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Advertorial
Significant innovation by LOLC Al-falaah
“LOLC Al-falaah”, the Islamic arm of the LOLC Group made a
significant stride in the Islamic financing sector in Sri Lanka by
marking two significant events simultaneously. While introducing the
country’s first Mudharabah Savings account with a fully integrated
savings pass book and an ATM Card, the Sharia’h Supervisory board of
LOLC Al-falaah was further strengthened with Shaikh Shafique Jakhura
joining.
Lanka ORIX Finance Company Ltd. registered under the Central Bank of
Sri Lanka to offer Sharia’h Financing, launched the Islamic Business
Unit in late 2007. For the past three years LOLC Alfalaah offered Ijarah
(Leasing), Murabaha (Trade Financing), Diminishing Musharakah
(Property/Project Financing) and now Mudharabah (Profit Sharing
Investments and Savings) to their clientele with strict compliance to
the sharia’h principles.
LOLC Alfalaah is facilitated with its own infrastructure such as IT,
documentation and financial accounting which are based on Shari’ah
principles. While the dedicated Islamic Business Unit is currently
operating under the supervision and expert guidance of the Sharia’h
Supervisory Board comprising the eminent Islamic Scholars Shaik M. Fazil
Farook and Shaik M. Murshid Mulafar, the joining of Shaik Mufti Jakhura
is of immense significance and will strengthen it.
Shaik Mufti Jakhura serves in the Fatwa Department preparing and
issuing Islamic Juristic rulings at the Darul Ihsan Centre in Durban,
South Africa. He completed, the Aalimiyah Course at Madrasah
Taleemuddeen in 2002 in Durban, South Africa and completed a three year
specialization course in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh and Fatwa) from
Jamia Darul Uloom, in Karachi, Pakistan in 2005, under the guidance of
Mufti Taqi Usmani, which culminated in the submission of a thesis on the
topic of Shirkat and Mudharabah. He also has an Advanced Diploma in
Islamic banking and finance from the Centre for Islamic Economics based
in Karachi, Pakistan.
The LOLC Group with their inherent spirit of innovation,
professionalism and dynamism caters to the needs of the different
segments in the financial services market and focuss on expanding its
scope. Due to rapid product innovations and the strategically placed
branch network the company has been able to gain a significant market
share and is keen to propagate Islamic Financing around the country.
The Mudharabah Savings account will be the fully integrated savings
pass book and ATM card which is accessible from more than 350 Locations
countrywide.
Users of Fujifilm, the highest selling colour film brand in Sri
Lanka, were rewarded for their loyalty to the brand with the conclusion
of the ‘Fujit! and Win it!’ consumer promotion by Hayleys Consumer, the
distributor in Sri Lanka for Fujifilm.
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Gamini Wijethunga receives the key of
the brand new Maruti 800 car from Hayleys Chairman Mohan
Pandithage (second from right). Also in the picture from
left: Hayleys Group Director Rizvi Zaheed, Jude Silva, Chief
Operating Officer, Hayleys Consumer Products Ltd and
Selvaratnam Nimal, Business Unit Head, Hayleys Consumer
Products Ltd. |
The grand prizes, a brand new Maruti 800 car, a scooter and two
return air tickets to Bangkok were presented to the top four winners at
a simple ceremony in Colombo, and arrangements made for 50 Fujifilm
cameras and 12 wristwatches to be picked up by consolation prize winners
from HCPL’s office.
Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage said that Fujifilm’s share of the
negative film market had grown from 4 percent in 1996 to 72 percent
today, and that 55 percent of the photo printing paper used in Sri Lanka
today is manufactured by Fujifilm. “The Imaging and Information Division
of Hayleys Consumer has been an important contributor to business, with
Fujifilm leading the way,” he said.
The top four winners of the ‘Fujit! and Win it!’ promotion were
Gamini Wijethunga of Kotapola, Lakshman de Silva of Matale, Dilan
Arokiam of Kandy and H T H Deshapriya of Avissawella.
Under the terms of the promotion, every empty Fujifilm box posted
back to Hayleys Consumer during the period of the promotion was eligible
to a winning chance at a series of draws conducted by Hayleys Consumer.
The term ‘Fujit’ was conceptualized as part of a campaign by Hayleys
Consumer to describe the activity and process of photography in which
the company has achieved leadership for Fujifilm in every aspect such as
film rolls, photo printing paper, chemicals and digital minilabs. The
‘Fujit’ campaign is also intended to enthuse a new generation of
shutterbugs and to remind them of the romance of printing their photos
to preserve memories for generations to come.
Swadeshi illuminates Kiri Vehera and Ruhunu Maha Devalaya
The Esala festivals of the Kataragama Kiri Vehera and the Ruhunu
Kataragama Maha Devalaya, are being illuminated by Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC.
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Chairperson and Managing Director of
Swadeshi Mrs. Amari Wijewardene, switches on the
illumination in the presence of (from left) Kelaniya
Viharadipathi Ven Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkitha
Thera, Kiriwehera Viharadipathi Ven Dr. Aluthwewa Soratha
Thera, Chief Executive Officer Nuwan Wimalana and Marketing
Manager Chaminda S. Jayasinghe Arachchi of Swadeshi. |
The on-going events began on July 22 and end on August 8, and
Swadeshi is sponsoring the Aloka Poojawas for the 8th consecutive year.
Chairperson of Swadeshi Mrs. Amari Wijewardene said that Swadeshi
considers it a duty to safeguard the culture and traditional heritage of
Sri Lanka by supporting activities such as this annual Aloka Poojawa.
She said that Swadeshi illuminates places of worship for the benefit
of all worshippers and also to educate the younger generation on the
importance of safeguarding the country heritage. The illumination is
followed by a colourful cultural pageant which highlights Sri Lankan
traditions and history.
“During colonisation, Europeans tried many times to destroy
Kataragama Devalaya and our traditions around it. Fortunately those
traditions have been safeguarded by patriotic citizens.” she said.
According to the Mahavamsa, Kiri Vehera was built by King Mahanaga to
commemorate the Buddha’s visit to Kataragama Kihiri Uyana to deliver
dharma during his third visit to Sri Lanka.
ICT training for visually handicapped
The Employers’ Network on Disability of the Employers’ Federation of
Ceylon (EFC) will launch a training program for the visually handicapped
on July 29 at the EFC auditorium.
This is yet another project of the EFC Employers Network on
Disability which has provided employment opportunities to over 200
disabled persons. It also conducted several other programs such as
awareness raising and skills upgrading, along with the International
Labour Organization (ILO) and other Organizations committed towards
helping the disabled.
The current initiative is significant as it will provide training on
ICT to approximately 42 visually handicapped persons who have already
enrolled. The training will be conducted by Ms Manique Gunaratne, of the
EFC who has undergone special training locally and internationally with
regard to provide training to the visually handicapped.
The ILO has supported the EFC from the inception of this initiative
and in respect of this project it has assisted with financial assistance
to purchase the computers and other necessary equipment.
Medilon wins dealer award
Medilon Equipment (Pvt) Ltd. - the local agent for Masimo medical
devices - won the Masimo Asia Pacific Dealer of the Year Award 2008. The
company became the first in the world to sell the Masimo non-invasive
haemoglobin monitor. Director, Masimo Asia Pacific, Jim Litchfield
referred to Medilon’s achievements as ‘outstanding’ and expressed
confidence that the company would reach greater heights in 2009.
The marketing efforts of Medilon led to the introduction of the
world’s first ever non-invasive and continuous haemoglobin monitors at
the Base Hospital in Balangoda. These monitors will prove an invaluable
addition to surgical theatres and ICUs in hospitals around Sri Lanka.
They will help enhance the health status of the people whilst
facilitating the work of medical staff. They will prove useful for
surgical operations and monitoring blood loss, among other things. The
monitors are extremely accurate and have several advantages over
conventional blood testing systems.
Healthcare professionals can thus measure haemoglobin in a safer,
faster and easier way - without removing a drop of blood. In addition to
total haemoglobin, this breakthrough technology can be configured to
measure oxygen saturation, pulse rate, perfusion index, total arterial
oxygen content, pleth variability index, carboxyhaemoglobin and
methemoglobin.
The devices are user-friendly and enable continuous monitoring. They
can instantly evaluate the patient’s condition and severity of his/her
illness. |
