ADVERTORIAL

LB Finance enters Tissamaharama

LB Finance continues its islandwide expansion strategy, opening its doors in Tissamaharama last week.

The 40-year-old company is now hailed as the capital harbinger of the industry, launching a variety of new services during the past year as well as opening branches in Jaffna and Vavuniya.

LB Finance celebrated their arrival in Tissamaharama with a procession around Tissawewa which provided a scenic backdrop to the festivities.

Tissamaharama is one of the most pleasant towns in the south and boasts a bustling main street lined with banks, shops and little cafes and kiosks. Its cluster of dagobas and two beautiful tanks lend Tissa a certain distinction as well as a sense of history and, as a refreshing breeze from the large reservoir swept through the town, a steady procession of three-wheelers meandered its way along its streets to greet the reception committee led by LB Finance Managing Director Sumith Adhihetty.

The atmosphere was convivial and Adhihetty certainly had a lot to smile about. After all, financial powerhouse LB Finance marked its 40th year in the financial services industry with a resounding Rs 1.02 billion net profit after tax for the year ended March 31, 2011, a spectacular 104 percent increase on the previous year’s Rs 500.16 million.

“At the moment we are driving forward with our main strategy which is to aggressively expand our reach within the island,” Adhihetty said.

“So my team and I are delighted to be present at the opening of our latest branch here in beautiful Tissa,” he said.

Amongst its financial services, LB Finance is renowned for its revolutionary leasing packages and recently launched LB Finance Factoring, the first within the market sector to introduce a dedicated factoring unit.

LB Finance operates through a highly-integrated network of branches offering cutting-edge solutions through services such as fixed deposits, leasing, hire purchase, microfinance, inland money transfer, gold loans, factoring and other credit facilities.

The voucher winners with ODEL’s Kandy Store Manager.

Kandy shoppers win Odel gift vouchers

ODEL recently presented shopping vouchers to five customers who attended the grand opening of its Kandy store.

The recipients of these vouchers were Dushan Pathirana, Achini Samarakoon, Shivanthi Arulampalam, Maheshika Wijesuriya and Dinushi Jayasinghe.

The vouchers were presented to them by the Kandy store manager Chaminda Abeykoon.

New inhaler device from Akbar Pharmaceuticals

Moratuwa central special correspondent

Akbar Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of the Presidential Award winning giants in the tea export trade, Akbar Brothers of Colombo has recently introduced a unique inhaler device hitherto unknown in the sector.

Dr. Anil Goonathilake

The novel product is the brain child of Dr. Anil Goonathilake who has also won the coveted Presidential Award for this ground breaking achievement in the country.

Akbar Pharmaceutical’s LINA research centre and manufacturing facility located at Borupana Road, Ratmalana has successfully developed this inhaler device after intense research ably assisted by the Moratuwa University.

This device employs a simple mechanism to dispense a finer spray of the particles to carry the medication directly to required areas thus bringing about greater and speedy relief to the patient afflicted with respiratory ailments.

After the inaugural launching of the LINA products held recently at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, the Akbar Pharmaceutical’s Managing Director Asgi Akbarally said that these LINA products were a significant achievement in the area of the manufacturing quality drugs and added that it was aimed at providing the people with pharmaceutical’s items at affordable prices in Sri Lanka.

This new venture will play a major role in the country’s economy in the years to come.

Medical professionals also lent their support in the entire process. The Moratuwa University, too had its share of the unique contribution towards this, Managing Director Asgi Akbarally said.

TNT Express opens branch in Seeduwa

The new office in Seeduwa

TNT Express, Europe’s largest delivery service opened their 15th branch office in Seeduwa earlier this month, coinciding with their 30th anniversary in Sri Lanka. TNT Express who is locally represented by Ace International express, the Express delivery arm of Aitken Spence Cargo, a member of the prestigious Aitken Spence Group has had an unbroken and ongoing relationship with the Sri Lankan blue chip over the past three decades.

The new branch office, the 15th owned branch in the TNT network is also the Company’s 1st purely operational facility. Located within the premises of Colombo Cargo Express in Seeduwa, the new office will allow TNT Express to clear import consignments faster and provide quicker delivery times for imports to the local business community.

The facility, which is around 1500 square feet, also allows TNT Express to upgrade their export process and handle even larger volumes for exports, which in turn will enable local exporters to experience an even better service than before.

Value offers with Dubai packages from Emirates Holidays

Emirates Holidays has partnered with 27 hotels and hotel apartments in beach and city locations in Dubai to come up with best-value offers for a dream holiday in one of the few places on the planet that enables visitors to ski on snow, sand and sea in the same day.

The promotion which runs until August 31 is dubbed ‘Value Dubai’ and includes offers ranging from spa and massage treatments to upgrade to accommodation; from F and B discounts to great offers on tours and excursions.

In addition, when booking a ‘Value Dubai’ package with Emirates Holidays, guests will receive a complimentary The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Privilege Book allowing access to offers from over 100 retailers in the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, including discounts at many of the mall’s restaurants as well as a one-hour complimentary personal shopping experience at Galeries Lafayette.

Dubai is a cultural melting pot that has great shopping and leisure activities and attractions for all ages, the finest in international cuisine, the best accommodation, and warm, hospitable people.

Bookings may be made with travel agents, Emirates Holidays or by visiting emiratesholidays.com. Terms and conditions apply to all the offers.

NTB opens in Anuradhapura

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) opened their 43rd branch in Anuradhapura.

Anuradhapura well-known for picturesque ruins, ancient temples, and water reservoirs has today transformed into a business hub and Nations Trust Bank will now connect with the people of Anuradhapura through an online banking network that’s offering a wide range of products and services.

NTB Deputy CEO, Renuka Fernando said, “We are delighted to be bringing our own special brand of banking from Nations Trust to the people and business community of Anuradhapura, where we are poised to offer them 365 day banking, exceptional customer care, innovative products and flexible and convenient financial solutions.

“Nations Trust Bank has performed creditably during the last quarter, posting good growth in our core revenue streams and we are convinced that the products and services we roll out to these new geographies and market segments will provide a lucrative landscape for the growth of the bank.”

The new branch is situated at 249A, Maithreepala Senanayake Mawatha, Anuradhapura.

The Bank now has 43 branches, six Personal Banking Centers and is the sole issuers and acquirer for American Express cards in Sri Lanka.