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Suntel enables convergence for Lankan enterprises

Suntel Ltd; launched its Converged Voice Data Video solutions at Waters Edge yesterday.

With this Sri Lanka becomes one of the first countries to offer Next Generation Network solutions based on real IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) in the region, a feature packed intelligent solution bringing savings to the Corporate and Business community.

The Converged Voice Data Video Solution enables Suntel to take corporate and business telecommunication to the next generation of networking. This facilitates business productive applications and economization of resources to zero on capital expenditure and reduce operational expenses. Most of its features are combined with modern communication tools such as Unified Communication Technology making communication highly effective and hassle free. Furthermore the technology enables consumers actually not to spend on capital equipment but to rent it at an operational expense based business model.

This next generation networked communication enables enterprises over 400 advanced telephony solutions such as remote office, Unified Communication tools, soft copy fax, voice messages, One number concept with Call forwarding selective, Missed call alerts, Data and multi media conference among other features. All these features will be enabled to Suntel customers on a monthly rental without any capital expenditure. This would also free the customers the trouble of owning and maintaining infrastructure which is not their core business.

Managing Director for Suntel Jeremy Huxtable said, "It is an honour for Suntel to become the first to provide converged solutions to Sri Lankan enterprises and this has proved yet again the leadership role played by Suntel in the corporate and business sectors. As we all know the economic recession has affected negatively on enterprises all over the world with capital budgets halved if not totally eliminated. During difficult times such as these it is important to focus on business rather than being saddled with additional responsibility of owning and maintaining communication related infrastructure. We are indeed happy to have introduced the latest technology to Sri Lanka to help companies overcome difficulties by trimming their costs without any capital investment which is hard to come by, these days. "It is my privilege as the Chief Technical Officer of Suntel to unveil the first real IMS (IP multimedia Subsystem) application to Sri Lankan corporates. IMS or IP Multimedia subsystem is the intelligent foundation in which commercial user friendly applications are built and provides facility for central hosting as against individual boxes for each company.

This enables companies to share the same platform and minimize capital investments, some times zero investment yet share one of the advanced cost economizing features such as remote office, Unified communication features across devices, Taking control of communication with one number and Missed calls. With this Sri Lanka becomes one of the first countries in the region to have such a solution" commented Vajira Jayasinghe.

Lanka's fastest man with Ceylinco Life

Sponsors champion sprinter Shehan Ambepitiya:

Schoolboy Shehan Ambepitiya (19) who burst on to the world stage with an exhilarating dash that won him seventh place at the Junior World Games has been awarded a sponsorship by Ceylinco Life to motivate and support him to strive for even greater speed.

In return for this generous gesture, the Commonwealth junior record holder for the 100 and 200 metres will participate in some of Ceylinco Life's communications campaigns, especially those relating to benefits enjoyed by the company's policyholders and their loved ones.

In January this year, the Gateway International schoolboy whose father is a Ceylinco Life policyholder, was the recipient of a 'Pranama' scholarship presented by Ceylinco Life in the National Merit Awards category for his outstanding feats on the athletic field.

"Shehan is an exciting prospect for the future," said Chief Executive Director of Ceylinco Life R. Renganathan. "He represents the raw talent in this country that can, with the right training and support, achieve great heights on the world stage.

That is why Ceylinco Life has now come forward twice to assist him, first with a 'Pranama' scholarship, and now with a cash sponsorship."

Ceylinco Life's Pranama scholarships scheme, which seeks to groom future leaders by rewarding academic excellence and achievements at national level in sports, aesthetics and invention, has to date presented over 1000 scholarships to young achievers. Shehan Ambepitiya, whose timings of 10.43 seconds over 100 metres and 21.27 seconds over 200 metres make him the fastest sprinter in Sri Lanka at present, is also the junior record holder for these two events at the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games.

He is the third sportsman to support Ceylinco Life's media campaigns in recent times, joining cricketing icons Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas to endorse life insurance.

Metropolitan opens showroom

Metropolitan, one of Sri Lanka's leading office automation and imaging solutions providers opened its newest branch at Singer Mega Kiribathgoda recently.

The new showroom offers a range of products from Canon cameras and accessories, to Acer laptops and desktops, fax machines, paper, air conditioners, mobile phones, scanners and printers. The new shop-in-shop at Singer Mega is located in the heart of Kiribathgoda town. "We want to offer our customers easy and convenient access to the best brands in office automation and imaging equipment such as Canon, Acer and York which is why we have come closer to their homes in Kiribathgoda," said AGM - Head of Regional Distribution Network of Metropolitan, Jerome Fernando.

All products on sale at this showroom come with the Metropolitan warranty and after sales service. Customers can now buy everything from office equipment to personal items such as laptops and cameras as well as office requisites, all under one roof in Kiribathgoda.

Metropolitan also has an islandwide branch network that spreads from Jaffna, Trincomalee, Annuradhapura, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kandy , Ratnapura, Kalutara, Badulla to Matara.

Further, Metropolitan has several sales outlets in Colombo including at Liberty Plaza, Bambalapitiya and Borella.

Natural spices to generate more export earnings

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BoI) signed an investment agreement with G S L Naturals (Private) Limited for a project to manufacture spice oils for export.

Chairman/Director General Dhammika Perera signed the agreement on behalf of the BoI and presented the BoI Certificate of Registration to the investors. Directors of the company S.H.M. Naleef and K.S.H.M. Munzeer signed the agreement and accepted the certificate on behalf of the company.

G S L Naturals is a joint venture with Geschmack Food Ingredient Solutions, India. Geschmack Food Ingredient Solutions is a leading manufacturer and supplier of essential oils, oleoresins, natural food colours and herbal extracts. The venture will manufacture spice oils from natural spices such as Black Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Nutmeg, Mace and Ginger.

Naleef said that Sri Lanka has a large supply of natural spices that can be used to generate foreign exchange. The products will be exported to international markets including US and Europe. Naleef also said that these spice oil products are used to produce medicine and expensive perfumes.

The project established in Kundasale is an investment of US $ 300,000 that is expected to generate employment for 25 initially. The venture is expected to commence commercial operations in early April.

Winners of 'MacBook Air Promotion'

American Express, the Credit Card acquired and issued solely by Nations Trust Bank PLC announced the winners of the 'MacBook Air Promotion'. This offer in partnership with Keells Super and BT Store saw three winners walk away with three Apple MacBook Air Notebooks.

"This exclusive promotion entitled all American Express Cardmembers who shopped at Keells super outlets islandwide using the American Express Credit Card, a chance to win one of three MacBook Air Notebooks" said DGM Sales and Marketing at Nations Trust Bank PLC, Priyantha Talwatte.

"It has been a privilege to partner with Keells Super and Premium Apple Reseller BT Store" he said.

Aviation accidents drop

The total number of fatalities from aviation accidents dropped from 692 in 2007 to 502 in 2008.

This resulted in a 56% improvement in the

fatality rate from 0.23 fatalities per million passengers to 0.13 per million passengers, the International Air Transport Association announced.

The global accident rate (measured in hull losses per million flights of Western-built jet aircraft) stood at 0.81-or one accident for every 1.2 million flights. This is a slight deterioration on 2007 performance when the accident rate was 0.75-or one accident for every 1.3 million flights.There were 109 accidents in 2008 compared to 100 in 2007. The number of fatal accidents increased from 20 in 2007 to 23 in 2008. IATA member airlines significantly outperformed the industry in safety. With 33 accidents, IATA members drove their accident rate downwards from 0.68 in 2007 to 0.52 in 2008. That is equal to one accident for every 1.9 million flights.