ADVERTORIAL

Automated Recharge Machines for Hutch subscribers

Hutchison Telecommunication Lanka Pvt Ltd., became the first mobile operator in Sri Lanka to introduce an automated reload machine (ARM) similar to a self service terminal used by the banking industry. .

The automated reload machine which will be available to all Hutch customers twenty four seven throughout the year it, is designed to provide convenience and ease of making payments.

Through the automated reload machine (ARM) a customer could use any Sri Lankan note of Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs.100 and Rs. 500 denominations to complete a transaction.

The customer simply needs to follow a three step process to make a post pay bill payment or to obtain a reload for a prepay connection.

Initially the machines will be located at Hutch Head office with plans to have machines in convenient locations in Crescat, Union place and Staple Street, with a view of expanding the service to other key locations in Sri Lanka.

Aleksey Feronov, Director of Pay & Go Ltd, who joined hands with Hutch to bring about this service stated that Pay & Go proud to provide this modern service to Hutch subscribers and open to share its experience in terms of payment collection services.

“Pay & Go has an ambitious plan to provide this flexible and convenient service to all subscribers of Sri Lanka country wide for better payments accessibility. Our main objective to make all subscribers to be closer to their operator and to be oriented on subscriber's satisfaction,” he said.

Hutch, Chief Operating Officer, Anand Prakash said that this is another innovative first of its kind service offered by Hutch for its customers.

“We fully intend to expand this service and plans are already under way to install another 40 ARM terminals at convenient locations in the country, within this year,” he said. He further said that the additional 40 terminals are to be placed at Keells Super market outlets across the country enabling more touch points for Hutch customers to obtain the services of Hutch

Hutch that has recently introduced its 3G services is now aggressively offering a myriad of customer touch points in order to provide easy accessibility and efficient service to its subscribers island wide.

MBSL on massive expansion focusing SME sector

To mark its 30th milestone in the annals of trade banking services in Sri Lanka, Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka PLC (MBSL) hosted its business partners and trade associates to a function held recently at the GOH. In line with the ongoing strategy to enhance and strengthen its trade finance, Capital Market and Corporate Advisory services, MBSL undertook the record breaking commissioning of its 16 new branches and service centres in one day.

MBSL is in the forefront in investment banking and business advisory services. With its combined trade finance experience of 30 years in different aspects of the business environment including sourcing of clients, setting up different trade finance credit facilities and their execution, and relationship management, each team member has its own individual strengths and product / market expertise, which are complimentary.

Through the expansion of its services, the bank is now diversifying its geographical reach to encourage new emerging markets by offering trade financing in the areas of; generators and tool equipment, textile and garments, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, steel and cement and Fixed Income Securities (Debentures and others). Concentrating on the SME sector and Micro-financing, MBSL is moving parallel with the government’s policy of developing the rural sector, thus encouraging and increasing exports by enlisting the active participation of the rural industries. In line with this, micro financing was introduced to the rural sector, which has been a tremendous success with a 100 % recovery rate and a base of over 5000. The resultant increase in the national GDP is the vision shared and actively pursued by MBSL.

“MBSL confirms its vision and commitment to the nation. It is our firm conviction that our Bank will play an important role in supporting entrepreneurship, combining the quality of services of any professional bank to enhance revenue generation, client and product diversification, and associated processes and controls,” endorsed the Chairman of MBSL M.R. Shah.

Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka PLC., incorporated in March 1982, is the one of the pioneer Investment/Merchant Banks in Sri Lanka and was quoted on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1991. The bank’s largest shareholder is the Bank of Ceylon which holds a strategic stake of 72% and in 2005 entered into a strategic alliance with SBI Capital Markets Limited, which is the largest investment Bank in India.

Its subsidiary companies Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka Ltd. which has 13 branches island-wide including Jaffna and MBSL Insurance with 50 branches add strength and stability to its trade portfolio. In addition, MBSL holds a 29% share of Lanka Securities Pvt Ltd.

High paying jobs

In the aviation, hospitality and travel and tourism:

ASPIRE International Talent Development Institute which opened its doors on September 9, 2009 has made its history with its first batch graduating from aviation, hospitality and travel and tourism management. Being powered by its management, faculty and staff, ASPIRE continues to keep its promises, commitments, quality education and contentment to her students.

Graduates of ASPIRE are successfully placed at Colombo International Airport, Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates Airlines, hotels in Saudi Arabia, travel agencies and five star hotels in Sri Lanka.

ASPIRE has created a benchmark in the sectors of aviation, hospitality and travel and tourism by its association in the international educational arena with Edexcel U.K. ASPIRE is the first and only Academy in Sri Lanka to receive EDEXCEL validation for its courses in aviation, hospitality and travel and tourism management and the only institute which offers BTEC Higher National Diploma in Aviation Management globally. After acquiring Higher National Diploma from ASPIRE in any discipline, 18 months HND makes a person eligible to seek admission in 3rd year degree course in similar or related field at any university across the world.

This means that a person's chance of employment in the international market goes up by 90% in his/her relevant field, as he or she not only become the preferred choice of the domestic but the international employer across the world. A successful career means getting associated with right industry at the right time. If that industry demands young professionals then one needs to make sure that one acquire the best of professional training from an institute that stands for its quality training, consistency and the most important …result orientation.

ASPIRE from day one focus on converting a person to new professional meanwhile making sure that a person's precious time during your career building years is best utilized.

PC House holds third consecutive Annual Sales Forum

PC House PLC held its third consecutive Annual Sales Forum in Colombo, last month. Nearly 300 retail and regional sales and service team members assembled at this occasion which was followed by a banquet.

Considered to be an important occurrence in the PC House Retail and Regional annual event calendar, this year’s sales forum was held with the objectives of discussion of strategies followed and outcomes achieved in the previous year as well as enhancing employee satisfaction and increasing motivation to achieve productivity and service quality in the new financial year.

The event was chaired by Thufail Musadeen, Head of Retail and Regional Operations.

The event also created a discussion to converse on the company’s plans for the new financial year, whereby Musadeen unveiled the division’s long-term objectives and outlined the strategic plan for achieving these targets.

One of the highlights of the programme was attendees sharing their experiences, knowledge and industry insights as well as career and personal growth opportunities during their tenure at PC House.

“Sales is our fundamental business activity as well as the fundamental source of revenue and each and every member of the team is essential towards ensuring the company’s success,” said Musadeen.

“This annual meeting is an opportunity for us to really recognize these individuals and express our sincere appreciation to them for their contribution towards taking our company forward.”

The meeting was held at an important phase at PCH with its strategic restructuring program taking effect.

Early this year, the organization consolidated its solutions division improving its effectiveness in the market.

The company gained valuable partnerships with international ICT giants SAP, Cisco, Lenovo and Adobe which further fortified its solutions portfolio.

The company has now gained acclaim as a value based solutions provider amongst the corporates and consumers island-wide.

PCH is the new corporate brand identity for PC House PLC which is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

The new brand identity reflects the change from a family owned business to a public company with a vision to be the benchmark for ICT in Sri Lanka.

PCH was recognized as the 48th most valuable brand in Sri Lanka for 2012, in the Brand Finance with an honorable A+ brand rating.

Colombo University BIT Degree Presentation Ceremony

ESOFT students bag two Golds, three First Class Degrees:

At the ninth BIT Degree Presentation Ceremony of the Colombo University held recently at the BMICH, Colombo, students of the ESOFT Computer Studies were successful in securing two Gold Medals and three First Class Degrees. The students of ESOFT Computer Studies had been successful in securing the best results for the Colombo University BIT Degree in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 consecutively and this time also they repeated the same feat for the year 2011.

The ‘Best Student’ of the Colombo University BIT Degree Presentation Ceremony was Shaveendra Premathilaka, who studied for the Colombo University BIT Degree through the ESOFT Kandy Branch. Premathilaka who passed the Colombo University BIT Degree with a First Class, bagged the Professor V. K. Samaranayaka Memorial Gold Medal, awarded every year to commemorate the founder of the UCSC BIT Programme. Student Zeenath Mariyam Naufal who also studied for the Colombo University BIT Degree through the ESOFT Kandy Branch, secured the Gold Medal for the ‘Best Project of the Year’ out of all projects produced by BIT Degree students for the year 2011, and a First Class BIT Degree. The other ESOFT student to secure a First Class BIT Degree for the year 2011 was Saranga Tissera, who studied for the Colombo University BIT Degree through the ESOFT Computer Studies Main Centre in Colombo.

A specialty in this year’s Colombo University BIT Degree Presentation Ceremony was that over 65% of the new graduates were BIT Degree students of ESOFT. Another specialty was that over 70% students who secured First Class and Second Class Degree had also studied for the BIT Degree through ESOFT.

The nationally and internationally accepted Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) Degree was inaugurated in the year 2000. From inauguration to date, no other computer training institute have been successful in achieving such a feat as that of ESOFT, though there are over 10 such institutions in the country that are conducting classes for the Colombo University BIT Degree. The fact that we have produced the best results for five years running proves the point that ESOFT has the best quality education when it comes to the BIT Degree. None have been able to match this.

ESOFT is the largest computer training institute in Sri Lanka where all study programmes connected to computer and information technology are available under one roof at very competitive rates, with 37 branches island-wide. It conducts classes for the Colombo University BIT Degree from it’s inception in the year 2000. ESOFT has a panel of qualified and professional instructors experienced in teaching, practical training, and project consultation for the BIT Degree of the Colombo University.

ESOFT is currently the only institution that is conducting classes for the Moratuwa University BIT Degree. ESOFT also conducts classes for the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for Information Technology, for which classes the BCS had approved a special accreditation for ESOFT.