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Ford announces winners of US$ 15,000 Ford Environmental Grant in Sri Lanka

The Ford Motor Company today awarded two organizations – The Tree Society of Sri Lanka and the Wanasarana Thurulatha, Swechcha Society – to split US$15,000 as part of its 2012 Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme in Sri Lanka.

Marking the programme’s tenth year in Southeast Asia and second consecutive year in Sri Lanka, the grant will go toward two projects the IFS-Popham Arboretum in Dambulla to upgrade its educational and research facilities and protecting the Dediyagala Forest Reserve.

The two winning projects and their share of the Ford grant were, The Tree Society of Sri Lanka – recipient of US$ 7,500: To conserve the IFS-Popham Arboretum in Dambulla and upgrade its educational and research facilities and Wanasarana Thurulatha, Swechcha Society – recipient of USD$ 7,500: To conserve the bio-diversity of the Dediyagala Forest Reserve of Sri Lanka by establishing joint forest management with buffer zone communities “Both of these projects stood out to the Ford programme’s panel of judges in Sri Lanka due to their usefulness, originality and potential for wider application across Sri Lanka,” said Sujeeva Premaratne, Chief Operating Officer, Future Automobiles, Ltd.

In selecting the winners, the jury panel followed a set of judging protocol based on the following criteria: usefulness and practicality, dedication, financial need, originality and potential for replication.

The panel selected the winners from a shortlist of seven deserving organizations and individuals, whom Ford Motor Company and dealership partner, Future Automobiles, Ltd. culled from a total of 35 submissions. Their innovative proposals spanned projects in natural environment preservation, environmental education and conservation engineering:

Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum: To set up a “rain center” to demonstrate, provide information, create awareness, build capacity, network and provide technical service on rain water harvesting in Sri Lanka as well as to coordinate other water resource management in greater South Asia.

US retail sales slow in January

US retail sales rose slightly in January, held back by a drop in auto sales as consumers took a breather after December's holiday shopping season, official data released showed.

Retail and food services sales adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday differences rose 0.1 percent from December, matching analysts' average estimate, according to data released by the Commerce Department.

January sales marked a slowdown from the 0.5 percent increase in December during the crucial year-end holiday shopping season. “The mild gain comes on the heels of two strong months of solid spending activity so some moderation is not a surprise,” said Jennifer Lee of BMO Capital Markets.

Sales of motor vehicles and parts, a segment that tends to be volatile month-over-month, fell 0.1 percent in January after jumping 1.2 percent the prior month.

Excluding auto sales, retail sales were up 0.2 percent in January.

General merchandise sales, including department stores, led the January gain, rising 1.1 percent.

Consumers pulled back spending on clothing, down 0.3 percent, and furniture and home furnishing goods, off 0.2 percent, as they spent more on fueling up their tanks, pushing gasoline sales up 0.2 percent.

Online retail sales rose 0.9 percent, while food and bar sales were flat.

On a 12-month basis, retail sales increased 4.4 percent in January, a slightly slower annual pace than December's 4.8 percent rate.

AFP

China plans stricter fuel standards after smog

China has announced stricter motor fuel standards in a bid to reduce harmful emissions after smog blanketed much of the country last month -- but the measures will not come fully into force for almost five years.

“Following the rapid growth in car ownership, automobile emissions are having an increasing impact on air pollution,” the central government said in a statement posted on its website late Wednesday.

The powerful State Council, or cabinet, mandated that sulphur content for both petrol and diesel would be set at no more than 10 parts per million (ppm) by 2017, a reduction from the current 50 ppm, according to the statement. Burning fuel with sulphur produces sulphur dioxide, a major air pollutant.

The Chinese capital Beijing has already started to implement the new standard but other cities will have a “grace period” until the end of 2017, the official Xinhua news agency said separately.

“The timetable shows that China will step up its pace to upgrade gas quality,” Wang Zhen, deputy head of the China Energy Strategy Research Institute at the China University of Petroleum, was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

Beijing and vast swathes of northern China were covered by a toxic haze several times in January, sparking anger online and prompting unusually outspoken calls for action, even from state-run media. The pollution has been blamed on emissions from coal burning in power stations but also exhaust fumes from vehicles on traffic-clogged streets.

Chinese car ownership has exploded as rapid economic growth produces greater wealth.

AFP

Euro Motors opens in Kalutara

Euro Motors (Pvt) Ltd, as the sole agent for JAC commercial trucks, ceremonially opened its eight branch in the city of Kalutara on 24 of January. With the participation of senior management, Leasing partners along with many other guest the ceremony was held at the new showroom premises which is located at Galle Road Kalutara South near the (Kalutara Vidyalaya).

The customers who reside in Kalutara, Panadura and Horana areas and wish to experience and purchase JAC vehicles can now be able to obtain the services through the new JAC branch in a fast &; friendly manner. Also all our customers can now purchase JAC genuine spare parts throughout the spare part section of the new showroom which ensure the long lasting quality of JAC vehicles.

In this event the director of Euro Motors (Pvt) Ltd, emphasized that many sales outlet will be opened around country in near future in order to further ensure the quality service & convenience for customers

Renault to recall more than 60,000 cars in China: report

French car maker Renault has begun recalling more than 60,000 cars exported to China over problems with their fuel gauge sensors, China's consumer quality watchdog said, according to state media.

The recall affects 61,508 Koleos sports utility vehicles made between 2008 and 2012. After prolonged use, the fuel-level sensors fail to deliver correct readings and are unsafe, a government agency told Xinhua on Saturday.

This is not the first time the Koleos has encountered trouble in China, the number one car market in the world, where Renault is aiming to make a comeback through a joint venture with China's Dongfeng Motor.

More than 5,000 Koleos vehicles were recalled last month over a welding defect, and in December 2011, Renault called back some 1,400 vehicles over a steering problem.

The Koleos 4X4 represents the bulk of Renault sales in China.

A Honda promotional campaign was held at Akkaraipattu Municipality in the Ampara District recently to attract more buyers for their products. Some of the promotional material from Honda in Akkaraipattu. (Picture by: I. L. M. Rizan, Addalaichenai Central Correspondent)

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Cristi Landy, small car marketing director for Chevrolet, introduces the 2014 Cruze with a 2.0 turbo diesel motor at the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Auto Show, one of the oldest and largest in the country, will be open to the public February 9-18. AFP