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Wimaladharma launches Seiko Service Centre

1913 Mechanical

1969 Quartz

1988 Kinetic

Wimaladharma Brothers will launch a Seiko Service Centre in Colombo. Wimaladharma Brothers now offers customers a state-of-the-art, world-class service facility. The Seiko Centre will be opened for business with Seiko representatives General Manager Hiroshi Uchiyama and Manager Cheng Mei Ling Annie.

Wimaladharma Brothers (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Asoka Wimaladharma said, "Wimaladharma Brothers was established in 1936 by its Founder Chairman the late W A Wimaladharma. We take pleasure in unveiling the all-new service centre with Seiko. "This is yet another milestone as we go beyond our 75th anniversary as the leading watch dealer in Sri Lanka. We first started importing Seiko watches in 1992 - the year that Seiko was the official timekeeper for the Barcelona Olympics. It has been consistent in strengthening our status as a service provider through its supply of equipment to us over the years and I am confident that this new phase of service will carry us to even greater heights in our industry of watches and clocks," he said.

The Seiko Service Centre features watch measurement, repair, testing and cleaning equipment from Switzerland Germany and Japan. These are supplemented by case openers, screwdrivers, waterproof case wrenches, watch presses/ closers and other watch related tools.

The service element of the centre is strengthened by the expertise, know-how and experience of its technical staff who had been trained by Seiko.

The Seiko Holdings Group was founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881 and propelled into the future on a vision to create a business that will endure for generations.

The watch manufacturer will complete its 130th anniversary in December 2011. It maintains that the best watches live in harmony and interact with the wearer, and their functions offer a reassuring and emotionally satisfying bond. This creation of 'emotional technologies' remains a driving force in that each watch manufactured is designed establish and strengthen the connection of the wearer to the brand. This is done across all Seiko technologies, be it Spring Drive, Kinetic, Mechanical or Quartz.

The Group diligently upholds the values of Founder Kintaro Hattori that no matter how challenging, a commitment must be fulfilled; superior products are the key to lasting prosperity; resilience and focus; and that there is no need for hurry or rest but to always steer one step ahead of others.

John Keells invests heavily in Chaaya Tranz, Chaaya Wild

Following its large investment in the East Coast in opening Chaaya BLU last year, the John Keells Hotels Group has continued to invest heavily in Sri Lankan tourism by completely refurbishing and launching two more hotels under its 'Chaaya Hotels and Resorts' brand. With a combined investment of over US $ 17 million Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa and Chaaya Wild Yala two distinctly unique properties will enrich the country's overall tourism offering from November 1.

Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa is a celebration of the Avant Garde and liberal lifestyle of Hikkaduwa with vibrant interiors and luxurious spaces which both draw inspiration from and showcase the local flavours of Hikkaduwa.

A total investment of US $ 1.2 million has been utilised for the transformation of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa. The 150 room resort will house superior and deluxe rooms and suites; all with direct sea views.

The facilities of the resort will ensure a fully refurbished main restaurant, speciality crab restaurant, bars and lounges as well as a roof top spa. Moreover the Group will make Chaaya Tranz its base for whale watching in Mirissa.

Chaaya Wild Yala, also due to open on November 1 is a completely different offering to the well traversed and discerning nature enthusiast. With a US $ 0.5 million investment the 66-chalet world class game lodge is placed in what is almost an extension of the Yala National Park with open boundaries to the surrounding wildlife.

The resort's offerings stem from responsible tourism practices aimed at conserving and being one with its precious environs. A roof top observation deck and bar would be a key attraction of the property offering a 360 degree view of the surrounding wilderness.

Commenting on the speed and frequency of their new hotel projects John Keells Holdings PLC Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunawardene said, "We will continue to invest not only in increasing the size and reach of our hotel portfolio but in adding unique and districts properties to enhance Sri Lanka's overall tourism offering.

Through experience we have devised a formula that enables us significant efficiencies in project speeds and costs, which we believe is not easily replicated. This will be a strong advantage for us in maintaining our dominance in the Sri Lankan tourism sector amidst local and potential international competition.

Softlogic launches Dell Streak 5 Android

Indunil HEWAGE

Softlogic Information Technologies (Pvt) Ltd recently introduced the Dell Streak 5 Android tablet to give a widescreen mobile browsing experience for Sri Lankan customers. The latest product will provide customers an entertaining, navigation experience with comprehensive social connections. In line with the product launch, Softlogic appointed Dialog Axiata as the official mobile provider for Dell Streak 5 tablet.

Softlogic Information Technologies (Pvt) Ltd CEO and Director Roshan Rassool said the 5 inch screen pocket sized tablet is designed for online customers and will create new avenues for them since its web browsing capabilities are equivalent to a laptop. The screen of the tablet is sufficiently large presenting web pages in their natural form, creating a comfortable viewing experience and making turn by turn navigation simple and safe. This tablet is operated on Android v2.2 and powered by google.

Dell Streak 5 has special features such as digital compass, social networking integration, google search, maps, gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, quickoffice document viewer, photo viewer, editor, organizer and voice memo. In addition, it comes with Gorilla glass display, accelerometer sensor for UI auto rotate multi touch input method and proximity sensor for auto turn off.

Rassool remarked that the global online community is growing at a rapid pace with two billion users and Asia accounts for 44 percent of it. Growth of the internet adaptation is highly commendable and it grew from 360 million to over 2 billion during the last couple of years, he said.

Chamwin wins awards

Chamwin Tea Pod, Sri Lanka's innovative tea manufacturer and packaging company won the Most Innovative Product Award at the recently concluded ProFood ProPack 2011 exhibition. Chamwin Natural Foods Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd markets Chamwin special tea at its processing centre at Ratnapura. The tea produced by Chamwin is from 100 percent natural Ceylon Oolong where it markets tea in the form of tea tablets changing the shape of tea for the local market to suit the changing needs of the consumers.