ADVERTORIAL

Through education:

Etisalat enables children to access today’s world

Etisalat Lanka’s initiative to provide opportunities for our children to ‘access today’s world through education’, is now at its third and fourth phase, as it sets the pace to take knowledge where it is needed most. With a vision of enabling our children to access knowledge, Etisalat has selected some of the most deserving and deprived schools to set up Etisalat Knowledge Centres and a well stocked reading libraries.

Most of the reading materials available are relevant to the students’ everyday academic lessons, thereby aiding them with the proper required knowledge to be well informed in these respective areas.

Having already opened such knowledge centres in Awissawella and Padukka, the third and fourth such centres were recently opened at Mahagoda Kanishta Vidyalaya, Mahagoda and Dombagoda Maha Vidyalaya, Ahangama (Galle). Both schools have an average student population of 330.

The Mahagoda Kanishta Vidyalaya conducts classes up to the O/Ls while the Mahagoda Kanishta Vidyalaya goes all the way up to A/Ls.

Both schools have shown remarkable academic achievements with good O/L results and Grade Five scholarships.

The project saw to the renovation of the library building in both schools, with a donation of 1500 books, maps and other reading material, in addition to the steel book shelves to store the books properly as a library.

The libraries were further furnished with tables and chairs to enable comfortable reading and learning. Notably, the books were carefully picked to benefit all the school students, enabling all grades to improve their knowledge. Etisalat further kept in mind the teachers, who are the key point of a well educated younger generation. Thus, the library further contains literature of value to teachers. Remarkably, it has been noted that many parents also find solace in these libraries as a source of knowledge.

Also, in a step towards exposing rural children to the wonder of modern learning, the centres have been equipped with an overhead projector, television and a VCD player for the library and supplemented with some educational CDs.

The school Principals expressed their gratitude for the resources and the opportunity, saying that the students are talented and keen to learn. They embraced this gesture with open arms, thanking Etisalat for enriching Sri Lanka’s future generations with the gift of knowledge. Meanwhile, Etisalat CEO/Director Dumindra Ratnayaka said, “As a company that recognizes that knowledge is the foundation of tomorrow’s generation and future professionals, Etisalat takes pride in providing such opportunities through the Knowledge Centre.”

Lankem launches Hydroshield

Lankem Ceylon PLC in collaboration with Becker Acroma Italia launched a new range of waterborne exterior wood coatings under the brand name ‘Hydroshield’, at a ceremony organized by the company’s paints marketing and distribution arm - Lankem Paints Ltd.

Lankem, is the sole agent for the range of products in Sri Lanka. Becker Acroma Italy, the global expert in water based wood coatings and the European market leader in producing wood finishes for industrial and consumer applications. This Swedish based company has nine production units, 13 technical centres and sales offices in more than 40 countries thus making it a worldwide giant.

The Hydroshield range can be applied to exterior doors and windows, garden furniture, exterior/interior flooring and for maintenance purposes.

Lankem Ceylon PLC Director, Ruwan T. Weerasinghe said, “The use of water based wood coatings is becoming more and more popular around the world since it is environmentally friendly, and with high durability, high UV resistance, easy application etc. In Sri Lanka however, 70 percent are still using solvent based wood coatings due to the low price compared with water based wood coatings.

HSBC Sri Lanka among world’s best internet banks

HSBC Sri Lanka has been recognized for the fifth year in a row by Global Finance magazine for its best-in-class internet banking services for personal banking customers.

Held for the 11th year, Global Finance’s World’s Best Internet Banks competition for Asia also awarded HSBC, for its consumer internet banking in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan and Vietnam. While in the Corporate/Institutional Internet Banking category, HSBC Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau and Thailand were announced the winners.

Regionally, HSBC was awarded, Best Online Deposits Acquisition as well as Best Investment Management Services, Best Online Cash Management, Best Trade Finance Services, Best Web Site Design and Best information Security Initiatives.

“The internet has changed the conventional method of banking for consumers and businesses today and made banking more accessible than before. We are proud to have been awarded the best internet bank award for the fifth year in a row. We hope this will create more customer confidence and re-define personal Internet banking services to enable custom solutions at one’s fingertips.” said Head of HSBC Personal Financial Services Head Sarit Wijeyekoon.

In Global Finance’s awards program, winning banks were selected based on the following criteria: strength of strategy for attracting and servicing online customers, success in getting clients to use web offerings, growth of online customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from Internet initiatives, and web site design and functionality.

Regional and Global winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York City in November and published in the December issue of Global Finance.

The best farmers with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene and CIC Agri Businesses Chairman B R L Fernando

CIC Shooragoviyas meet President

Priyantha Weeraratne who was adjudged the best farmer at the Annual Shooragoviya contest conducted by CIC Agri Businesses met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees recently.

Thirty Eight year old Priyantha hails from Angunukolapellassa and has a 15 acre land where he cultivates paddy, fruits and vegetables.

Along with Priyantha the other two winners Nalin Chaminda from Hettipola and Aninda Weerasinghe from Hawa Eliya and Nihal Fernando the last year’s winner met the President.

CIC Agri Businesses organizes the Shooragoviya contest annually to encourage young farmers with a view of imparting the latest methods and technologies to the farmers.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company felicitates CP dealers

Director/General Manager Pushpika Janadheera with top dealers

Richard Pieris Tyre Company at Hotel Thilanka, Kandy recently to felicitate it’s dealers in the Central Province. Director/General Manager Pushpika Janadheera was the chief guest.

The appraisals were carried out under the respective divisions - tyre retreading, trading (Birla Corsa and other tyres) and tyre related products -seperately. The company awarded prizes, trophies and certificates for the winners. The coveted prizes went to winner - Mahiyanganaya, Central Tyre Works M.S.M. Shaheer, second Runner Up - Nawalapitiya Kothmale Motors L.R.B. Madawala and third Runner Up - Gampola Niroshan Tyre House A.G. Niroshan Chathuranga.

Ten others from tyre retreading and three others from trading were also felicitated for their excellence.

Director/General Manager Pushpika Janadheera said, “We are commited to maintaining the highest manufacturing standards and to market our tyres at an affordable price. As there is a high demand for Arpidag in the upcountry, we have established new machinery at the factory at Pallekale, Kandy to maintain the services at high quality standards to increase productivity and capacity”.

Empowers Dehiwela - Mt Lavinia students:

PermaNet holds dengue awareness programs

In Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia area, declared a dengue prone zone with several deaths of students from dengue recorded, PermaNet, one of the world's leading brands of insecticide treated mosquito nets, took the fight against dengue to the schools.

Ten schools in the Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia municipal limits were able to benefit from a comprehensive awareness program developed by PermaNet, with the Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia Medical Officer of Health. This program was conducted under the aegis of the Colombo District Health Services Regional Director.

"With the program, we were successfully able to reach over 3,000 students with the message that dengue can and does live among us and can be dangerous, said attached to Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia MOH Office Public Health Inspector Lalith Perera who presented the program in a manner interesting and relevant to the children.

Most of the schools where the PermaNet Creating a Safety Net - Say No to Dengue program was held, have had students sick with dengue - in a few instances, students had died as a result of dengue.

"School Principals were keen that the students participate in the program - students themselves were very very interested. said Rainco Director Fazal Fausz who has launched PermaNet in the Sri Lankan market.

"A Year One student from our school was snatched from us by dengue", said participating student from Anula Vidyalaya where the program was held, "We learnt many new things about how to avoid the dengue mosquito and the program was very helpful to us.

We also learnt about the different stages of dengue and how to recognize the symptoms," he said.

"Awareness is important especially in children, said the Kalubowila Buddhagosha Vidyalaya Principal, a participating school," They feel important and empowered with the information and often even educate the parents about what they have learnt," he said.

Adding value to the program as a point of action was the distribution of a handy exercise book that the students were encouraged to use as a Dengue Manual.

The book came with many interesting and relevant points on mosquitoes and dengue.

"The children will be using it as a journal to record what they did in their own environment to reduce the dengue menace", said Fausz.

Australian University MBA:

ACBT opens admissions

Functioning for the past twelve years as a higher education institute that effectively moulds students who are able to take on the corporate world, Australian College of Business and Technology (ACBT)stands for a tried and tested quality education. Having begun operations in Sri Lanka over 12 years ago, ACBT has grown from being an institute offering a Bachelors Degree to an institution offering a MBA (International) from Edith Cowan University, Australia. The MBA(I) program commenced in Sri Lanka in 2004 and has thus far produced more than 250 graduates.

In an era of intense global competition, the MBA(I) qualification is a safe haven for young professionals and middle managers seeking career advancement. ACBT is a member of Navitas group which is arguably the world's most leading provider of pathway programs with university pathway colleges in Australia, Sri Lanka UK, Canada, Africa and USA which is an internationally renowned leader in global education.

The MBA awarded by Edith Cowan University of Australia offers the same recognition irrespective of whether a student completes it in Sri Lanka or Australia even though students have the option to graduate in Australia.

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a member of the National Unified System of Australian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

ECU degrees are recognized across the globe and are accredited by many national and international professional associations.

Offering comprehensive teaching with the opportunity to develop in various areas of interest, the overriding theme of the ECU MBA(I) revolves around managerial decision-making within rapidly changing and increasingly competitive business environments. Many of the courses are designed with the consultation of the industry. Therefore ,the ECU MBA(I) offered at ACBT has won the confidence of many of the local corporate ,attracting the cream of top level executives as well as middle managers and young graduates.

The high standard of education at ACBT is assured by the direct involvement of the Edith Cowan University.

Moderation of the Institute's course work are carried out by ECU and the Institute adopts modern teaching and learning methods in a highly disciplined atmosphere.

The ECU MBA (I) program is probably the most tightly controlled international post graduate program in Sri Lanka , mainly due to the strict monitoring and implementation by the ECU. ACBT believes in helping students in Sri Lanka realize their dream of gaining a respected and internationally recognized MBA(I) at an affordable fee with flexible payment options.

The program comprises three semesters with flexible weekend and evening classes scheduled ideally for working professionals.

Those following the program also have access to the ECU online library facility and have the option of graduating in Australia. ACBT has already started accepting applications for their next intake in October.

Pan Asia Bank ties up with National Insurance Trust Fund

Ensuring safety of tri-forces and police:

The National Insurance Trust Fund and the Pan Asia Bank merged to implement a special insurance scheme to ensure the safety of the members of the security forces and police.

The new insurance scheme will be operated falling line with the "Ranaviru Harasara" introduced in 2008 to boost the life standard of the members of the security forces and police economically.

The scheme will benefit the members of the security forces, police, their family members disabled soldiers and disappeared.

The motive for introducing a scheme of this nature is to accomplish a national requirement and a duty which deserves by those members.

The Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed at the office of the National Insurance Trust Fund by the Chairman Senaka Abeygunasekera and Pan Asia Chief Marketing Officer Nalaka Wijewardene.