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NDB makes a difference in community

Employee involvement is a critical component of NDB's CSR strategy, where the employees carry out community projects throughout the year taking community involvement beyond the core business activities. The key focus areas for these initiatives are ‘Education’ and ‘Entrepreneurship’ - the two categories under the Banks Strategic CSR Programme.

Completing another successful year of volunteering, NDB's staff dedicated their time and talents to benefit the community. The nature of the projects varied, from renovating a laboratory, to setting up a playground, however each and every project made a big difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.

Russell de Mel, CEO of NDB said “Thinking outside the contemporary business practices to engage in socially responsible endeavours, Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) today has become an integral part of NDB. We support our employees’ efforts to volunteer for the causes they care about. Through these initiatives we were able to foster amongst NDB employee's passion, enthusiasm, teamwork and also compassion for the community. We strongly believe that CSR activity should be beyond writing a cheque.”

The motto of the S.D.S Jayasinghe Central School in Dehiwala is “Vidyawen Usasweema Shreshtai” (Advancement in Science is Noble). However the laboratory of the school was in a dilapidated state. With over 1500 students attending the school and over 500 aspiring to pursue the science stream, renovating the laboratory was a pressing need. Therefore the Administration, Security, Maintenance and CCPU Departments at NDB undertook this as their project. The renovated and well equipped science laboratory is now a source of motivation for the students, inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

Dharmashoka Vidyalaya in Kandana is attended by over 800 students from low income families in the area. The school has minimal facilities and were not in a position to fund any development or improve the existing facilities. There was no water facility to the school premises and water was partly supplied by a dilapidated well situated in the school premises, which was used for sanitation purposes only. In the dry seasons this well also dries up adding to the discomfort of the students. The Audit, Group Risk and Compliance Departments made this their CSR project setting up the infrastructure to provide drinking water facilities to the students.

The Peliyagoda Roman Catholic Primary School, Kelaniya conducts classes from Year 1 to Year 5, with a population of 500 pupils from low income families. The electricity supply to the school had been disconnected as robbers had damaged the wiring system and taken off the wiring codes, plugs points, switches etc. As a result the school teachers and the children faced a lot of difficulties in conducting school activities inside the classes, especially on gloomy days. The school also did not have a Children Play Park which is another important facility for a primary school as it provides important stimuli to promote physical and psychological development of children. The SME, Auto Finance and Refinance Departments repaired and restored the electricity connections of the school and also set up a children's play area.

The Corporate Office, IT, Legal and HR Departments made this opportunity their prime focus and partnered with the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank for a unique CSR initiative aiming to enhance societal value and provide pre-employment training to students who have a passion for Banking. Thirty students from Chundikuli Girls College and St. Johns College in Jaffna were given an overview of the Banking System in Sri Lanka. This skill development programme also included a one-day leadership programme covering trust building activities, games and various other initiatives, which broadened the participants’ personal outlook on life.

The Marketing, Retail Credit Operations, Project Finance, Corporate Banking and Finance Departments undertook to upgrade the facilities of two schools in Hambantota. A kid's play area was constructed in Udamalala Maha Vidyalaya and musical instruments were donated to the Hambantota Kanishta Vidyalaya.

Through these initiatives, the inherent/inborn talents of the employees surfaced and their compassion for the less fortunate became visibly clear. The projects were formulated and carried out successfully whilst carrying out their day-to-day office activities and it was evident that they had not forgotten the human touch.

Baby Cheramy 'Thagi Pahasa' winners

The Baby Cheramy “Thagi Pahasa” prize distribution ceremony for the winners of the second and third draw was held recently.. The event was the culmination of a series of three draws held over a period of three months, which drew prizes worth millions of rupees and attracted a total of approximately 500,000 entries.

The first winner of the second draw in "Thegi Pahasa" Joseph Sinduja of Batticaloa receiving his prize .

The promotion was held from December 2011 to February 2012 with the aim of showing appreciation and further development of customer relationship with Baby Cheramy users for over 50 years.

The winners were awarded a Suzuki Alto sports car for the first prize, two scooty pops for the second prize, 20 gold chains for the third prize and 20 mobile phones for the fourth prize per draw.

“We work extensively with young mums and mums-to-be and continually inspired by their tenacity, exceptional multitasking and ability to balance their careers and families, we at Baby Cheramy celebrate all of these wonderful attributes that has inspired us to highlight and honour these amazing women”, Hemas Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. Group Product Manager Sudharshana Sathaianathan said.

Baby Cheramy acknowledges the fact that a lot of love, dedication, commitment, hard work and occasional frustrations go in to lives of many young mothers caring for their offspring and therefore hopes to create opportunities with a view to recognize and honour the unique challenges that go into the birthing process and raising children. The brand was introduced to the local market in 1962 and has a rich heritage serving the nation.

Hemas Manufacturing Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary of Hemas PLC, a leading conglomerate in Sri Lanka with a focus on five key sectors of FMCG, healthcare, transportation, leisure and power generation. SJ

LAUGFS Supermarkets launch loyalty card

LAUGFS Supermarkets Limited continuing its service improvements in satisfying its customers introduced a loyalty card filled with many facets of utility values recently.

Chief Executive Officer of the LA UGFS Supermarkets Ravi Dahanayaka presenting the first card to Daya Wettasinghe an attorney at Law and a well-known business leader in Sri Lanka at a function held last week

The new loyalty card better known as LAUGFS Supermarket loyalty card replicating the LAUGFS supermarket that never sleeps is designed to provide facets of utility benefits under the LAUGFS branded services and products.

Accordingly the LAUGFS loyalty card holders are now in a better position to earn discounts not only from the LAUGFS supermarkets but also from other services and products branded under LAUGFS. The uniqueness of the new LAUGFS loyalty card is that it can be used at the leading institutions such as Sarasavi bookshops and Navaloka Hospitals to earn points and claim discounts. LAUGFs Supermarket said that the company is currently in discussion with leading institutions in order to sign up with the loyalty programme where customers will be conveniently offered with more values on the card. Chief Operating Officer(COO) of the LAUGFS Supermarkets A Wickremage said "LAUGFS Sun up loyalty card stands tall in the supermarket industry as it gives more services and discounts when you use it any of the LAUGFS branded products and services outlets.

"This means that you can use this card at any of our LAUGFS Holdings outlets and claim your discounts upfront.

For example with your LAUGFS loyalty card you claim 15% discount on labour when you use it when servicing your car at LAUGFS Car Care centres and it is the same when you use it at our Jade Restaurants." Wickremage said.

He further said that the LAUGFS Supermarkets is currently in discussion with other service providers such as the hospitality industry and the leisure sector to introduce this loyalty card so that the customers would be able to be entitled to special discounts.

The newly launched LAUGFS loyalty card is now available at all LAUGFS Supermarkets.

Coca-Cola refreshes Centenary Scout Jamboree

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Ranjith Edirisinghe at the sponsorship event

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited, the official beverage sponsor of the 29th Asia Pacific Region (APR) and Sri Lanka Centenary Scout Jamboree refreshed 7250 scouts participating in the Jamboree this year.

The week long Jamboree is being held at the D.S. Senanayake Vidyalaya, Kandalama and will host 750 foreign scouts and 6500 local scouts from the 31st of March to the 7th of April. The event which was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a major Scouting event which is aimed at giving additional opportunity to young people between the ages 12 to 17. For 2012, the Sri Lanka Scout Association is hosting the 29th APR Scout Jamboree in conjunction with the 100 Years of Scouting in Sri Lanka.

Present at the sponsorship event were Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Acting Media Minister and Ranjith Edirisinghe, Special Events Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited.

Metropolitan Computers launches PIXMA Cloud

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Metropolitan Computers (Pvt) Ltd launched PIXMA Cloud, unveiling a future of wireless printing at a ceremony held in Colombo last week.

The four all-in-one printers introduced by Canon and Metropolitan Computers will offer the latest cloud enabled, remote printing technology as well as ink efficient low cost printing solutions to Sri Lanka's diverse clientele.

Metropolitan Computers (Pvt) Ltd Director CEO Niranjan de Silva at the Canon PIXMA Cloud Link launched held in Colombo recently.

Niranjan de Silva

"The cloud technology has become a change agent in the way we live.

The new printers introduced will have backup for important documents and photos. The PRIXMA cloud is a total integrated image solution", Metropolitan Computers Director and CEO Niranjan de Silva said.

"We are one of the most senior Cannon distributors in Asia.

This is the first time that we are leveraging a printer with low cost per copy. We believe that this printer will have high demand and the fully fledged service centres in the key cities will benefit the customers", he said.

The new series of smart all -in-one photo printers take printing performance to the next level. These all in-ones incorporates new features such as the PRIXMA cloud link and enhanced full HD movie print which heighten the photo sharing experience. The convenient features also entail WiFi capabilities and advance mobile printing. The inbuilt wireless technology with the access to documents on google docs and cloud makes printing simpler and convenient from any location without the need for a PC. The full range of Canon Pixma models is available at Metropolitan showrooms, the authorized distributors for Canon in Sri Lanka.

Nokia Trade Promotion winners visit Nokia Factory in China

Eighteen retailers who were the winners of the Nokia Trade Promotion recently had an exciting experience as they travelled to China to visit the Nokia Factory. The team was led by Softlogic, the national distributor of Nokia in Sri Lanka. The selected retailers were the highest achievers based on their performance in the last quarter of 2011. The selected team was able to experience China through exciting visits to renowned tourist attractions such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

110 Parliament Road:

Luxury apartment complex enters second phase

The second phase of 110 Parliament Road has begun with steady progress seen in the construction of the 25 floor luxury apartment complex in Rajagiriya on the border of Colombo 7.

“We are happy to announce that twenty percent of 110 Parliament Road apartments have been already been booked by clients which is far above what was anticipated in the launch phase. The main reason for the customers investing in 110 Parliament Road is that the complex is in a central location, and offers and unmatched range of facilities to its owners “said Rohan Parikh, Director of The Apurva Natvar Parikh Group(ANPG).

110 Parliament Road, located on the border of the city of Colombo will be a landmark apartment tower with quiet neighborhood surroundings and views of the Colombo Golf Course and the National Bird Sanctuary.

Further elaborating on the project Parikh added, “We are planning to do the finishes with each progressing floor. While the model apartments will be ready in a few months the entire apartment complex, which has been under construction since November 2011, is expected to be ready for occupation between December 2013 and July 2014.”

The apartments range from two, three, and four bed room units including duplexes with private gardens and penthouse apartments available on invitation making it one of the most unique living experiences in Colombo.

The statuesque towers offer exceptional apartment layouts with multiple corner views. Apartments range from 1170 to 2350 sq feet and lot of thought has gone into natural lighting and ventilation inside the apartments. .

ANPG Group has partnered with Sanken Lanka (Pvt) Ltd – a leading contractor for high-rise projects in Sri Lanka. Sanken is recognized for its integrity and total reliability in the competitive construction industry. Its projects include Colombo’s most prominent commercial buildings, residential apartments, hotels, banks and hospitals.

Managing Director and General Manager of Sanken Lanka, Ranjith Gunatilleke said “We are proud to be part of this project which will change the skyline of Colombo. The construction of the project is steadily progressing. Built on 1 acre of land, 110 Parliament Road will consist of 25 floors with 2 recreational floors.

“With our experience and expertise and best construction standards Sanken will ensure that 110 Parliament Road is built to perfection” said Gunatilleke

110 Parliament Road will provide modern city living in a contemporary, luxury facility with world-class amenities and easy access to Colombo. Residents will have the luxury of living in serene surrounding with the advantage of getting them to anywhere in the city of Colombo within half hour even in the busiest times of the day.

Abans introduce Blu-ray Disc Player from Philips

Get ready to discover a sensational new viewing experience with razor sharp HD quality. Philips - well known as the world's No.1 brand of DVD Players, present the Philips Blu-ray Disc Player with full HD 1080p at 24 fps for sensational cinema-like experience – all for the lowest price in the market.

So, what is Blu-ray? In a nutshell, Blu-ray is the new generation optical disc format that is rapidly replacing the DVD. Unknown to many viewers, another very important difference is that not only do one enjoy richer video quality, one also has a crystal clear sound experience as well – for the total home entertainment ‘package’.

It was developed to enable HD recording and playback, and is able to store a large amount of data (which is over 5 x the normal capacity of a DVD) from 25 - 50GB with over 9 hours of HD video and 23 hours standard definition (SD) on just a 50GB Disc.

With the rapidly spreading popularity of Blu-ray around the world and in Sri Lanka, thanks to Philips, the craze over pristine quality Blu-ray will only keep rising.

Imagine scenes ‘coming to life’ as details ‘leap’ at one, movements smoothen and images turn crystal clear. Another very, very crucial aspect of the Philips Blu-ray experience is the uncompressed surround-sound, which enhances one’s audio experience to a whole new level of satisfaction.

Another cool reason to go crazy over Blu–ray is that because of the high storage capacity, it also enables a host of interactive possibilities to be built in. Seamless navigation during playback and other exciting features like pop-up menus bring a whole new personalized dimension to home entertainment.

The advanced interactivity combined with the networking features of Blu-ray will also allow content producers to support new innovative features such as downloading extras, updating content via the web and watching live broadcasts of special events.

Spectacular video quality, crystal clear sound quality - there are so many reasons why one should be looking out for a Philips Blu –ray Disc Player of your own.

Philips Blu-ray Disc Players are available at Abans Showrooms Islandwide. Convenient easy payment terms are also available to suit your budget.

Anton’s ‘Go Green’ initiative provides sustainable development

For construction industry:

Construction is an essential part of our lives, it drives growth, supports development and catalyzes change. Yet if not carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner construction has the ability to actually do more harm than good.

St. Anthony's Group in association with the Green Building Foundation of Sri Lanka conducted a forum on sustainable development in the construction industry recently.

This event will have contributions from leading brands and key players in the industry. With the goal of highlighting the importance of sustainable development and the crucial role the industry has to play in reducing green house gas emission and global warming.

The St. Anthony's Group has always been at the forefront of sustainable development and the company is responsible for leading many such initiatives, including being a founding member of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka, which is the institution for certification on green, energy efficient buildings in the country.

The St. Anthony's industries Group places great emphasis on achieving sustainable development through its specially designed range of products, processes and overall business philosophy. To achieve these goals the company draws on over half a century of experience, investing a lot of time, resources and energy towards the development of products that will help the construction industry function more efficiently and in a way that contributes positively to the communities in which they operate within.

Products such as UPVC windows help greatly to reduce cost when compared to more traditional aluminum or wood based products. UPVC also requires almost zero maintenance and upkeep cost and its immense durability ensures that it last longer. In fact the product is by far the most sustainable option when compared to more traditional products.

Anton UPVC windows also have several other advantages. Due to the thermal conduciveness of the product Anton UPVC window profiles have extremely high R values, which give users a considerable saving on energy cost, as less money is spent on air-conditioning. Double glazing and sealing by TPE gaskets also greatly improve the windows sound proof quality, while materials used in the UPVC windows make them extremely fire resistant.

The Anton Bio Cell Sewerage Systemis a clean, safe and environmentally friendly method of waste disposal and treatment that is a revolutionary new development, especially for the construction industry. Bio Cells Sewerage Systems are currently available in several models, to meet a diverse range of needs. Available models include Sewer Treatment Tanks (SF), Septic Holding Tanks (ST), Filter Tanks (FT), and Grease & Oil Trap Tanks (GT).

The Sewerage Treatment Tank consists of two partitions. One is a septic holding container which functions as a preliminary sedimentation tank. The other is an anaerobic filter media compartment, which facilitates the growth of anaerobic bacteria on the surface of the media.

With the current state-of-the-art innovations designed for the construction sector, the future looks bright.

Especially as more organizations realize the value of incorporating greener, cleaner more responsible initiatives and as local innovators such as Anton keep leading the way in sustainable development.