” across Smart TV D Series.

Samsung Electronics also announced the launch of its, new, advanced 2011 LCD television series. Available in screen sizes 22”, 32” and 40”, the Samsung LCD TVs are clearly differentiated on account of their elegant Crystal design. Image enhancing features like Wide Colour Enhancer and Digital Noise Filter enable the Samsung LCD TV Series to deliver richly textured, naturalistic pictures that elevate the viewing experience. Additional features like Connect Share Movie, SRS Theatre Sound, and HDMI inputs complement the viewing experience. And with Samsung’s Anynet+ technology, one can create a home network of compatible devices.

“As a global leader in Flat Panel technology, we are committed to providing consumers in Sri Lanka with a richer , more intuitive and Smarter experience and the Samsung Smart televisions offer more content, more convenience and more excitement than an ordinary TV.”, Shin, said.

The Samsung Smart televisions will be sold in Sri Lanka through the Company’s channel partners - Singer Sri Lanka PLC, Softlogic and Singhagiri Pvt Ltd.

DHL partners HSBC Sri Lanka

DHL Express, the world’s leading express company, partnered HSBC Sri Lanka, in providing special discounts to HSBC credit cardholders when they send international shipments (documents or parcels) through DHL Service Points in the country. HSBC Premier, Platinum, HSBC Advance Platinum, Gold and Classic credit cardholders can now avail themselves to a discount on all outbound shipments to any destination within DHL’s extensive global network of over 220 countries and territories between June 1 and November 30.

Pioneering in international express services for documents and parcels, DHL Express offers customers time-definite and day-definite delivery options based on urgency. DHL Service Points are located in Vauxhall Street, Colpetty, Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Wattala, Panadura, Biyagama, Kandy, Kurunegala and Seeduwa. The latest addition to the DHL Service Point is at the Immigration and Emigration Department which enables customers to send and receive passports securely.

DHL Express Sri Lanka Country Manager Manish Patel said, “Our plans to expand our retail footprint are aligned to the changing economic dynamics and to remain close to our customers for their shipping requirements. Our partnership with HSBC, a bank that is in the forefront of the industry worldwide, is a great opportunity to reach a wider market with our services.

“We see our tie-up with DHL as a strategic fit in helping customers enjoy the ease and convenience of a speedy service to conduct their business both home and away. HSBC Cards and Consumer Assets Head Nadeesha Senaratne.

Mahindra vehicles for Sri Lanka Navy

Ideal Motors (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Ideal Group, who is the sole authorized distributor for Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd - Automotive Sector won the coveted tender called by the Defence Ministry for the supply of automobiles under the Indian Line of Credit.

As such, Ideal Motors will supply 645 vehicles from Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd to the armed forces of Sri Lanka.

The first round of vehicles was supplied to the Sri Lanka Navy recently. The total order of vehicles delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy would be 20 units of the Bolero LX 4WD, 25 units of the Bolero Maxi Truck and 25 units of the Bolero Single Cab Turbo 4WD.

New authorized dealer in Sri Lanka:

Ford appoints Future Automobiles

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Ford appointed a new authorized dealer and introduced its largest vehicle line up in Sri Lanka to capture the growing automobile market. It appointed Future Automobiles as the exclusive Ford dealer in Sri Lanka.

The new authorized dealer appointment and the arrival of five new models in Sri Lanka will boost Fords commitment to the South East Asian Market.

Ford was able to capture 25 percent of the automobile market share and continues to enjoy 25 percent share in the double cab segment. There are better growth prospects in the truck segment in the country, Future Automobile (Pvt) Ltd Chief Operating Officer Sujeeva Premaratne said.

In keeping with Ford’s strategy a continually building quality vehicles, Future Automobile will focus on the high-end market. The award-winning models of Everest, Focus, Ranger, Fiesta and Figo will offer something unique to the growing demands of the Sri Lankan consumer and cater for a variety of needs, he said.

“We are excited to partner Future Automobiles with Ford’s product line up in Sri Lanka. This combination will provide Sri Lankans with the highest level of customer service and excellent vehicle quality,” Ford Export Operations Asia Pacific Regional Manager David Westerman said.

“Ford recognizes Sri Lanka as a driving force behind the recent growth seen in the South East Asian Market. Friday’s grand launch in Colombo is an indication of Ford’s commitment to the next stage of Sri Lanka’s development. Our aim here is to offer the most innovative and class-leading vehicles in the market,” Westerman said.

Ford has developed a successful partnership with Future Automobiles Pvt Limited. Together they will be promoting their most popular and exciting line-up of vehicles.

As the authorized Ford dealer for Sri Lanka, Future Automobiles has an ambitious goal to become one of the top three car companies in the country within its first three years of operation. Future Automobiles, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Softlogic Holdings Ltd, has plans to build a world-class new Ford showroom and service facility in Colombo within the next 12 months.

The new multi-million dollar facility will have 3S services, (sales, services, spare parts) with state-of-the-art facilities that are in line with Ford’s global standards.

“We want to show our commitment to the Ford Motor Company and Sri Lanka by establishing ourselves as a leading automotive distributor. We aim to set the highest standard in the market for sales, service and unparalleled customer satisfaction”, Softlogic Holdings Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Pathirage said.

Charming hideout to relax at leisure

The atmosphere is cool and calm, the appearance is green and comforting. When the winding gravel path slowly elevates towards the secluded boutique hotel, it makes one wonder whether this charming hideout is actually only 45 minutes away from the bustling city of Colombo.

Rock Chalet is the perfect gateway for those who seek rest and relaxation, away from their busy office schedules. It offers all the luxurious comforts of a boutique hotel and gives the impression that you are amidst the green surroundings of the countryside, without actually leaving the Colombo District.

Nestling amidst a sprawling rubber estate in Koratota, off the Hanwella-Avissawella Road, this boutique hotel is a surprise in waiting for many visitors. Secluded from human intrusion, it is the perfect hideout not only for honeymooners, but also for travellers who want to kick off their working shoes and relax.

“This is the perfect place for honeymooners. It is calm and secluded. This is also a great place for foreigners who seek a relaxing holiday. At our up-class boutique hotel we guarantee top-class luxury and an unforgettable experience,” the hotel’s Manager Sudewa Fernando said.

Rock Chalet offers five unique and spacious rooms, namely Dolomite, Termaleen, Jespa, Momosa and Arora. “We named each room after a type of mineral or rock, because you are, after all, at Rock Chalet,” Fernando said.

Each room is luxuriously furnished with antique and comfortable furniture and comes with a bureau, a TV set and other basic amenities. All rooms are air-conditioned.

The most attractive feature of Rock Chalet, the Hide-Out, is situated a few metres away from the main house. It is named Bracegirdle, after the Englishman who was in hiding from the authorities, precisely at this location, more than 80 years ago. “He was wanted by the authorities for siding with the Ceylonese in the struggle for independence. There was a cave at that time, where this cabin is now,” Fernando delved into the history of the place.

Today too this Hide-Out provides perfect seclusion for guests at Rock Chalet. The cabin comes with a king-size ultra-comfortable bed, spacious bathroom and private dining and room service. The cabin’s private veranda offers an unhindered view of the plush greenery that surrounds Rock Chalet. The freshwater stream that flows near the cabin - the guests have to cross it on a narrow wooden bridge to get to the Hide-Out - adds much charm to the already breathtaking den.

“The main building has been in existence for many decades, and when renovating, we only changed the roof,” Fernando said.

Before stepping into the pool, guests can enjoy a relaxing shower under the natural stream of water called ‘peella’ that flows over the boulder at one corner of the garden, which is adorned with a pond full of water lilies and ornamental fish.

A couple of flights of stone steps at the corner of the garden, takes you to the two mud huts housing the herbal spa and the steam bath. A range of aromatic Ayruvedic products beckons you to indulge in the centuries old therapeutic massages. As these huts are on elevated grounds, the treatments are private and therefore, more relaxing.

The hotel is a picture of old world charm, with its antique furnishing, pre-independent architecture and serene surrounding, with no apparent intrusion from modern-day paraphernalia. More than anything, it is the relaxing quietness that the guests are mostly treated with at Rock Chalet. The constant rustle of the tall rubber trees and the chirping of birds is music to the ears.

However, this is not a say that the hotel is not without its share of modern amenities. Each room is equipped with a TV set and the dining area too has a TV screen that presents 24-hour entertainment.

Dining at Rock Chalet too is a relaxing experience. The restaurant is open to the garden on three sides and the guests can enjoy their meals while being treated to the soft comfort of the gentle breeze that wafts through the rubber trees. “We offer an a’la carte menu. Apart from that, if there are any requests from the guests, we try our best to meet them. That is what we strive to do. Offer our guests the best holiday experience,” Fernando said. Although Rock Chalet is an up-class boutique hotel that offers discerning holidaymakers a home-away-from-home experience, it offers a few other services too. The hotel also hosts small functions, parties and even weddings as they are equipped with a hall that can hold up to 150 people. “This is an ideal place for a family get-together. A group can come here and have a very relaxing time. We have a beautiful pool and we even have set up a location to have a barbeque,” Fernando said.

He said that the hotel has a highly trained and a very courteous staff that diligently sees to the guests’ comforts and needs and the hotel has 24-hour security. Rock Chalet is cradled by a couple of rocky hills, which hide centuries old history and traditions, remnants of which are still found in the nearby villages.

“In the surrounding villages, there are people who have excelled in the ancient martial art tradition of ‘Angampora’. These traditions have been passed down from the time of King Ravana, who was believed to have ruled Lanka in the ancient past. Every few years, these villagers climb to the top of these hills and pay homage to King Ravana,” Kaushalya Siriweera, a hotel employee said providing a glimpse into the ancient traditions that surrounds Rock Chalet.

He said that the nearby Koratota Temple once gave refuge to King Walagamba for four years when he was in hiding from the invaders from India. “There are stone inscriptions that say the King was in hiding at the temple,” Kaushalya said.

He said that the hills also hide many valuable herbs which are unfortunately threatened with extinction.

This unique getaway, with its unparalleled natural beauty and relaxing surroundings, added with luxurious comforts, is complemented by such colourful history and tradition. And all this is found merely 17 kilometres from the capital Colombo and only one hour drive from the country’s international airport.

HNB launches Crystal Circle

Hatton National Bank (HNB) launched a new banking concept with Crystal Circle, beginning with its first centre in the HNB Metro Building of Negombo.

This high-class facility houses the creme de la creme of financial advisors who will serve the premier clients of the Negombo vicinity. The concept of Crystal Circle is centered on partnering with their customers to personalize banking services. From the private banking centre with reserved parking, to on-call financial specialists, HNB Crystal Circle plans to save customers time, and go the additional mile to assist their clients.

The business community and elite customers of the area warmly welcomed the Negombo branch of Crystal Circle.

The beautiful ambience and architecturally designed centre mirrors the high standard of service that will be provided to the Crystal Circle clientele. Hatton National Bank Managing Director and CEO Rajendra Theagarajah addressed the audience at the opening of the first Crystal Circle branch and said, “We promised to create an exclusive banking service to our premiere customers, and today we fulfilled this promise.”

It is progressive steps like this that reflect the well-deserved title of ‘Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka’ (awarded by Asian Banker Magazine) which Hatton National Bank has won for four consecutive years. With a commitment to evolve as their customers aim for new heights, HNB continues to leap forward with innovative services. Crystal Circle is one of these milestones, which aim to provide premier banking experiences across the island.

With plans to open two more centers in Kandy and Wellawatte, this strategic launch of their first centre in the fast growing city of Negombo, signifies the vision HNB has for unique banking services in Sri Lanka.

Abans-Trane Convention 2011:

Greener future for Sri Lanka

Abans jointly with Ingersoll Rand (USA), manufacturers of the world's most popular Trane chillers and air-conditioning systems, hosted the Trane Convention 2011 recently at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. The convention focused on "High performance buildings for a Greener Future". The attendance was significant.

As Sri Lanka has initiated to transform the construction industry with green building practices, it was a perfect opportunity for customers, architects and consultants who were looking forward for a green building and LEED certification.

This event was enlivened by Trane (Pvt) Ltd.,for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka General Manager Sanjeev Seth and Trane (Pvt) Ltd., - India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives Sales Leader N Sriram. The requirement for LEED certification and the energy efficiency requirement for a green building were very precisely elaborated.

The focus of Sanjeev's presentation was a brief overview of Trane-Ingersoll range of products and eco-friendly awards that they achieved. He further emphasized Trane-Ingersoll, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environment.

He further mentioned on the financial front that it is hard to argue that green buildings are not a smart financial decision. In terms of energy savings alone, they have an enormous impact on the cost of running a building. And today, green buildings - LEED certified and silver buildings - can be built for not a penny more than conventional buildings on a first cost basis. Abans, a company that always strives to promote the eco-friendly green concept to Sri Lanka in all their products and services add up a further step to green technology with an engineered product.

Though it was a two hour session, the foremost aspects of energy-efficient and eco-friendly trane chillers, air handling units, fan coils and controls for a green building was appropriately conveyed.

American Express partners Dialog

American Express in partnership with Dialog has introduced an exciting promotion bringing forth significant savings as well as convenience via automated bill settlement.

Cardmembers can now enjoy a Free Dialog TV connection, free Blackberry Curve 8520, a free HSPA modem or 50 percent savings on Blackberry Torch 9800.

To avail these offers Cardmembers need to register for Automated bill settlement on their Card for the payment of their monthly Dialog mobile, broadband or TV Bill payments with a minimum commitment. This exclusive promotion will be valid till July 31, 2011.

Dialog TV Group Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Executive Officer Nushad Perera said, “Dialog Axiata is joining American Express Cards with some very exciting never before offers, as we believe in giving our customers ‘The Future Today’ - not only with technology, but in value as well. Our selected offers are based on what customers want, rather than what we want to offer”.

JKH lead sponsor for ICASL

Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) is back this year as a lead sponsor of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL).

JKH which was one of the four lead sponsors for ICASL in 2010, sees this partnership with the national accounting body as an initiative which will immensely contribute towards the long-term educational development in the sphere of accounting. JKH Group Finance Director, Ronnie Peiris said that JKH was proud to partner ICASL yet again, as the Institute has an impressive track record of the development of the accountancy profession and accountants in the country and is a highly respected accounting body in both Sri Lanka and abroad.

ICASL President Sujeewa Mudalige praised JKH for coming onboard as a lead sponsor for ICASL. Mudalige said that this agreement with JKH will indeed be a stepping stone for the further development of chartered accountancy in the country.