ADVERTORIAL

Grant team ready to shine

Spikes 2010:

Grant Group has, once again made it to the limelight with two of their talented youngsters making it to the international arena. Reshad Mohideen, Brands Director and Asela De Silva, Snr. English Copy Writer of Grant Group were the young talented individuals selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Spikes Asia Festival 2010.

Spikes Asia is an annual event organized by Hay Market in partnership with the International Advertising Festival, the organizers of Cannes Lions festival. This is considered as a summit for creativity, learning and recognition of Asia Pacific’s best work in advertising.

Reshad Mohideen who has six years of experience in advertising and Asela De Silva, a well experienced senior copy writer of Grant Group came up with the best strategy and creatives paving their way to the international competition.

“It was a tough competition where we had to compete against brilliant winners of previous creative competitions locally and in Asia and other teams who were recognized in the industry. It was a lot of fun working on the brief that was given to us. Now we have a bigger task ahead of us which is to ensure that we do our best in Singapore and represent Sri Lanka against the best in Asia,” said Reshad Mohideen.

Asela De Silva said “Lot of hard work and dedication was needed to win this competition and I am delighted that we won.”

Grant Group Chairperson/Managing Director Neela Marikkar said “At Grants we have always prided ourselves in nurturing and encouraging well rounded talent in the form of creative, service and media personnel who are ably qualified to steer our clients business to a new level.

Reshad and Asela are clear examples of this. I am personally delighted of their achievements at Spikes and am confident they will do Grants and the country proud.”

The Young Spikes competition was organized by the International Advertising Association (IAA) Sri Lanka Chapter in partnership with Metal Factor and YES FM to select a team to compete at this internationally acclaimed event. The competition was in two categories “Media” and “Integrated” under which the Grant creative team competed.

This three-day competition consisted of two-member teams coming up with a creative campaign according to the given brief. At the end of day one, written concepts and strategies were to be submitted whilst day two was the day of implementation.

On the final day of the competition, the teams had to present their creatives and strategies to the judges.

This international event will be held in Singapore from September 19-21. A team of four individuals; comprising two media experts and two with integrated communication handling expertise will participate in this competition representing Sri Lanka.

Singer to accept American Express Card bill payments

Bringing more convenience to American Express Cardmembers, Nations Trust Bank recently tied up with Singer Sri Lanka to accept American Express Credit Card Bill payments at all Singer Showrooms Islandwide.

Cardmembers can now make payments at over 350 Singer Showrooms which include Singer Mega, Singer Homes, Sisil World and Singer Plus Showrooms Islandwide. Any payments made before 4.00 pm at the above outlets will be credited to the card on the same day. All payments carry a nominal fee of 0.75 percent of the value paid as a handling fee. Nations Trust Bank PLC American Express Cards DGM Priyantha Talwatte said, “We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Singer Sri Lanka in providing all American Express Cardmembers greater convenience through the widely accessible Singer network.”

Singer Sri Lanka (PLC) Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya said, “Singer welcomes American Express Cards as a partner to our bill payment program, which we believe will enhance conveniences to both Nations Trust Bank and Singer customers and make settlement of credit card bills possible everyday of the week through Singer’s widespread distribution of Retail outlets.”

Singer’s ‘Sanoda Express Pay’ counters which collects utility and credit cards bills now add a further dimension to customer comfort through the addition of American Express Cardholders who can make swift settlements in the comfort of Singer’s renowned outlets.

American Express Cardmembers can also make their Credit Card Bill payments at any Nations Trust Bank branch, through the ATM network and Internet Banking.

SMS news alerts in English, Sinhala and Tamil

Asia Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network has introduced SMS news, alerts in English, Sinhala and Tamil through Dialog mobile telephones.

Dialog mobile telephone users now have the ability to obtain SMS news alerts in English as Gold FM news, in Sinhala as Hiru FM News and in Tamil as Sooriyan FM News.

The agreement for the commencement of this ground breaking service was signed between the ABC Radio Network Managing Director Rayynor Silva and the Dialog Axiata Group Chief Marketing Officer and Dialog TV Chief Executive Officer Nushad Perera, last week.

HNB goes to Giriulla

Hatton National Bank opened its 192nd Customer Centre at No.125, Negombo Road, Giriulla recently.

The Customer Centre was opened by HNB Deputy General Manager - Marketing and Retail Banking Chandula Abeywickrema, HNB Senior Manager - North Central Region J K N M Perera, Senior Bank officials, Government officials, local businessmen and customers were present at this occasion.

This Customer Centre is fully equipped to provide the customers with an easy and a convenient access to all banking facilities. Abeywickrema expressed his pleasure in having opened the new customer centre.

He further said that a number of value additions have been provided with the opening of this customer centre keeping in line with the banks commitment to provide greater convenience to its valued customers.