Advertorial
HSBC introduces cash deposit facility at Keells Super outlets
HSBC having pioneered modern day banking with innovation and
convenience, announced its latest tie-up with Keells Super markets to
offer customers the facility to make cash deposits.
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Nick A Nicolaou - Chief Executive
Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives exchanging
the agreement with Charitha Subasinghe - Vice President/CEO
JKH Group (center) while Nilantha Bastian - Head of Retail
Banking and Wealth Management, Sriyan Cooray - Chief
Technology and Services Officer, HSBC (left), Uvais Hamza,
Sector Financial Controller - Retail Sector and Nalaka
Umagiliya, Head of Business Systems - Consumer Foods and
Retail Group, JKH Group (right), looks on. |
Through this service, HSBC customers can make cash deposits to their
HSBC savings/current accounts or settle their monthly loan installments
at 42 Keells Super markets, located island-wide.
This is in addition to the current credit card payment facility which
is made available to customers who patronise Keells supermarkets.
"We are pleased to expand our service of cash deposits through a
widespread retail chain such as Keells Super. In a fast paced world
where time is an essential commodity, everyone is looking for greater
convenience.
"As such we hope this new service will create more value and provide
customers with yet another convenient channel for banking" commented,
Nick Nicolaou, CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives.
This service which is currently offered only through the Sri Lanka
Post will be made available to customers who deposit cash to their
savings/current accounts or in settlement of their loan installments.
Deposits made before 4 pm on bank working days, will be credited to
the respective account on the same day.
Charitha Subasinghe, CEO of Keells said HSBC has been a key partner
of Keells Super and the bond has been strengthened by the numerous
campaigns and key services offered at Keells Super over the past years.
Cash deposit facility is a first from a bank introduced to the retail
industry and we at Keells Super are pleased to offer this service from
HSBC to our valued customers thus enhancing the convenience offered to
Keells Super customers."
Mackwoods a unique story of success
The Mackwoods Group established in 1841 , with over 170 years of
business experience, has the distinction of being the second oldest
mercantile firm in Sri Lanka. "Mackwoods" is synonymous with integrity,
stability and diversity both locally and internationally.
The Mackwoods Group has, over the years, consolidated its position as
a diversified conglomerate, with a strong presence in several key
sectors of the Sri Lankan economy, and built a network of partners both
global and local, at all levels of stratification. The Mackwoods Group
of Companies provides employment to over 8,000 individuals and has a
land base of 27,000 acres.
Today the Group empowers Sri Lanka through its core business areas of
Power & Energy, Healthcare, Agri business, Plantations, Industry,
Information Technology, Leisure, Infrastructure Development, Real Estate
and Financial Services, engaging in import & export trading,
manufacturing and as a service provider.
The Group activities touch diverse segments of society providing high
quality products and services through continuous development of its
existing business and selective diversification. Whilst empowering Sri
Lanka and enriching the lives of the society, Mackwoods is mindful of
its obligations to its customers, shareholders and employees. Conscious
of its responsibilities towards the community and environment, it works
closely with the communities it serves.
Mackwoods epitomizes a unique story of success. Not merely of
survival, but of positive growth spanning the 19th, 20th and 21st
centuries. As the Group looks ahead to the future, it takes a further
step by inviting the people of Sri Lanka to participate in its 170 year
heritage through the Initial Public Offering of its subsidiary Mackwoods
Energy Limited.
The Mackwoods Group continues to forge ahead and its theme "Tradition
with Vision" exemplifies the driving force which has enabled the
business to survive the many vicissitudes since its founding 170 years
ago. A Group with a great tradition in the past, meeting the future with
vision and confidence.
The Luncheon meeting on Private Sector Partnerships with USAID
Past Successes and Future Opportunities? organized by the American
Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) was held recently at the
Moonstone and Amethyst, Hilton Colombo.
James Bednar, Mission Director, USAID was the Guest Speaker at this
event. Jennifer Brinkerhoff,Chief of Party? VEGA/BIZ + and Mr. Theodore
Gunasekera, Brandix East-Managing Director shared their views on the
VEGA/BIZ+ Project and the experience on private sector partnership with
the USAID respectively. The presentation focused on USAID?s Global
Development Alliance (GDA), USAID?s establishment in Sri Lanka, USAID?s
current focus and existing Public Private Alliance.
The forum opened new opportunities for the private sector to partner
USAID and other relevant projects. Patricia A. Butenis, U.S. Ambassador
to Sri Lanka and the Maldives were among the distinguished Guests and
leading private sector representatives that attended the program.
The presentation will focued on opportunities for the private sector
to partner with USAID.
University of Bolton comes to Sri Lanka
Having emerged as a university with strict focus on quality and
clarity, University of Bolton is a highly reputed provider of education
in the United Kingdom.
With a proud history spreading not only to the United Kingdom but
other countries as well, the University is one of the most sought after
educational destinations in the world.
Marking yet another milestone in its history, the University of
Bolton entered the domain of education provision in Sri Lanka, with a
grand ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of its Sri Lanka Academic
Centre, WCMT Campus on February 22,2012, with Minister of Higher
Education S. B. Dissanayake as the Chief Guest.
Located at No 54, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia, the WCMT Campus operates
as the academic center for programmes delivered transnational under the
direct supervision of the University of Bolton. The WCMT Campus is also
a part of the KES Group of Institutions, which is renowned for
delivering education in India and the UAE.
With the entry of the University of Bolton, students in Sri Lanka
have the explicit opportunity of following a broad range of courses
which have been globally accepted for being well-structured and
responsive to modern educational needs.
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Chinthaka Wijeratne CEO of Bolstan Sri
Lanka at the opening ceremony |
These courses cater to the needs of undergraduates and postgraduates
alike, and include MBA, BA (Hons) Business Management and BSc (Hons)
Computing and MSc Information Technology will be offered in the future.
HNDs and selected other programmes developed in partnership with Edexcel
are also on offer at the WCMT Campus.
The University, along with the WCMT Campus, is devoted to maintain
the highest quality in delivering these courses. In order to further
enhance their recognition as world-class qualifications, they are
committed to maintain the quality criteria abided by the University in
awarding degrees in the United Kingdom.
Through their 'flying faculty programme', students will have
first-hand face to face interactions with well experienced and renowned
lecturers from the University of Bolton.
Access to a virtual learning environment and the University Library
with large collection of eBooks and eJournals will also be available to
students.
Although their commitment to deliver the highest quality with more
than adequate practical nurturing will remain unwavering, the courses
will be on offer for students at highly competitive prices.
More details could be obtained from, [email protected].
3M names Inge Thulin as CEO
Inge Thulin, has been named as chief executive of 3M. He said in an
interview that he supports the strategies of the current CEO, George
Buckley and rejected the idea of selling any major parts of the
business.
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Inge Thulin |
Thulin said he supports the growth goal and believes the company can
achieve it. He added that technological innovation will continue to
differentiate 3M from rivals. A 58-year-old native of Sweden he joined
3M in 1979 and has been chief operating officer since May.
3M's thousands of products include Scotch tape, Post-it Notes,
packaging, materials used to make cars, epoxies, medical and dental
supplies, respiratory masks and films that brighten the screens of
cellphones and TV sets. 3M even sells fishing rods and dog chews.
The diversity of the company and its global presence are strengths,
he said. "This is a company that is many, many small companies, and I
think that is an advantage for us," he added. Asked if 3M should make
such items as fishing gear, he replied, "If we can make money on it, we
should."
The company's organic sales growth, which excludes the effects of
recent acquisitions, price changes and currency fluctuations, was just
1.3% in last year's fourth quarter. For the past several years, Buckley
has pledged to raise average organic growth to between 7% and 8% a year
from 3M's previous norm of around 4%.
Though 3M has generally fallen short of that growth goal in recent
years, it has retained a reputation for solid profits and dividend
growth. On Tuesday, the company raised its quarterly dividend by four
cents to 59 cents a share. That marked 3M's 54th consecutive year of
raising dividends.
3M Sri Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of 3M USA began its operation
in 1994 and has established itself a firm footing in diverse industries
such as health care, electro communication, infrastructure,
construction, apparel, woodworking, automotive aftermarkets,
occupational health, safety and security and consumer and office.
PJ's paradise organic farm to North
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Paradise
Earth Organic Farm - Vakarai Staff |
The success of their Vakarai paradise earth organic farm on the beach
of Vakarai has motivated the PJ group to purchase land in Muttur,
Mullaitivu and Vavunia for further investments.
"The concept driven by our Chairman Prasanna W. Jayewardene is to
develop organic farming on these lands, some of which are on pristine
beaches," said Amara Galagoda , spokesperson for the group.
The company which is taking advantage of the wide ranging benefits
being given by the government to revolutionize agricultural practices
will consider tourism development on these world class beaches at a
another stage.
"We are in the process of sourcing land in different parts of the
country but as a policy mostly in the North and East."
"We in the company are richly rewarded by the fact that not only are
able to help in the general development thrust of the government which
we believe in and endorse, but also with the fact that we can even in a
small way provide nutritious organic food for both local consumption and
export." "In doing so we are providing employment to needy and are
sustaining their families," said Galagoda.
Coca-Cola awarded Youth Beverage Brand of the Year
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The Coca-Cola team with Abhishek
Jugran, Country Manager
Sri Lanka and Maldives, Coca-Cola Far East Ltd. Receiving
the award at the SLIM-Nielsen’ People's Choice Awards |
Leaders in the beverage industry - Coca-Cola, stamped its authority
at the SLIM - Neilsen People's Awards 2012 held recently, by being
awarded winners of the prestigious "Youth Beverage Brand of the Year",
receiving the award is a victory in itself, as the winners of the SLIM -
Neilsen People's Awards are judged by the consumers themselves.
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College of Chemical Sciences Institute
of Chemistry Ceylon held their 8th convocation
at Waters Edge recently and Ronnie Peiris was the Chief
Guest. Here Shireen Jayasuriya Memorial Gold Medalist P A M
K Erangi receiving the certificate from the Chief Guest. |
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