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Photo Technica conducts seminar in Negombo

Seminar in progress

Photo Technica conducted an awareness seminar on Nikon for the Negombo Photography Association which entailed a lively discussion with the participants on the key factors encompassing professional and leisure photography, the technological wonders that have made this Japanese brand the most popular and preferred choice amongst customers is a gamut of other salient features on the subject.

The objective of this seminar was to improve the awareness on Nikon and to share knowledge, ideas, views and 'dos' and 'don'ts' on photography with eager enthusiasts who cherish those momentous moments of clicking a great shot.

The presentation made by Ajantha Wattalagedara, Manager, Photo Technica was not only the finer points of photography for professionals but also the illustrious history of Photo Technica, its products and services with special emphasis on Nikon. And Meesha Gunawardane focussed the presentation on Model Photography and wildlife, while Macro photography was presented by Prasad Hapuarachchi.

The seminar transformed into a vibrant forum with enthusiastic participants posing questions on Nikon, the benefits and advantages of using the products, after-sales service and availability of accessories and the reason behind the outstanding image the brand has built in the market over the decades.

As a special bonanza participants were also offered the facility of a free service for their Nikon cameras at the fully-equipped Photo Technica stall at the event.

Singer Mega ties up with Hunter and Company

Hunter and Company PLC Managing Director - Mrs. L.R.P. Dossa, Director D.H.J. Gunawardena, General Manager (Sales and Marketing)Lasantha Perera, Chief Accountant W. Prasanna; and Manager -Human Resources and Legal U.J.P. Senaratne.Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC Mahesh Wijewardena – Commercial Director, Premalal De Silva – Director Operations, Priyath Salgado – Finance Director, Dhammika Guruge – Sales Manager - Modern Trade and Ms. Omega Senanayake – Assistant Legal Manager.

Hunter and Company PLC, one of Sri Lanka's most reputed companies with a track record of over 100 years in business, recently tied up with renowned life style retailer Singer Mega. The tie-up facilitates Hunter to market its 'Indesit range' along with other home appliance brands and garden equipment at Singer Mega stores across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. L R P Dossa, Managing Director, Hunter and Company PLC said, "Hunter and Company's product mix of Industrial and Light Engineering products, Home Appliances, Garden products and bicycles are of world famous brands such as Indesit, Optima, Atlantic, Gardena, Castlegarden, Oleomac, Metabo, Cifarelli etc.

Through this agreement Hunter and Company's world class brands will find themselves getting more exposure through Singer Mega's extensive retail network" Mahesh Wijewardena, Commercial Director - Singer Sri Lanka added, "Singer Mega has an enviable reputation for multi-brand retail excellence. Through our vast range of products and services we have been instrumental in helping Sri Lankans embrace a modern lifestyle. Hunter and Company has a century old reputation for delivering quality products to Sri Lankans.

Therefore, this agreement will result in great synergy befitting our two companies and our legacies in the Sri Lankan market."

Tritech introduces two new PPR pipes from Germany

A long-felt need for reliable, long life, time pipe system for chilled water, compressed air and fire protection, was met when Tritech launched their top quality PPR pipes from Germany, at a ceremony held at the Taj Samudra Hotel.

Joint Managing Director, Tritech Group of Companies Eng. Viraj Wickremasinghe at the launch.

The maufacturer and supplier, Aquatherm GmbH, from Germany the third generation Poly-Prophylene pipes embedded with their findings through continuous research and development process. Tritech Marketing Internaitonal Ltd is a sister company of Tritech Engineers (Pvt) Ltd., which provides many engineering products for the needs of the industrial market. The 'Fusiotherm' Polypropylene-R&O Random Copolymer pipe is one of the most famous products for cold and hot water applications.

Aquatherm is used in many large land market projects like Island Residencies, the Central Hospital, Chaaya Bay, Galadari, Hilton, Bentota Beach Hotel, Ansell Lanka and many more with proven results, said Viraj Wickremasinghe, Joint Managing Director, Tritech Group of companies.Many of the pipes avialable in the market by the Polypropylene family, are either the first generation or second generation. The first generation pipes are hundred percent Polypropylene, with more elongation in heat expansion and less in strength, hence many supporting brackets required to hold the pipe.

The second generaiton comes out with solution for elongation and strength. The thin Aluminum pipe tube covered with Polypropylene material. The composite pipe is with less expansion and more strength. This special third generation PPR pipe is called 'Face Composite' that can withstand the pressure upto 22 bars at atmospheric temperature, Wickremasinghe said."With the confidence of these innovations, Tritech introduces yet another two new pipe systems form the house of 'Aquatherm' to the Sri Lankan market, called 'Climatherm and Fire Stop' for chilled water/compressed air applications and fire protection systems respectively," joint Managing Director, Tritech Group of Companies, Viraj Wickremasinghe said.

Sampath Bank Celebrates Silver Jubilee

Today, marks a significant milestone in the Sampath Bank journey, as the Bank that changed the financial landscape with revolutionary IT innovations and unsurpassed customer service, celebrates its 25th year.

Incorporated as the "Investment and Credit Bank Limited" in March 1986, the Bank opened its doors for its very first customer on March 25th 1987 during its initial soft opening. It later adopted the name of 'Sampath Bank,' conveying its brand ethos of wealth and prosperity to the people, by the people. Today, Sampath is the third largest private sector commercial bank in the country, with a network of 209 branches across the island, and over 3,000 employees.

Beginning as a 'truly Sri Lankan Bank meant for the sons of the soil', the Bank has maintained its commitment to being a truly local Bank, and works under the tag line of 'A Bank for all Sri Lankans.'

"While Sampath has progressed immensely in the past twenty five years, we have every intention of outdoing ourselves in every way possible in the future," said Dhammika Perera, Chairman of Sampath Bank. "Since day one we've seen ourselves as a Bank with a difference and I'm confident that the recently appointed board of directors, experienced corporate management, and committed staff will continue to push the boundaries within the industry to better serve our customers."

From the very beginning they focused on two key strengths: IT innovations and customer service.

The Bank is renowned for ushering several technological advances in the Banking arena including its inter-connected ATM network and South Asia's very first debit card - SET, the Uni-Banking concept, enabling customers to access their account at any Sampath branch and Sri Lanka's first Master card and Visa Infinite, Signature and Platinum credit cards. Its array of firsts includes launching cheque imaging and truncating services, introducing real-time e-remittance services and the Sampath "Easy Cheque Deposit" (ECD) system enabling customers to deposit their cheques 24/7 at any ATM without the hassle of filling in forms etc via using their ATM card. "One of the reasons the bank came into being was because the founders saw the need for an innovative, truly Sri Lankan bank and we've done our best to accomplish that with technological innovations wherever possible," stated Aravinda Perera, Managing Director of Sampath Bank.

The Bank has also maintained its dedication towards creating a personalized and satisfying banking experience for their consumers throughout the years, incorporating Sri Lanka's trademark hospitability and warmth into their company culture. Their commitment to customer service was highlighted right at the beginning when they introduced extended banking hours 25 years ago - a novel concept at the time. Many of the bank's innovative ventures facilitate convenience and ease for their customers such as their same day cheque clearance service and the introduction of the super bank concept allowing customers to bank between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. 365 days a year.

The Bank's loyalty towards customer service is further exemplified through ventures such as Sampath Vishwa - the Bank's virtual account opening facility that gained recognition at last year's NBQSA Awards, which was launched to create more time for their customers; Sampath Sanhinda - a savings account designed especially for senior citizens that includes a bi-monthly interest payment, a facet unique to the Bank and featuring a range of discounts and offers for individuals over the age of fifty including free health check-ups; Sampath SS - the first savings account to offer a bonus interest on the existing interest and Kalin Cash - a novel concept in fixed deposits where customers can receive their interest at the time of opening the deposit.

With 209 bank branches located island wide, the Bank further expanded its reach to 1,600 locations when it pioneered ATM network in partnership with other banks, enabling customers to access their money via HNB, BoC, Union Bank, DFCC Vardhana, Pan Asia Bank, NSB, HDFC and NDB Bank ATM machines with the goal of facilitating convenient banking for their customers.

"When the Bank opened 25 years ago, it introduced a very novel concept to Sri Lankan banking with its extended banking hours, with the bank remaining open till 3.00 p.m. daily and since that day we've done our very best to go out of the way to introduce concepts and services to make our customers' lives easier, whether it's same day cheque clearance or introducing the Super Banking concept," stated Aravinda Perera, Managing Director of Sampath Bank.

Thirteen of the Bank's very first employees also celebrate their 25th year with the Bank on this auspicious day. The Bank holds a unique place in the Sri Lankan banking arena, for its commitment towards being a truly indigenous bank, be it via the logo symbolizing a 'punkalasa' utilizing a historic symbol of prosperity and sustenance or employees who don traditional saris and greet you with 'Ayubowan' paying homage to the values and heritage of Sri Lanka. Sampath has four subsidiary companies - Sampath Leasing & Factoring Ltd dedicated to leasing and factoring services; SC Securities (Pvt) Ltd. responsible for stocker brokering services; Sampath Information & Technology Solutions Ltd working on IT services and Sampath Center devoted to property development.

My Cola finds cool charm in 200 ml glass bottle

Irresistible and on-par with international cola brands, My Cola takes one more innovative-step to level the competition of glass cola bottle marketers. With global warming bringing in tsunamis and as more natural-red-lights pop up worldwide My Cola not only take the cue to be more environmentally-friendly, but also see the potential advantages of reducing waste and recycling in their competitive stride.

Additionally, the worldwide cola drinker's traditional yet sentimental attachment to the glass bottle is also eagerly considered in bringing this cool, charming change to the Lankan cola consumer. With My Cola's success of winning a loyal following both locally and in Maldives, their simple dream of continuing to "propel the art of innovation" with its tempting range of flavours, seems to be the right way forward.

Pet Packaging introduced CRISTAL bottled water and later in 2004, My Cola came in as a BOI approved project. Powered by an imagination that has now conquered borders, the will to succeed, and a continuous learning approach has seen My Cola fertilized as an idea and rinsed through trials and tribulations like a phoenix. With My Cola's continuous innovation and achievement, now the enterprise boasts of two plants, one in Sri Lanka and another in Maldives. My Cola operates with a marketing fleet exceeding 80 marketing personnel and has an islandwide coverage with 48 distributors and 246 super markets having proudly obtained a market share of over 6%.

The company markets two brands of water and My Cola products with a portfolio of flavours not second to any of the multinational products.

The My Cola range is well presented as modernised environmental friendly convenient PET plastic bottles in a variety of sizes 200 ml, 330 ml, 500 ml, or 1500 ml. The staff man at the factory with expert training received from Scotland, whilst adhering to stringent quality measures and continuously upgrading its best practices to provide the most trusted water and beverage brand in Sri Lanka with SLSI and Ministry of Health certifications.

Bartleet extends goodwill to School for the Deaf and Blind

Bartleet Finance recently made it a priority to address the needs of the inmates of the School for the Deaf and Blind at Ratmalana. A programme of events under the banner, "Doing more than our minimum for society" were brought to realization radiating joy amongst these differently-abled children.

Brainchild of its Managing Director/CEO Eraj Wijesinghe, the activities were organized with his active participation and wholehearted involvement of Mrs. Wijesinghe, the management, staff and stakeholders. The whole scenario reflected the teamwork and solidarity of the staff, business and advertizing partners who came together in a combined effort to organize a Shramadana and day of fun activities for the children.

Prior to the fun events day, a full day was spent in a clean-up of the premises and surroundings. In addition repairs and painting of class rooms were carried out and those who contributed their time and energy to make this project a reality felt a sense of fulfillment in a day well spent.

The fun activities included cricket matches between the staff and children, elephant rides, face painting, bouncers, races, drawing competitions, music and dancing. They were also treated to delicious Ice-cream and sausages doled out by on-site outlets and a gift each by Bartleet Finance.

Sri Lanka Insurnace, Negombo Branch awarded ‘Pranama Thilina’ to their customers. Here Negombo sales manager Samantha Peris and chief Administrative Officer Nadeeka Perera hands over a plaque to M.A. Samson Fernando, Divulapitiya Sales Manager Sami Kumarasinghe and Sales Advisor Prasad Perera were also present. Picture by Ivon Nissanka, Divulapitiya group correspondent