ICT

The Finance unveils Mahiyanganaya and Nuwara Eliya pawning centres

The pawning business of The Finance Co. PLC, which was tagged as an exceptional contributor to the firm's revenues have exceeded internal expectations and recorded an astonishing growth of 237% year on year, justifying the decision to open dedicated pawning centres islandwide through a strategic plan initiated by the company directors early last year.

The first transaction taking place at the new Mahiyanganaya Pawning Service Centre

The newest pawning centers to be opened were two dedicated service centres that have now been unveiled on the same day in Mahiyanganaya and Nuwara Eliya totaling the overall figure of pawning units to 36.

The Mahiyanganaya Pawning Service Centre was declared open on May 23 by the Chairman of the Mahiyanganaya Pradeeshiya Sabha - W.M. Sunil and now operates from No.16, New Town, Mahiyanganaya.

The Nuwara Eliya Pawning Centre was declared open by G.K.M.T.S. Kaviraj, Land Registrar, Nuwara Eliya and commenced business on the same day from 158/1, Kandy Road, Nuwara Eliya.

Pawning , which has seen rapid increase in business activity from the outset, show signs of more members of the public in varying communities the island over, showing trust in The Finance Co. PLC to partner their financial solutions. As a result, the overall investment arm of the firm has enjoyed an impressive 123% growth during the financial year. The Finance Company PLC, which is a household name, has over seven decades of unmatched experience in the non banking finance sector serving the Sri Lankan public through a growing network of 60 branches spread islandwide.

Commercial Bank's IT labs help 15,000 children seek 'a better tomorrow'

School children in four more schools have been gifted IT facilities under the flagship CSR activity of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon to improve IT education in Sri Lanka.

The Kahawatta Central College, Anura Maha Vidyalaya in Matara, D. S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya in Dambulla and Amaragedara Junior School in Horana are the latest beneficiaries of fully-equipped computer laboratories comprising of brand new computers installed with certified genuine software, laser printers and required furniture.

One of the four new IT labs donated by Commercial Bank.

In the first six months of 2012 alone, Commercial Bank has donated IT labs to 10 schools benefiting more than 6,500 students.

This brings the total number of IT labs donated from 2010 to date by Commercial Bank to schools and other institutions to 48, benefiting more than 15,000 students, the Bank said.

All these schools receive assistance from the Bank to maintain and upgrade their computer labs when necessary to ensure that the facilities benefit many batches of students, the Bank said.

These donations are funded by Commercial Bank's CSR Trust which assists the Bank to identify national priorities and deliver a structured response to the needs of the community.

"Our focussed approach to CSR helps identify needy schools and monitor the functioning of donated labs to make sure that these projects deliver sustained benefits," a spokesman for the Bank said.

"The computers donated by the Bank have enabled these students to learn new programmes and improve their IT knowledge. This is particularly important because the need for IT literacy is ever increasing," he said. Commercial Bank's CSR strategy is developed to complement the objectives, vision and mission of the Bank and supports its brand positioning of "for a better future." The Bank has selected IT Education as its primary sphere of community activity because it believes the subject is crucial to ensuring the growth and future of Sri Lankan society, the spokesman said.

The Bank plans to establish IT facilities at more schools in other parts of the country in the course of the year, he added.