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SLIM activities spreads beyond the shores

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) has broken new ground by initiating educational programmes in the Maldives. This is the first time that SLIM is venturing out of Sri Lanka with its total product portfolio.

SLIM recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Focus Education Center -a leading education provider in the Maldives.

MoU Signed between SLIM and Focus Education Center (L-R) Mrs. Kanthi Basnayake, Sanath Senanayake, Dhanesh R Jayathilaka, Tilan Wijeyesekera, Ahmed Didi, Gopi Muthuraman

Commenting on this breakthrough, SLIM President Mr. Tilan Wijeyesekera said that SLIM lives up to its values of daring to be different and has taken a bold step in going beyond the boundaries of Sri Lanka. "We have ventured out of the country with our educational products, training programmes and consultancies options for the first time by signing an MOU with Focus Education Center in the Maldives, thus signifying a new era for the institute and the country and has taken its first step towards becoming a regional educational services and marketing expertise provider," he said.

SLIM Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director, Sanath Senanayake, said that this initiative brings great honour to the country and will help to earn foreign exchange for the country.

Focus Education Center Managing Director Ahmed Didi said he was very pleased with the decision taken by SLIM to join up with Focus Education Center in promoting marketing education to his countrymen.

"It is a very progressive step and will specially help the business community immensely to improve their knowledge on marketing and allied fields," he said.

The signing of the MOU was followed by a function with the attendance of key Maldivian government and private sector officials, at a specially organized Information Symposium at the leading business hotel in Maldives, where the SLIM officials including the President of SLIM, CEO and the Education and Training Head made presentations.

SLIM also held several successful meetings with top officials in the Maldives, including the Minister of Environment and Energy Dr. Mariuam Shkeela, Managing Director of HDFC Maldives, Dr. Priyanka Baddewithana, Country Manager of HSBC, Hemantha Gunathillake and GM at Amana Takaful, Hareez Sulaiman and Maldivies Qualification Authority Acting Head Ms. Mariyam Nooradhean.

SLIM also conducted training programmes on social media and digital marketing and customer care excellence for the staff of HDFC, a leading bank in the Maldives.

Meanwhile, negotiations are under way with one of the biggest corporates in the Maldives for a special training programme for which over 400 participants will be the beneficiaries.

According to SLIM Secretary Dhanesh R Jayathilaka, SLIM also hopes to expand the educational programme to another country within the next year and gradually make its presence offshore within the next 3-4 years thereby creating a potential educational hub in Sri Lanka.

HNB and DFCC support AIDS awareness programme

Banking giants Hatton National Bank and DFCC recently pledged their continuous support towards Lanka Business Coalition's (LBCH) HIV and AIDS awareness campaign for year 2012 by accepting the symbolic cushion and conducting awareness programmes for their employees.

The bright red cushion inscribed with the message "Pass on Awareness, not HIV" which is passed among over 60 LBCH member corporates was passed on to Nihal Fonseka, CEO at DFCC at a event held on 28th May 2012 by Ms Sharmini Mendis, coordinator of LBCH.

This took place together with an awareness session conducted for nearly 40 executive level staff at DFCC by Ms Sonali de Silva, a champion trainer at Standard Chartered Bank. DFCC has been involved in LBCH's initiative since its inception in 2007.

Speaking on the bank's continuous support towards LBCH, Nihal Fonseka said "This initiative is important to the Bank as it corresponds to our core responsibilities of caring for the employee as well as the community. The most important thing is to spread the message of awareness and the Bank remains committed towards this end."

At another event held recently at Hatton National Bank, Kishu Gomes, chairman of LBCH passed the red cushion to R Theagarajah the Bank's Managing Director and CEO in the presence of Mancius Paiva, Ms Ruwini Thenabandu, Ms Gaythri Ganeshan, and Sharmini Mendis Coordinator for LBCH. Employees at HNB have already been undergoing HIV/AIDS awareness programmes conducted by SCB and now has in-house trainers on HIV/AIDS.

"We are pleased to accept this "Cushion"and will make sure that awareness about HIV & AIDS is passed along amongst all our employees and also amongst our customers and the communities in which we operate in" mentioned R Theagarajah.

"It should be noted that HNB has been commemorating the World AIDS Day for the last 3 years and distributed red ribbons and information leaflets amongst its staff and customers," he added.

In picture, Commercial Bank’s Deputy General Manager Operations Sanath Bandaranayake accepts the first deposit from a customer at the Middeniya Branch. The Bank’s Regional Manager Uva - Sabaragamuwa Chanura Wijetillake and Branch Manager Udaya Kalhara are also in the picture.

Commercial Bank in Middeniya

The newest location to receive the services of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon is Middeniya in the Southern Province.

The opening of the Middeniya Branch expands the Bank's islandwide presence to 218 branches and service points. Located at 'Nethpriya' Building, Weeraketiya Road, Middeniya, the new branch is equipped with an Automated Teller Machine that is linked to the Bank's network of 520 ATMs, the largest ATM network owned by a bank in Sri Lanka.

Commercial Bank is the largest private bank in Sri Lanka, and the only Sri Lankan Bank listed in the world's top 1,000 Banks. The Bank has been adjudged 'Best Bank in Sri Lanka' for 14 consecutive years by 'Global Finance' Magazine and has won multiple awards as the country's best bank from 'The Banker,' 'Finance Asia,' 'Euromoney' and 'Trade Finance' magazines.

'Taller than their Targets'," SLIM NASCO 2012

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) announces NASCO 2012 - its premier event dedicated to recognize the efforts and performance of sales personnel. The prestigious event NASCO has undergone a major change in the year 2010. Previously, companies made their nominations of outstanding sales professionals and they were given a certain amount of training (1/2 day) by an eminent sales professional and followed-up with a celebration of their success.

From left Suranjith Swaris, Chairman SLIM NASCO Project Committee, Gamika de Silva, Vice President SLIM, ( Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing ), Tilan Wijeyasekera, President. SLIM, Kalana Ratnayake Vice President SLIM and Nalin B. Karunaratne Member of Judging Panel

"For the 12th consecutive year, SLIM is pleased to recognize achievers in sales by rewarding and motivating sales professionals, who are achieving 'Taller than their Targets'," SLIM NASCO 2012 Project Chairman Suranjith Swaris said. He commended SLIM President Thilan Wijesakara, VP-Projects Gamika de Silva and Advisor to the Project Committee Dhanesh R.Jayathilaka for their guidance. He also acclaimed the services of Nanadana Wickramage and Lasantha Abeywickrama for the development of the blue print of NASCO which paved the way to bring this event to greater heights.

Nominations can be made by any organisation (Limited Liability Company, Partnership or sole Proprietorship) duly registered as a business in Sri Lanka and carrying on business in Sri Lanka. under the following categories: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Financial Products and Services, Industrial, Media, Consumer Durables, Telecommunication, Fashion / Clothing, Healthcare, A&T, Travel & Leisure Territorial Managers, Sales Executives/Sales Supervisors, and Front-liners can be nominated.

Nomination kits can be obtained from the SLIM office located at SLIM Home, 94 Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10 or downloaded from the SLIM website (www.slim.lk) or www.nasco.lk

Serving on the panel of judges are Nandana Wickramage - Director Sales & Marketing CBL, Nalin B Karunaratne - General Manager sales, Akzo Nobel Paints, Stephen Paulraj- General Sales Manager Fonterra, Amithe Gamage Sales Manager AMW, Kumar Samarasinghe - Director Sales & Sewing Marketing Singer, Anil Meegahage - Director - Sales and International Marketing Hemas, Kelum Hewawasam - Head of Sales S-lon, Surith Perera - Director Customer Development Unilever, Neil Samarasinghe - VP - John Keells Holdings/Head of Frozen Confectionaries and Kumar De Silva - Director Sales/Health Care, Glaxo Smithkline.

NASCO presentations is scheduled to be held on Friday, July 27 at the Water's Edge (Grand Ballroom).