ADVERTORIAL

Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka Limited unveiled a new logo that coincided with a product launch. Bank of Ceylon Chairman Gamini Wickramasinghe handing over a key to a leasing product customer Udara Palliyaguru at the event. Picture by Nissanka Wijerathne

HP launches rapid repair service

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Hewlett-Packard Personal Systems Group, the world’s leading personal computer manufacturer and a leader in innovative technology launched HP Rapid Repair Service centres for notebook consumers.

The service will be available at three HP authorized service delivery partners in Colombo with plans for islandwide expansion.

The technology has evolved fast and we are living in a connected world today. The time spend on technological equipment repairs needs to be shortened and this prompted HP to launch a speedy service of this nature, HP Personal Systems Group Asian Emerging Counties, Country Business Manager Lackshmindra Fernando said.

HP is in the process of supplying 60,000 to 70,000 notebooks to the market and it is at the installation stage.

“We will take service delivery to the next level through the rapid repairs,” he said at the media conference to announce the launch of the rapid repair service centres held in Colombo last week.

“We took one step ahead to launch this service exceeding customer expectations.

The average lead repair time will cut down to two hours from the current level of 3 to 4 days for notebook repairs. HP invested substantially to implement the fast track process with efficient backward integration of entire support system, he said.

The rapid repair service is available at authorized service centres for a particular notebook portfolio and is offered to HP E Club members.

The customers need to register at E Club portal and obtain an E Club card to enjoy breakthrough in service delivery in Sri Lanka.

The service investment was in the areas of HR training and development, capacity building, maintaining buffer stock for repairs and improving skills of engineers.

The investment will be an on going process.

The next centre will be set up in Kandy shortly and the South centre in the next six months. HP is looking at 3 to 4 years of service expansion covering islandwide for better service accessibility.

NDB introduces one day leasing

NDB Bank is set to create waves with new benefits for their leasing product, offering further convenience to its valuable customers islandwide.

Long traditional requirements of customers, to have guarantors or make a down payment, in order to obtain a lease facility are no longer required.

This will thereby minimize the paper work, offering convenience to the customer while processing of these facilities will be done within a day.

This is the first time obtaining a leasing facility in Sri Lanka has been so easy. NDB Bank will grant the facility allowing customers to drive off with their preferred vehicle immediately on the first day of purchase.

Terms and conditions stipulated by the Bank will apply.

The lease facility can be obtained for a period of four to six years with special discounts offered for vehicle insurance.

NDB Leasing is available for individuals and small and medium scale enterprises.

Through NDB Leasing, SME’s will be able to purchase a range of commercial vehicles such as Lorries, Freezer Lorries, Buses, Vans, etc.; that will in turn help them grow their businesses.

In addition, NDB Bank will be offering unique leasing facilities through its credit line funding for small and medium scale business in the North East Provinces under concessionary rates.

This service is at all NDB Bank branches islandwide making leasing easier and accessible.

Union Assurance to fast track claims process

Union Assurance PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s largest Insurance providers, offering a wide variety of solutions for every aspect of insurance. Backed by a strong and dynamic group of individuals committed to helping society grow, Union Assurance is set to launch their newest venture which will certainly differentiate the company from its peers.

Union Assurance has always strived to make a difference through the products and services they offer their clients.

General Insurance of UAL General Manager Ruanthi Gooneratne stated “there are a lot of facilities being offered to the motor insurance market segment of clients but the other insurance segments have not been taken into consideration as much and that is the gap that we are trying to fill through this initiative.” The all new initiative will see Union Assurance offer its corporate clients the opportunity to save time as well as afford Union Assurance the ability to be transparent in all their claim dealings.

From a customer perspective, the claims process is often viewed as a daunting procedure that calls for an endless supply of documentation, many follow-ups and settlement delays. Gooneratne said the introduction of the online claim tracking system will dispel these perceptions.

“The Online Claim Tracking System is expected to enhance customer convenience by allowing corporate clients to view the current status of their claims,” she asserts. The system targets corporate customers in particular and will initially pilot by processing property, personal accident, workers’ compensation and other insurance policies - with the exceptions being motor, marine, travel and surgical hospitalization cover.

All UA’s corporate customers will receive an encrypted access code and password to the system, which is accessible through the firm’s website. By logging in, customer can view the status of a claim and tracking process.

Young Spikes 2011 winners gear up for Spikes Asia 2011

MetalFactor teamed up with the International Advertising Association’s (IAA) Sri Lanka Chapter yet again to host the Young Spikes contest for young advertising professionals. The winning team, consisting of two members each from the following categories - Integrated communication and Media, will represent Sri Lanka at the Young Spikes contest at Spikes Asia 2011 in Singapore.

The winners of the Media competition are Wasim Akram and Rinesh Jayarathne from Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. and the winners of the integrated competition are Shehan Rodrigo and Reshad Mohideen from Grant McCann Erickson. These four contestants will be participating in the Spikes Asia Festival 2011 in Singapore which will be held from September 18-20, 2011.

The Spikes Asia Festival is a collaboration between the organisers of the Cannes Lions festival and Haymarket, the publisher of the campaign magazine. It provides the region’s growing creative and advertising industry with a platform to network and exchange ideas, bringing together some of the finest creative thinkers from across the region and around the world. It also recognizes Asia’s best works at the Spikes Asia Awards.

Matara welcomes Vallibel Finance

Vallibel Finance, opened its doors recently to the commercial hub of the South, Matara, amid a large gathering of well-wishers and expectant customers. The new, spacious branch with every modern amenity, dedicated to a community and locale esteemed for its keen business sense is the latest addition to an extensive network of branches across the country which has been steadily accumulating.

Vallibel Finance PLC Managing Director Jayantha Rangamuwa feels the opening is a chance for the finance company to really spread its wings, “We are extremely glad to be here in Matara, which is home to such a proud community of business folk, and see it as the perfect chance to broaden our horizons in offering our customers the best of the best in streamlined financial solutions,” he said. Using cutting-edge technology and well-honed customer relations, Vallibel’s financial products remain top of the mark.

”To join a community as renowned for its business acumen as Matara is truly an honour,” said Dhammika Perera, the Chairman of Vallibel. With his wide and varied interests in a range of ventures including Hayleys PLC, LB Finance, Royal Ceramics, PABC Bank, Sampath Bank, Amaya Resorts, The Fortress Resorts, Delmege Forsyth and Vallibel One, Perera can surely be considered an experienced and accurate judge of success. “Vallibel Finance has been able to, in a short time, become a front-runner in the finance sector,” he went on to say, praising Vallibel’s youngest venture for its forbearance in persevering in the finance industry.

Vallibel Finance’s product portfolio has shot up in terms of popularity as well as volumes, their chief offerings being fixed deposits, leasing, hire purchase and microfinance, all of which increased significantly in the past financial year.

This performance is sure evidence of the company’s rising customer base and its ability to garner investor confidence in the positive post-conflict environment.

Vallibel opened its latest branch in Matara at Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Matara.

Autogrill Lanka Duty Free introduces ‘Flash Make up Makeover’ at BIA

The premier duty free store at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) introduced the ‘Flash Make up Makeover’ for their patrons at the Arrivals terminal in August 2011.

The Flash Make up sessions are being conducted by skincare and make up professionals trained by L’Oreal and Clinique - two world leaders in fragrances and cosmetics.

“Make up makeovers are done at leading department stores and international airports across the globe. For the first time in Sri Lanka, we are pleased to offer this service to passengers travelling through BIA; giving them the opportunity of interacting with cosmetic professionals and experiencing for themselves what a good combination of cosmetics can do to enhance a person’s features in a matter of just 5 to 6 minutes. Also they provide each individual a make-up sketch, detailing the ideal colours, shades and value for money products that will make each passenger glow this summer. We shall continue offering a memorable shopping experience to our customers to gain their appreciation and loyalty,” Autogrill Lanka Limited CEO Dimantha Kinigama said.

The French brand, L’Oreal Paris, one of the world’s leading beauty care brands, offers a range of personal care products that incorporate the latest scientific advances. L’Or‚al Paris provides affordable luxury for people who demand excellence. It is a brand that is involved in all facets of beauty care, from skin care, hair care and hair colouring to make-up and styling products.

Customers can now discover the L’Or‚al Paris cosmetics range complete with make-up from foundation, mascara and lipstick to eye shadow and blusher. Discover how to create glamorous or natural-looking makeup looks, smoky eyes or flawless skin.

The Flash Make-up sessions teach passengers how to apply eyeliner or bronzer, gave expert tips, application advice and the latest make-up trends, from catwalk and celebrity looks to mineral make-up.

World class fragrances go hand in hand with cosmetics and as such, Autogrill Lanka launched four exclusive fragrances from the French design houses of Dior, Givenchy and Gucci.

Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior is one of the primary extensions of the iconic Miss Dior fragrance created by the designer himself in 1947. Miss Dior Cherie embodies love and happiness with a scent that combines sandalwood, Patchouli, Tunisian orange tree and jasmine absolute just to name a few of its top notes which dominates its lingering fragrance.

Also making its debut on the shelves is Gucci Guilty pour Homme, for the hero of our age who exudes charisma, is fearless and one with impeccable taste.

This modern day hero knows what he wants and goes after it with single minded determination and compulsive charm.

Autogrill Lanka Limited (formerly Alpha Orient Lanka Limited) is a member of the Autogrill Group of Companies, the world’s largest duty free retail group offering a range of categories including perfume and confectionery.

Smtf Training Sri Lanka partners Wave Synergy services Malaysia

Sales and Marketing Training Forum (Smtf) merged as a strategic training partner in South Asia with a leading Malaysian training service provider Wave Synergy Services celebrating the 11th anniversary of Sales and Marketing Training Forum last week at Waters Edge, Battaramulla.

Sales and Marketing Training Forum and Training Sri Lanka CEO Milinda Wijayasekera exchanged the MOU with Malaysian partners and training professionals Directors of Wave Synergy Services, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Vasudevan Panicker and Sivaganesan Ramasamy.

This alliance namely Training Sri Lanka will cater across Sri Lanka to transfer people learning into benefits and beliefs into behaviour at work and society as an accelerated knowledge transformation practice, Milinda said launching the website Training Sri Lanka joining hands with Wave Synergy will be remarkable as they have already planned to conduct variety of most modern training workshops and camps in all three languages to enhance soft skills of professionals and youth across the society to fulfil the training needs in developing Sri Lanka, said Milinda Wijayasekara at a press conference.

“We are positive to build Sri Lanka further as stronger and competent nation in developing Sri Lankans’ skills in leadership which we find is the right time as the signs of real development has taken place,” added Vasudevan Panicker, a world class master trainer in people capability development.

“Stepping forward together with Wave Synergy and Training Sri Lanka will definitely result in a better Sri Lanka as our co strengths are alike and our common mission is helping organisations improve people through people, Wijayasekara further added.

Maliban Kiri Australia Savari competition begins

Maliban Milk from Australia has earned for itself the highest consumer confidence and become a successful trade name while undergoing a massive development with an unprecedented three digit growth.

It is now on the threshold of creating another event for customers.

The Maliban Milk Products Company has initiated a massive competition.

This competition titled Maliban Kiri Australia Savari offers as prizes to Maliban Milk consumers who join the competition tours to Australia, Maliban milk for three months, mountain bicycles, t-shirts and a host of other valuable items.

Winners of the competition will have a chance of viewing Australian farms, vineyards, apple orchards and kangaroos.

Maliban Milk Products has introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka Maliban Hi-Cal Gold Non-Fat Milk Powder which contain 100 percent milk calcium.

A special feature of Maliban Hi-Cal Gold Non-Fat Milk Powder is that it contains milk calcium which has good solubility and it can also be well absorbed by the body.

Milk calcium is also a trusted source of calcium.

Multimedia students at SAITM complete Edexcel, HND

The first batch of students that concluded the BTEC Edexcel HND in Interactive Media from the Faculty of ICT and Media of South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) will be progressing towards the third year of BSc in Computing with Interactive Media offered by the prestigious University of Buckinghamshire, UK.

SAITM’s degree in Interactive Media is the first Multimedia degree offered in Sri Lanka. More details can be obtained from www.saitm.edu.lk. With an ever increasing student intake, SAITM’s Faculty of ICT and Media helps the nation by providing Sri Lankan students with a career in the lucrative creative industry.