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For tenth consecutive year:

Swadeshi illuminates Kataragama

The 2011 Esala festivals of the Kataragama Kiri Vehera and the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, two important places of worship in Sri Lanka, were illuminated by the Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC. The illumination is done under the theme of “Swadeshi Khomba Aloka Puja Sathkaraya.”

The events began on July 1 and ended on July 16, and Swadeshi sponsored the Aloka Poojawas for the 10th consecutive year.

Swadeshi Chairperson Amari Wijewardene said that as a 100 percent Sri Lankan owned company, Swadeshi considers it a duty to safeguard the culture and traditional heritage of Sri Lanka by supporting activities such as this annual Aloka Poojawa.

She said that Swadeshi illuminates places of worship in the country for the benefit of all worshippers and also to educate the younger generation on the importance of safeguarding the country’s heritage. The illumination is followed by a colourful cultural pageant which highlights Sri Lankan traditions and history.

McDonalds opens outlet in Kotahena

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The McDonald outlet at Kotahena on George R De Silva Mawatha is the most recent addition to the five restaurants already operating in Sri Lanka and provides a unique experience through its latest kitchen format “Made for you” which commences preparation of all aspects of the products served only after the order is placed at the front counter guaranteeing freshness and superior taste sensations while maintaining the service speeds McDonalds prides itself on.

Being a family restaurant, McDonalds takes great pains to ensure that its menu is affordable to the Sri Lanka family while maintaining international standards of service and quality delivering great value to its patrons.

The outlet at Kotahena uses imported furniture designed and placed to accommodate large families with a simply modern design concept and has a fully integrated party room and free children’s play-place which has been designed with child safe standards and certifications.

McDonalds uses a mix of imported and local ingredients to ensure delivery of high quality wholesome products made to international standards.

“No business is successful without a trained and motivated workforce and at McDonalds we understand this well,” said its Director, Udesh Wijesuriya who stated off as a management trainee twelve years ago.

The young recruits are allowed flexible work hours to encourage academic development while being absorbed in to crew after intense training, high levels of discipline, honesty and hard work being prerequisites and from this point their personal development programme commences to Crew Trainer, Crew Chief and then to the management level.

“Strengths are identified and leadership qualities are honed into the development process.

Over 95 percent of managers started as crew and we instill a sense of pride and dignity of labour with all staff on duty including managers responsible for keeping the floor clean or emptying the bin to cleaning tables,” Wijesuriya said.

“Our superior training methods with international exposure and exams at each development stage makes McDonalds staff highly employable both here and overseas. While providing free meals and accommodation as standard, our motivation programmes also include selected crew getting free trips to visit and work at the Olympics and Formula 1 car races, Football World Cup or wherever McDonalds becomes an event sponsor,” he said.

McDonalds also encourages trained crew and Managers to rotate within the system and work on contract in the Middle East and return to guaranteed employment in Sri Lanka at the end of the contract period.

“Our restaurants in Sri Lanka are Halal certified and have received Gold standard certification and A gradings from Colombo Municipal Council,” he said.

McDonalds offers its BigMac, cheeseburgers and McChicken which have international trade marks and patents while complementing the menu with all time favourites specially developed for the Sri Lankan consumer such as the Chicken McSpicy, McRICE and Mceggburger and served up in clean and hygienic environment at affordable prices.