ADVERTORIAL

Kenanga ties-up with MSL for fund management software

Kenanga Investment Corporation Ltd (KICL) the overseas investment arm of Malaysian Listed Investment Bank K&N Kenanga Holdings Berhard. K&N Kenanga is a leading provider of Wealth Management, Corporate Finance and Investment Banking Services. As of August 31 2011, Kenanga Holding Berhard had US$850 million of total asset under management.

The company tied up with Management Systems Limited, market leader in providing software solutions for the Fund Management Operations and Unit Trust operations in Sri Lanka.

MSL specializes in Fund Management, Unit Trust operations, Financial Accounting Systems, payroll management systems and web site designing.

MSL is also widely recognized for its reliable offshore and outsourcing capabilities.

MSL computer systems is currently the market leader in providing software solutions for the Fund Management Operations and Unit Trust operations in Sri Lanka.

Once fully implemented, this system will be an important tool to KICL to meet the demanding requirements of investment management, client reporting and compliance.

KICL CEO Shahid Sangani said with the boom in the economic activities and the resulting growth in the equities market, KICL has identified a gap in the services available for individuals and corporate to participate in the stock market in a professional manner with quality research and sound advisory services.

KICL will fill this gap with the provision of Wealth Management Services to Sri Lankans living overseas and wishing to participate in the Colombo Stock Exchange. ”Through the wealth management services, KICL offers specialized and individualized investment management services including: investment funds, portfolio management, gilt-edged and other investments tailored to a broad spectrum of individual and corporate clients,” KICL Investment Head Udara Wanigasinghe said.

Speed Water Systems launches project

Self-employment opportunities to rural youth:

Speed Water Systems, a leading Sri Lankan company which produces purified bottled drinking water on par with international standards using state-of-the-art technology, has initiated a programme to offer self-employment opportunities to young men and women in the country’s rural sector.

The first phase of this initiative was recently launched in the Anuradhapura district in collaboration with National Youth Services Council (NYSC) youth officers of the North Central Province.

Speed Water Systems (Pvt) Limited Managing Director Nishantha Delgoda said that this self-employment programme was launched by the company as a CSR project.

Speed Water Systems, while ensuring that people outside Colombo - those in far-flung, rural areas - have access to purified, hygienically bottled drinking water, launched this programme with the primary objective of affording an opportunity to the rural youth to improve their livelihoods by earning a reasonable income through self-employment projects, he said.

“The first phase of this programme took off the ground at Anuradhapura recently. Arrangements are underway to launch the next stage from areas in the North and the East. There is a significant resurgence of economic and business activities in the North and the East. We have already introduced Speed to the Eastern province and the consumer demand for our products is very encouraging”, Delgoda noted.

Under the Speed Water Systems Self-employment Project, NYSC youth officers will operate a Speed water sales outlet in every township in the North Central Province. Stocks of bottled water required by these sales points will be supplied by the Anuradhapura district agent of the Speed Water Company, the Managing Director said.

He said that through this partnership, the people of these rural townships will have access to hygienically purified, safe bottled drinking water, while NYSC youth officers will be able to generate a monthly turnover of anything between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 40,000.

A workshop to create greater awareness on this project among these NYSC youth officers and also provide the basic training to them was held with the participation of Speed Water Systems (Pvt) Limited Managing Director Nishantha Delgoda and NYSC Assistant Director Anuradhapura District M D Gunasena.

Established in 2003, Speed Water Systems (Pvt) Limited is a wholly-owned Sri Lankan company. Guaranteed to conform to the highest international quality standards, the company’s bottled water products are marketed under the brand name ‘SPEED’. As a company which introduced innovative, state-of-the-art know-how and technology and new marketing strategies to the bottled water industry, Speed Water Systems has emerged as the No. 2 in the market within a short period of time.

Pan Asia Bank opens in Kundasale

Pan Asia Bank further expanded its branch network last week with the opening of its 58th branch on Digana Road, Kundasale.

The new branch was opened by the chief guest, Pan Asia Bank Chairman A.G. Weerasinghe and the guest of honour Pan Asia Bank CEO Claude Peiris. The opening ceremony was attended by customers in the area, other distinguished guests and well-wishers.

Listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange and in operation for 16 years, the Pan Asia Bank offers a full range of retail and business banking products and services.

Pan Asia Bank has already opened 17 branches within the year, and continues its vigorous expansion drive with a view of achieving 25 new branches in 2011 and 100 branches by the end of 2012.

Pan Asia Bank takes pride in its customer centric focus and will be offering a highly personalized service, competitive deposit and loan rates and an array of novel banking products including Champion Saver account with an attractive interest of 8% for a savings account, three types of minor savings accounts, Gold Loans with the highest advance amount per sovereign, and leasing at the lowest market rate down to 1%.

Pan Asia bank Kundasale branch is headed by Mr.Sanka Thilakarathne. The branch will be opened from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

Etisalat’s entrance, growth honoured

SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2011:

In recognition of its meteoric rise since its launch in early 2010, Etisalat, a new mobile operator entrant was bestowed a silver for being the Best New Entrant of the year at the recently held SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2011.

Etisalat was selected for the dynamic fashion through which they entered the local market and for showing ability to build the brand into one of Sri Lanka’s strongest and most easily recognizable in just a short period of time.

Etisalat’s CEO, Dumindra Ratnayaka said, “Bringing Etisalat into the local market was a challenge as we had to jostle with the other well established names within the sphere. However, we were able to carve out a strong position for ourselves by creating a brand blitz to place ourselves in the minds of the consumers and then following through on our brand promises by providing such cutting edge products as our unmatchable 3.75G mobile internet service.”

Since Etisalat’s arrival in the market its subscriber base has grown to exceed 3.5 million and, with the launch of its 3.75G mobile internet, Etisalat has been able to position itself as a market leader in technological innovation.

Etisalat’s AppZone, the first third party mobile application development platform in Sri Lanka, was a testament to Etisalat’s commitment to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunications services to the Sri Lankan market winning an mBillionth award earlier in the year.

The depiction of the logo in multiple forms; such as a butterfly, a flower etc., has contributed to its retention in the consumer’s mind and made it one of the easiest to identify.

LIOC becomes sole fuel redemption partner of HSBC Rewards

HSBC launched its new alliance with Lanka IOC PLC, (LIOC) an overseas venture of the oil giant, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., to offer the banks’ credit card holders more benefits and convenience.

The new agreement was signed recently between HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Chief Executive Officer Nick A. Nicolaou and LIOC Managing Director K.R. Suresh Kumar.

Lanka IOC becomes the 33rd merchant to partner HSBC Rewards, whereby HSBC credit card holders will, for the first time, be able to redeem their Rewards points instantly at eighteen selected Lanka IOC fuel stations during the initial stage and subsequently enjoy this benefit at over 155 Lanka IOC fuel stations located islandwide. Furthermore, as an additional benefit, HSBC credit cardholders will be able to double their Rewards points when they purchase fuel using their HSBC credit card at any of these fuel stations from November 2011 to April 2012.

HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Chief Executive Officer Nick Nicolaou said, “As a result of our customer’s patronage, the HSBC Rewards programme has expanded significantly with many new redemption options and merchant preferences, making it increasingly accessible for HSBC card holders.

Accordingly, we are pleased to have partnered with LIOC to offer our customers more value in rewards and instant redemption at partner stations islandwide.”

Lanka IOC Managing Director K.R. Suresh Kumar expressed his happiness on this agreement and said “Lanka IOC is committed towards customer delight and endeavours to provide value added services at all petrol stations.

After mass acceptance of branded fuels such as XtraPremium and XtraMile by customers, this new tie up with HSBC credit cards will further add value of our offerings and will empower customers for redemption at Lanka IOC Petrol Stations.”

For instant redemption of HSBC Rewards, cardholders can visit the following Lanka IOC fuel stations. H K S Ranasinghe, Bambalapitiya, Mineral Springs (PVT) Ltd., Dematagoda, A W Ranasinghe, Colombo, Lanka Service Mart, (PVT) LTD Maradana, Homagama, MPCS Ltd., Homagama, Kottawa Lanka Filling Station, Kottawa, Madawala Enterprises, Pannipitiya, S R B Enterprises, Jaela, S N Jayasinghe, Peliyagoda, S & D Enterprises, Panadura, Liyanage Associates, Ratmalana, Felix Pereira and Sons, Colombo, Swasthika Mills Ltd. Havelock Road, Maharagama MPCS Ltd, Maharagama, Colombo South Central Cooperative, Kotahena, Sampath Enterprises, Mount Lavinia, Slip to Agencies (PVT) Ltd, Colombo 10 and Leanfirm (PVT) Ltd., Peliyagoda.

Dankotuwa to personalise one’s dinnerware

Dankotuwa introduces a new scheme “Personalise your dinnerware”. Dankotuwa has been receiving requests to personalise the higher end dinner and tea sets with the names, family names or the names of a couple. Therefore the company has decided to offer a formal scheme for those who want their names printed on sets.

“We have done this for some wealthy families in India and we have received some requests from celebrities such as cricketers and film stars in India.

“Most wealthy and influential persons wish to have customised items, sometimes with their initials, or their family names. This is quite a hit with those who entertain with formal dinners with tables laid out for at least a five course meal,” Dankotuwa Porcelain Chairman and MD Sunil Wijesinha said.

The company will offer this scheme for those buying expensive sets with gold and platinum decorations and will cost Rs 200 per piece to personalise.

There are minimum quantities of pieces that need to be personalised since the gold or platinum cost for a few items will be very high.

The personalisation could be either in gold or platinum and the customer could choose the lettering style, size and position.

This will be available only for the 12 person 93 piece sets of the rich decorations. Delivery will be within two weeks after the samples are accepted.

Those interested could contact the Colombo showrooms and discuss their requirements. Dankotuwa has positioned itself as a flexible manufacturer willing to undertake small orders and has been especially successful in the local market where many hotels, restaurants, hospitals and corporate offices have been getting their requirements from Dankotuwa with a logo or the corporate colours.

“We are taking our experience with customisation to a new level now, where we are willing to customise even for one set,” a company spokesman said.

SLT powers Infotel 2011

Joins as Pinnacle Sponsor for second consecutive year :

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has come forward as the Pinnacle Sponsor of Sri Lanka’s flagship ICT Expo Infotel for the second consecutive year. Infotel 2011 will be held from December 2 to 5 at the BMICH.

This event is organized by the Federation of Information Technology Industry of Sri Lanka (FITIS) in partnership with the Telecommunication and IT Ministry and ICTA. This will be the 11th exhibition in the series and first event after the organizers decided to hold event annually.

Sri Lanka Telecom will also showcase its cutting edge ICT technology in a large exhibition space in the telecommunication pavilion of the exhibition.

At last year’s Infotel, the Sri Lanka Telecom pavilion attracted large crowds to experience its cutting edge technology such as Television experience 2010 through ADSL technology.

This year’s exhibition will be a large corporate CIO meeting place too as organizers expect to invite thousands of CIO’s, IT professionals and small and medium entrepreneurs.

The Exhibition will also include large enterprise software exhibitors and trainers and has even gone beyond boundaries to feature areas such as Cloud based services, Virtualization, ERP, business systems, office automation.

IT and BPO and telecommunication sector which too has become part and parcel of the ICT industry is expected to be one of the largest ICT and BPO career fairs.

Lanka Orix Finance opens Rajagiriya branch

Lanka Orix Finance PLC opened its latest branch in Rajagiriya last week on Cotta Road, Rajagiriya. Here, LOLC Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara, LOLC Group Managing Director and CEO Kapila Jayawardena and LOLC Executive Director Kalsha Amarasinghe at the opening. The new branch will offer a diverse range of financial solutions such as leasing, savings and deposits, foreign currency accounts, hire purchase among others.

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Tisara Group recently handed over a Genie GS2032 scissor lift (20 feet working height) to the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna which was donated to the kovil by S.K. Sivakumaren to the temple for maintenance work of the kovil. Genie is the world leader in Aerial Work Platform business and is exclusively distributed in Sri Lanka by Tisara Group.