Shipping

'MV Queen Mary 2' on maiden call to Colombo

Cunard Line's world largest Ocean Liner 'MV QUEEN MARY 2' made her inaugural call to Colombo, marking the fourth inaugural vessel call to Colombo made by the cruise liners operated by the parent company Carnival UK since mid 2012. "MV QUEEN MARY 2" is a transatlantic Ocean Liner and was the first major Ocean Liner built since "QUEEN ELIZABETH 2" in 1969. The new vessel was named QUEEN MARY 2 by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary, completed in 1936.

Exchanging of plaques- Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and Commodore Christopher Rynd. Managing Director of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Chief Manager (Container Operations) of SLPA Upali de Zoysa, Chief Manager (Marketing and Business Development) of SLPA, Upul Jayatissa, Harbour Master of SLPA, Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, SAS Managing Director, Gihan Nanayakkara, SAS Director, Capt. L.N. Jayasooriya and Patricia Keppetipola in picture.

Incidentally, "MV QUEEN MARY 2" followed the inaugural calls by the Cruise Liners "MV QUEEN ELIZABETH", "MV ARCADIA" and "MV AURORA" made to Colombo in 2012. The agency services for these cruise liners were provided by Messrs. Shipping Agency Services (Pvt) Ltd., a highly reputed Sri Lankan Shipping Company.

Cunard Line is a combinedly-owned British-American company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century.

Currently undertaking a World Tour, "MV QUEEN MARY 2" docked at the Jaya Container Terminal of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) at 7.00 hrs for a brief stay and departed at 20.00 hrs. for Langkawi, Malaysia.

Commenting on the significance of the occasion, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Chairman, SLPA remarked, "This is the fourth inaugural vessel call made by the cruise liner Carnival UK since mid 2012. It is encouraging to note that according to the statistics released by the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka, the GDP is on a growing trajectory with the per capita income too growing satisfactorily.".

Expressing his views on the occasion, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Managing Director, SLPA said, "I chanced upon an interesting read posted by Cruise Market Watch in their website.

They have estimated cruise revenue and expense per passenger for all cruise lines worldwide for the year 2013.

The average expense per passenger per day is projected to be $200.85, with $152.39 ticket price and $48.47 on board spending. According to them, a total of 6 new ships will be added in 2013 with a total passenger capacity of 14,074. From 2014 to 2015, a net of 13 more new cruise ships will come online adding 39,297 lower berths or 8.7% to passenger capacity.

The ships from 2014 to 2015 will add $3.2 billion in annual revenue to the cruise industry."

Executive Director, Shipping Agency Services (Pvt) Ltd., Capt. L.N. Jayasooriya said the Company was proud to represent the Cunard Lines.

"We as Agents in Sri Lanka consider it a great privilege to be representatives of this prestigious Principal and are happy about the contribution made by these vessel calls towards the Sri Lankan economy. We have also introduced the port of Hambantota to them, with a view to the large cruise vessels calling there as well, in the future.

Her visit reflects the commitment of Cunard Lines to Sri Lanka following the on going developments as one of the safest tourist destinations in the world," he added.

He also said that Carnival UK had decided to send their vessels back to Sri Lanka last year, after a lapse of many years.

"In 2012, they had 3 vessel calls, namely "Arcadia", "Aurora" and "Queen Elizabeth. This year the "Queen Mary 2" and "Queen Victoria" have also been scheduled for Colombo. Next year, Carnival has planned five vessel calls in Colombo and one in Galle," said Capt. Jayasooriya.

Singer introduces latest Philips products

If you are looking at purchasing genuine Philips home entertainment and audio products, make sure you head over to the nearest Singer Mega, Singer Plus or Sisilworld outlet any day between February and April 2013. Singer and Philips brings you the latest Home Theatre Systems, Hi-fis, Portable Audios, Blu-ray Players, DVD Players, Docking Stations, Radio Clocks and much more with special pricing and free giveaways.

That's not all, Singer provides the best payment plans which are stress free ranging from 3-36 months. With over 360 showrooms, 150 aftersales service outlets and 8 regional service centers, Singer protects its customers with a speedy and efficient after sales care package unlike any other. If required, customers may even obtain an extended warranty up to 3 years by paying a nominal fee.

So look no further, give yourself a uniquely European audio experience with Singer's range of Philips products. Singer has been the authorized distributor for Philips products in Sri Lanka since 2008.

SMAK celebrates 32 years

SMAK, the popular household brand of food products celebrated its 32nd anniversary recently.

The proud owners of SMAK brand, Country Style Foods (Pvt) Ltd., which was formed with just ten employees in 1981 has steadily grown over the past three decades and today has become one of the market leaders in the beverage industry. SMAK brand has carved out a niche in the minds of millions of Sri Lankans. The Company says it owes its success to the high standards it maintains in quality, processing, manufacturing, marketing, sales, human resource management, while maintaining a close relationship with the consumers and retail vendors.

The bold step in forming a company in the natural based food drinks sector was taken by three brothers, who are now Joint Managing Directors of the company, Dharmasiri Alahakoon, Daya Kumanayake and Sarath Alahakoon, when they ventured into the business foreseeing the growing demand for fruit drinks in the coming years.

Country Style Foods (Pvt) Ltd. strongly believes and strives to live up to its vision of becoming a corporate leader in the natural-based food and beverage industry and caters to a wide range of markets with a larger product portfolio.

The production process is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and equipment with well trained, skilled and dedicated staff. SMAK products are being manufactured under strict hygienic conditions and quality control and being awarded with SLS certification.