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DFCC Vardhana Bank sponsors Skills Training School

DFCC Vardhana Bank, the everyday banking unit of DFCC Bank, in their corporate social responsibility approach for 2009 placed top priority on empowering children by creating opportunities for acquiring new skills.

Officials representing the school and DFCC Vardhana Bank, with the school in the background.

As part of this CSR direction adopted by the bank for this year, DVB's Gampola Branch, to commemorate its second anniversary sponsored the opening of a skills training school for disabled children.

The school caters to close to fifty differently abled children between the ages of four to 16 years of age.

The school focuses on developing the personal skills of these and also trains them in varied subjects such as handicrafts, music and art - in a bid to empower them, and help them to sustain themselves by creating opportunities for them to make it on their own.

The project was initiated by DVB along with the Divisional Secretariat, Dolluwa.

As part of the bank's CSR program, DVB along with DFCC also worked on a comprehensive program towards enhancing public school education via an early learning program centred on the Japanese discipline of '5S' and '3R' [Re-use, Recycle, Reduce] principles. This has been adopted as DFCC/DVB's social priority for the next five years.

A key part of this program is teacher training and parent guidance, in order to help cultivate good habits in school and at home as well. This three-tiered training approach will enable teachers to effectively weave in these practices into the classroom and help it to go beyond the classroom, into their home and lives.

The bank's CSR initiative is aimed at guiding children 'Towards an Exemplary Society' - and has been launched in several schools across the island.

Cargills Magic launches new ice cream flavours

Cargills Magic is launching three new ice-cream flavours to usher in a mood of celebration and enjoyment this Christmas holiday season - Fresh Mixed Berries, Vanilla Ice-Cream with Jujubes and Malt Ice-Cream with Chocolate Flakes! These 3 scrumptious flavours add a delightful new dimension to the existing range of Cargills Magic ice-creams.

Each of these 3 new flavours introduces a thrilling taste that is absolutely irresistible - instantly converting you into a loyal fan! Real Fresh Berries embodies the taste of yummy farm fresh berries handpicked for your enjoyment. An exclusive ice-cream flavour for those unforgettable occasions, Real Fresh Berries is a premium product with a rich texture and succulent berries to sink your teeth into, the taste of which lingers in your mouth long after. Once again, Cargills magic makes a giant splash with the extraordinary Vanilla Ice Cream with Jujubes flavour. Classic vanilla ice cream is teamed with juicy jujubes, enjoyed by all ages. Lick or chew your Vanilla Ice-Cream with Jujubes - enjoy it the way you want. Jujubes are classic favourite candies enjoyed for generations and the flavour cries out to be savoured by all those who want to kick up their heels this season and let the festive spirit into their hearts.

The Malt Ice Cream with Chocolate flakes is another new flavour offering you the taste of rich malt with chewy chocolate flakes which make for an all-time favourite ice-cream flavour. Apart from these three new exciting flavours made with rich, creamy fresh milk, the much-awaited seasonal favourite, Christmas Magic, will also be available through the Christmas season. This flavour makes its appearance by magic every Christmas and is the highlight of the season!

Cargills Magic Marketing and Development General Manager Sandeetha Jayasinghe said Cargills Magic is delighted to offer four innovative new ice-cream flavours to tempt your taste buds this holiday season.

Agra launches seasonal celebrations

Shanker Somasunderam with Agra chefs

Offering their share of the seasonal celebrations and joy, popular North Indian restaurant Agra launched their seasonal celebration with the special Christmas promotion - 'Seasonal Celebrations'.

The promotion which commences on December 25 will continue until December 31, until the dawn of the new year. Over their two and half years operating period, this is the first time that Agra is celebrating Christmas and will continue to have the celebration as an annual event in the future.

During the promotional period, apart from their popular signature dishes such as the kebabs, biriyanis, naans and the tandooris, Agra will offer a wide variety of choices to suit anyone's taste-buds, blending the seasonal delights with North Indian cuisine.

"We hope to delight our customers through more of such festival related celebrations during the festive seasons," Agra Chairman Shanker Somasunderam. Agra will be featuring popular songtress Dalreen. "We wish to create the perfect mood for the season covering every aspect of the restaurant he said.

He said that the Sri Lankans are celebrating the season together this Christmas more than ever before.

SriLankan winners hosted to high tea

Pictured Left to Right - Cardmembers Prasanga Gunarathne, Susantha Pinto, Mohamed Isar, Neroy Marso, Theruni Ratnatunga (SLA), NTB Executive Director Sarath Piyaratne, Desiree Premachandra (SLA), Sujeewa Jayamanne, Chandima Rodrigo and Sales and Marketing DGM, Priyantha Talwatte.

Since its launch in January 2009, the SriLankan Airlines Platinum American Express Card has continuously served its Cardmembers with value, unbeatable offers and an unparalleled customer experience.

Amongst the host of benefits on the card, Cardmembers were given the opportunity to enter a monthly draw to win two million FlySmiLes throughout the year commencing April 2009.

Nations Trust Bank invited the winners from the previous three draws of "Win five Trips to Exotic Destinations" promotion - the monthly draw for SriLankan Airlines Platinum American Express Cardmembers, to high tea at the Corporate Office.

The NTB Management was able to personally thank and felicitate these Cardmembers for their patronage on the card.

HNB among top 10 best Corporate Citizens

Deputy General Manager (Human Resources and HNB Administration) J R P M Paiva receiving the award from Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the ceremony.

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) was selected one of the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens of Sri Lanka and the winner in the Governance and Economic Contribution Category at the Best Corporate Citizen Awards organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the Cinnamon Lakeside last week.

The main objectives of the award are to raise awareness on the importance of CSR to the business community and to promote and encourage CSR practices amongst the corporate sector.

The CSR awards serve as a measure of the rankings of the services of a corporate entity to its stakeholders - customers, shareholders, employees, environment and the community. Winners are selected based on stringent selection criteria by a panel of judges from leading professional institutions and international bodies.

"We are honoured by this recognition of being one of the Best Corporate Citizens in the country.

It is a reflection on our commitment to best practices and encourages us to constantly improve our standards and we appreciate the efforts of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for organizing this event." said HNB Managing Director/CEO Rajendra Theagarajah.