Specialists in bath ware, sanitary ware and kitchen solutions, Charter House International is the sole distributor for world-renowned INDA bath ware in Sri Lanka. INDA was founded over 70 years ago in Italy, as a producer of bathroom accessories during the post-world war economic boom. In the years that followed, INDA also developed a wide range of other products like of shower walls, furnishing elements and mirrors, shaping a single concept ideal for creating endless bathroom furnishing solutions.

Today, INDA is an Industrial Group in the bathroom furnishings sector, with a sound leadership position in international markets and products spanning four segments: bathroom accessories (in which INDA leads the market), furnishing elements, shower walls and mirrors.

The signature feature of INDA design is its exceptional versatility. Thanks to on-going innovation and heavy investment in research and development, INDA is able to create expressive shapes ranging from classic through to the most modern, cutting-edge solutions. This versatility is complemented by the further hallmarks of creativity, originality and distinctive elegance. The commitment to design is highlighted through significant affiliations with world-renowned architects and designers like Brioschi, Citterio, Thun, who actively contribute to make the INDA design unique. INDA offers years of sound experience, rooted in an outstanding ability to tune into the continually evolving needs and tastes of a variety of customers. These skills allow the company to stay one step ahead of style trends, and to create solutions for a total living concept applied to the bathroom.

All INDA products are on or a combination of four style concepts. New classic is the style in tune with the spirit of the age, suspended between past and future: a smooth blend of largely classical, traditional elements with contemporary trends to create timeless style options. Industrial shabby chic is native the English-speaking world, featuring appealingly sophisticated shapes that have succeeded in adapting industrial elements to fit smoothly into contemporary, everyday furnishing styles. Nordic style, coming from Scandinavian countries,   synonymous with a simple, minimalist approach in which a classy colour palette – composed mainly of shades of grey with dashes of white, black and beige – combines with the distinctive features of wood to create warm, engaging furnishings. Lastly, the contemporary design concept features modern, contemporary lines able to create an inviting, soothing atmosphere.

Some of the series that are available at Charter House include QAMAR, PROGETTO+ and PERFETTO+, by Sergio Brioschi, MAQ by INDA, LEA, NEW EUROPE, AVENUE, MITO, ONE, WALK IN, TEKNOAIR, SIM and TRENDY DESIGN.

The INDA range is available exclusively at Charter House, a unit of the AIPL Group. Founded 1989, Analytical Instruments Group (AIPL Group) is a Premier High Technology Total Solutions provider serving a wide scope of technology transfer needs in the areas of Scientific, Healthcare, Water Technology, Agriculture and Laboratory Furniture and has a workforce of over 300 employees.

For more information please visit the Charter House head office at 161, Nawala Road, Narahenpita, their showroom at 113, Havelock Road, Colombo 5 or call their Customer Hotline on 0770495555.

~ Recognised for its significant contribution to support Sri Lanka’s vision of being self-sufficient in dairy

Nestlé Lanka has been awarded the 2016 Swarnadeepa Golden Award for the company’s significant contribution to the local dairy industry in support of Sri Lanka’s vision of achieving self-sufficiency in dairy.

The 2016 Swarnadeepa Golden Award is a symbol of recognition and appreciation extended to Nestlé Lanka for playing an active role in developing the local dairy sector. Nestlé is Sri Lanka’s largest private sector collector of fresh milk and has contributed LKR 3.6 billion in 2015 alone to almost 20,000 local farmers as payment for fresh milk, to manufacture its products like Nespray, Milo and Milkmaid. The company has also established several milk collection points and milk chilling centers over the years including the recent opening of a new milk chilling centre in the Northern town of Urumpirai, empowering the farming community in the area.

“We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our efforts to increase local fresh milk production and thereby support Sri Lanka in reaching its goal of becoming self-sufficient in dairy. We will continue to source fresh milk locally and manufacture locally, a commitment we made 30 years ago to the economic development of the country” said Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé.

“This award of appreciation reinforces our mission to make a difference by enhancing the quality of life of the people of Sri Lanka, providing them a regular source of income and nourishing them with local fresh milk products of the highest quality.” She added.

Organised by the Nidahas Lanka Mass Communicators Association, the Swarnadeepa Awards pays tribute to individuals and organisations that have ‘contributed to the wellbeing of the country’.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC won the inaugural capital market quiz organized by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recently. Dunamis Capital PLC and Aitken Spence PLC emerged as the First and Second Runners-Up of the competition, which was held at the CSE Trading Floor.

The competition, for which entrance was exclusive and free-of-charge for listed companies, offered a cash prize of Rs. 100, 000 for the winning team with additional cash prizes of Rs. 75, 000 and Rs. 50, 000 awarded to second and third placed participants.

Organized with the objective of enhancing knowledge of the capital market among employees of listed companies, CSE Masterminds 2016 attracted the participation of listed companies across industry and sector groups represented in the Colombo Stock Exchange. Participants were tested on their knowledge of the CSE, local and global capital markets, local and international business and other areas with relation to the management of financial securities.

Commenting on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of the CSE Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike stated that the competition is a part of the CSE’s bid to explore unique ways of increasing engagement between employees of listed companies and the CSE. He went on to state that the competition offers such employees an educational and up-close perspective of the capital market.

Sharing his thoughts on the competition, the Head of Market Development at CSE Mr. Niroshan Wijesundere said “Quiz participants in particular were enthused by the opportunity to visit the CSE Trading Floor and lauded what they termed as a unique opportunity to test and enhance their knowledge on the capital market. I would like to thank the listed companies that participated and look forward to a bigger and better CSE Masterminds competition in 2017”.

Photo caption: (From left) Head of Market Development at CSE Mr. Niroshan Wijesundere, CSE COO Mr. Renuke Wijayawardhane and CSE CEO Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike with the winning team from Commercial Bank 

Following its success with ‘77 on Fourth Residencies’ in Nawala, JAT Holdings, the leader in the furnishing and finishing industry takes on a new venture to redefine vertical living with 96 Residencies in Pagoda under the JAT Living subsidiary with the aim of building homes and residences with exclusivity.

JAT Living is poised to usher in a world of exciting projects, delivering on its core principles and commitment to facilitate construction and development solutions in a reliable and trusted manner with a plethora of pristine residencies.
“The vision is to deliver perfection and provide absolute value to the potential customer. The brand JAT Living has etched a unique brand equity by inculcating its core values and vision to serve as an impetus for the development of state-of-the-art residencies which offer both comfort and tranquility at the same time”, said Director of JAT Engineering, Richard Gunawardene.

The high-rise complex at No 96, Pagoda Road in Kotte comprises of 60 well- appointed luxury apartments ranging from 905 sq. ft. to 1475 sq. ft with 02 and 03 bedrooms specifications. Some of the key features of these apartments are fully air- conditioned units, fibre-optic connections ensuring high speed internet and HD TV, fully-fitted German kitchens by Wellman, Marazzi Italian tiles, and high quality imported light and bathroom fittings. This project comprises of a 15 storey tower with 04 floors of ample parking, and 10 floors of luxury living. The rooftop area nestling 02 infinity swimming pools (adults/kids), an entertainment lounge, and a fully-equipped gymnasium all add up to an undoubted reason as to why one should invest with ‘96 Residencies’. The starting price is slated at Rs. 18.5 million upwards.
This ideally located facility is not less than 01 km from the Nugegoda Junction with a picturesque and serene, city view from the comfort of your balcony. Moreover, the complex is in close proximity to popular local and international schools, restaurants, hospitals, shopping arcades, and recreational facilities.
The latest venture will take JAT Holdings, which has been known and recognized as the trusted leader in the furnishing and finishing industry, to newer and greater heights. With the demand for high quality urban and sub-urban habitation continuously and rapidly on the rise, JAT Living ushers in a promising spectrum of residences and homes that seamlessly combine luxury and comfort for discerning customers. The 96 Residences is one such offering which offers absolute functionality coupled with modern luxury, thereby once again redefining the paradigms of vertical living in Sri Lanka.

On 22nd November 2016, consequent to regulatory approval, Asian Alliance General Insurance (AAGI) announced that it has changed the company name to Fairfirst Insurance Limited. This name change follows the recent 100% share acquisition of Asian Alliance General by Union Assurance General (UAG), which is a part of the Fairfax Group in Sri Lanka.

Asian Alliance General Insurance has been rapidly growing over the last few years and comes geared with a strong retail product line, a distribution network of 40 branches and an experienced workforce of 527. Formerly, a part of the Softlogic Group, some of their strong suits include efficiency in claim servicing, through the innovative Click2Claim, and a growing motor insurance business, both of which were recognized at the inaugural IASL – Fintelekt Insurance Industry Awards 2016.

Speaking on the re-branding Mr. Ramal Jasinghe CEO of Fairfirst Insurance (formerly known as Asian Alliance General Insurance) commented “We are very keen to build a strong brand identity that stands out and accurately represents the fresh vision of the organization. The simple look and feel of the new brand constitutes the core values of honesty, transparency and integrity, and more importantly represents the endorsement of the Fairfax Group.”

The Fairfax Group is one of the largest general insurance groups in the world. A diversified, financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Fairfax accounts years of experience in insurance, re-insurance and other financial services across the globe and have been a majority stakeholder of UAG since January 2015. Most recently, Fairfax acquired American International Group (AIG) businesses in Latin America and Central & Eastern Europe, further strengthening their global footprint.

“The Fairfax Group views the Sri Lankan insurance market with optimism” stated Dr. Sanjeev Jha, CEO of Union Assurance General. “As the holding company of Fairfirst Insurance we are excited to be part of this dynamic journey. Together we are efficiently working towards completing all regulatory and statutory requisites for total integration of our two companies enabling certainty to our customers, employees, shareholders and our community.” Fairfirst Insurance will continue its operations as a fully owned subsidiary of UAG until the compete amalgamation of the two companies, which is expected to be concluded by Q1 2017.

Photo caption: The logo of Fairfirst Insurance Limited

~ Donates 10,000 coconut plantlets to 2,000 coconut farming families; Develops 2 model coconut farms

In celebration of its 150th anniversary worldwide and 110 years locally, Nestlé launched another big commitment to help develop the local coconut industry. In collaboration with the Sri Lanka Coconut Cultivation Board, the company is donating 10,000 coconut plantlets across 150 acres to 2,000 coconut farming families and developing 2 model coconut farms to showcase best practices.

The Coconut Development Programme is one of the many public commitments Nestlé has made to the local community to enhance their quality of life. The programme was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Honourable Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries at a model farm planting ceremony in Nikaweratiya. 150 Nestlé employees together with the coconut farmers, planted coconut plantlets in the presence of respected clergy; the honourable minister; chairman and members of the Coconut Cultivation Board; Suresh Narayanan, Head of Nestlé South Asia Region; Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka and other Nestlé officials.

Said Honourable Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries, “I truly value Nestlé’s strong and continued commitments to the social and economic development of the country. Nestlé is a company that has heavily invested behind the development of the local dairy and coconut industries over the years. Their significant investments have uplifted the lives of those communities whose livelihoods revolve around these industries. With the government’s intervention, we will strongly support Nestlé and the private sector in their efforts to develop the local coconut sector.”

Said Suresh Narayanan, Head of Nestlé South Asia Region, “Nestlé Lanka has a long and rich history with Sri Lanka’s dairy industry, having worked together with the government and local farmers since the early 1980s. I am happy to witness the company embarking on another great initiative to strengthen the coconut industry as well.”

“2016 marks the first time Nestlé is directly engaging with its coconut famers. Our Coconut Development Programme will undoubtedly contribute positively towards Sri Lanka’s development and empower our coconut farmers to grow crops that will benefit them, enhancing their quality of life, thereby developing the coconut sector.” Said Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka.

Nestlé will distribute its coconut plantlets to not just its existing coconut farmers within the traditional coconut triangle but also famers located in areas outside of the triangle with good potential for coconut growing, including Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Rasnayakapura, Padaviya, Vavuniya and Kebithigollewa. The company will introduce a new ‘model farm’ concept by planting approximately a 100 plantlets each in 2 model farms in Nikaweratiya and Kebithigollewa with the aim of offering farmers an ideal coconut farm design to benchmark best practices and high quality coconut farming standards.

The Coconut Development Programme will also include intensive technical assistance by the Coconut Cultivation Board including soil tests, provision of manure and other pre and post planting assistance.

Coconut is staple to Sri Lankan cuisine and a significant contributor to the country’s economy via exports. Nestlé is one of the largest exporters of coconut milk powder in the world. Using fresh, high quality coconuts and manufactured exclusively at Nestlé’s Kurunegala factory, its Maggi Coconut Milk Powder is directly exported to over 50 countries in the world, supplying Nestlé and other companies worldwide. The company purchases coconuts indirectly from 5,000 rural farming families through its suppliers, offering them a sustainable source of income.

Nestlé’s contribution to the local coconut industry in 2015, as payment for procuring fresh coconuts for its products, came to LKR. 2.6 billion.

Photo captions: Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries presenting a coconut plantlet to a Nestlé coconut farmer. Looking on are Suresh Narayanan, Head of Nestlé South Asia Region; Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka and Bandula Egodage, Nestlé Lanka Assistant Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Communications

(Left) Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka planting the first coconut plantlet. Looking on are Suresh Narayanan, Head of Nestlé South Asia Region; Bandula Egodage, Nestlé Lanka Assistant Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Communications; Honourable Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries and Kapila Yakandawala, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Coconut Cultivation Board and (right) Suresh Narayanan, Head of Nestlé South Asia Region; Honourable Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries and Shivani Hegde, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka planting the first coconut plantlet. Looking on are Bandula Egodage, Nestlé Lanka Assistant Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Communications and Kapila Yakandawala, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Coconut Cultivation Board

Employees of Nestlé Lanka at the model farm ceremony in Nikaweratiya

The Christmas Elf is an elusive little creature who lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole and helps the jolly ol’ man to make and pack those millions of presents that get delivered to little children around the globe on Christmas Eve. This year however, they are making an early stopover at your favourite suburban hotel on the outskirts of Colombo, Waters Edge.

On the 10^th of December 2016 the hotel together with Santa’s little helpers will welcome kids of all ages and their parents to the “Kiddies Christmas Party” at the Grand Lawn from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. The elves are busy setting up their kingdom and anticipating the grand arrival of Santa Claus; not in his traditional sleigh, but in a sea-plane!

Commenting on the event that has been a huge success over the past years, ‎Director – Sales and Marketing at Waters Edge Nirekshe Perera notes, “The Waters Edge Kiddies Christmas has been a huge success for years with different themes bringing to life the magic of the season. For us at the hotel it’s arguably the most important event of the year where every department goes all-out to ensure that the day is made extra special for all the little ones who are most definitely the centre of the season. This year our elves kingdom will give us an opportunity to add more to the season in terms of mouth-watering treats, magical décor and tons of entertainment.”

Kids of all ages and their parents can enjoy a variety of games and activities such as water walkers, face painting, balloon magic, and an assortment of bouncers, merry-go-round, giant wheel, fun train rides, and much more. A galore of colourful savoury and sweet Christmas treats will also be on display for everyone to enjoy courtesy of the award-winning chefs at Waters Edge. Parents also have the opportunity of handing over their children’s special Christmas gifts to the hotel prior to the event so that Santa can hand them out on the day.

Too add even more reason to celebrate, Waters Edge will also offer many prizes and surprises to kid’s participating at the event. For reservations and handing over gifts please contact Dilrukshi on 0773587419 or Waters Edge on 0112 863863. Tickets will be priced at 2,500 rupees net per person, while kids below 4 years would walk in free.

~ ‘Lanka’ reaps benefits of having access to Lloyds of London via Crescent Global South Asia

‘Crescent Global South Asia has transferred risk liability of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), to A – Rated Lloyd’s Syndicates and to A rated underwriters specializing in energy insurance,’ says Indrajith Fernando, Director of Crescent Global South Asia, which brokered the new risk reinsurance cover for CPC, for National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF).

In line with insurance market practices, the local insurer – National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) – will no longer be retaining 100% of the risk. The cover in place is not only supported by Lloyd’s markets, but also by leading reinsurers from Singapore, and the global marine and energy insurance market.

CPC will be utilizing the expertise of the reinsurance market leaders supporting the programme to carry out comprehensive risk analysis, improving the risk quality of the insured property. The recommendations of these A-rated securities will help to reduce the size and frequency of future claims. Risk assessment of this standard is particularly important when handling a volatile commodity such as crude oil, and its derivative products such as petroleum.

‘Everybody was doing a regulation job neglecting to innovate, do the right thing and also do the necessary hard work. For instance, there were no mandatory covers which are a must for specialized installations such as Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. But now while there would be risk surveys being carried out, the liability too is being taken by Lloyds Syndicates with A rated securities from the world’s premier insurers, entailing substantial savings in premiums,’ says T. G. Jayasinghe, the Chairman of CPC.

CPC had previously encountered issues during claims recovery as the policies in place lacked the holistic and professional approach towards insurance cover, that is now provided for under CPC’s new insurance programme.

Reinsurance risk advisors of CSGA will be advising CPC officials on the finer aspects of their insurance programme, which will assist in improving the risk quality of CPC’s assets. Most notably, they would be providing their expertise on the handling of claims related to CPC’s technically sophisticated installations. As a member and founder of GBN Worldwide, CSGA will bring technical expertise and experience unrivaled in the Sri Lankan market, from 130 worldwide members.

In the event of an accident at the refinery or a storage calamity, the comprehensive insurance programme in place would ensure repairs and

restitution are carried out efficiently, reducing the potential for any negative effects on Sri Lankan consumers and businesses.

‘The award of the insurance of a strategic enterprise such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation following closely on the heels of the awarding of Fitch Ratings, a National Insurer Financial Strength Rating (IFS) and National Long-Term Rating of ‘AA-(lka)’ with a stable outlook, bodes well, and builds a strong business profile for NITF as a leading insurer in the country’, said Manjula De Silva Chairman NITF.

A great deal more work needs to be undertaken going forward to establish suitable risk management protocols within CPC and its subsidiaries, with particular emphasis on establishing internationally accepted practices in both risk presentation, analysis and risk transfer. This approach will be not only be with regard to the Sri Lankan insurance market but also distributed globally for the benefit of our various stakeholders.

Crescent Global Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers is the first global player in the insurance and reinsurance business, to incorporate an insurance hub, and to have offices and investments in Sri Lanka.

The world’s largest insurance market Lloyds of London can be accessed from right here at home, in addition to the access to all regional markets, including Singapore, Dubai.

Photo caption: (From left) Indrajith Fernando – Director, Crescent Global South Asia; Manjula De Silva – Chairman NITF and T.G. Jayasinghe – Chairman, CPC

A total of 167,217 tourist arrived in Sri Lanka during November 2016, reveal the latest statistics of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. When compared against the tourist arrivals during November 2015, this is an increase of 144,147 or 16 per cent.

During the first 11 months of 2016 the tourist arrivals have numbered 1,826,041. This number has exceeded the total of 1,798,380 arrivals during 2015.

Furthermore, 14.7 per cent more tourists have arrived in Sri Lanka during the first 11 months of 2016 as against the 1,592,266 recorded during the first 11 months of 2015.

Some 2.2 million tourist arrivals are expected this year, while analysts point out that this target could be achieved easily with the expected arrivals in Sri Lanka during December.

As usual, the majority of the tourists during this period were Indians which number is recorded as being 318,784.

This is a growth of 13.5 per cent as against the corresponding period in 2015. A unique feature is a growth of 26.8 per cent arrivals during the first 11 months of 2016 as against the same period in 2015.

Meanwhile, this period has indicated a drop of 10.1 per cent in arrivals from Russia.

The consortium that developed the South East Asia, Middle East and Western Europe 5 (SEA-ME-WE 5) submarine cable was awarded the “Project of the Year – Subsea Award” at the Global Carrier Awards on 8 November 2016, in Paris. Sri Lanka Telecom, the country’s leading ICT Solutions Provider is a proud member of this consortium and has played a vital role in the creation of this submarine cable.

The award recognizes the SEA-ME-WE-5 Submarine Cable System and Consortium’s strong commitment to the industry, financial stability and technical know-how in developing one of the most ambitious and successful cable projects.

The 20,000-km SEA-ME-WE 5 cable system, spanning over 16 countries from Southeast Asia to Western Europe, is a technological breakthrough, which marks a milestone in global communications. It is designed with a capacity of 24 Terabytes per second (Tbps) on 3-fibre pairs, fully capable of accommodating the future demand of data from other bandwidth-intensive applications such as enterprise data exchange, Internet TV and online gaming.

Speaking about the Global Carrier Award, Mr. Priyantha Fernandez, the Chief Network Officer of SLT said, “This new, state-of-the-art, undersea, multi-regional superhighway brings a total of 48 Tbps of Gigantic Global Bandwidth to the country. This really enhances the reliability of Sri Lanka’s global connectivity to the east and west by investing over Rs. 5.2 billion for the project. This is also upgradable to serve any future demands. This is the longest submarine cable system spanning 20,000km and it has a uniquely low latency, which is unmatched by any submarine cable system on the planet. Through the double landing status of the Matara cable landing station, it connects 24 Tbps of bandwidth on the eastern cable, which travels from Singapore to Matara and another 24 Tbps bandwidth on the western cable, from Europe to Matara, thus leading to an unmatched bandwidth and improved diversity with larger capacity.”

When it is ready for service by the end of 2016, the SEA-ME-WE 5 cable’s advanced 100Gbps technology is expected to meet the quadrupling of bandwidth demand between Europe and Asia from 2016 to 2021, providing the lowest latency and further enhancing the network diversity and resilience to the heavily loaded Asia to Europe route. In contrast with other submarine cable systems, the SEA-ME-WE 5’s main endpoints are carrier-neutral/open, Points-of-Presence (PoPs) and not just Cable Landing Stations (CLS).

Over the past 11 years, the Global Carrier Awards have become the biggest and most prestigious awards event in the wholesale telecom calendar. More than 380 attendees attended this year’s event. A record number of over 200 entries were submitted for the awards this year and the winners were chosen by a panel of over 20 judges, which include leading analysts, industry experts and Capacity’s senior editorial team. They were aided by a new scoring system, which was refined to ensure that the shortlisting and winners decisions remained objective and transparent.

The SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka in 2017 and will be stationed in Matara, providing the country’s citizens with the opportunity to enjoy additional capacity to connect to the world, thanks to high-speeds and immense capacities, provided by way of multiple 100G links. The core system of the SEA-ME-WE 5 is designed to span from Singapore to France and Italy through Sri Lanka in the most optimized route whilst enabling other parties to connect into the core system through their branch connectivity.

Sri Lanka Telecom PLC: Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is the nation’s number one integrated ICT solutions provider. The Company is also the major provider of ICT networks and services for top enterprises representing all economic sectors and facilitates them with seamless and sophisticated connectivity to carry out local and global business operations. The SLT Group provides a full range of ICT facilities and services in the areas of voice, data, broadband, wholesale, enterprise, TV and mobile services. One of the key strategic objectives of the Group is to drive broadband-based consumer and enterprise services by expanding the broadband footprint via Next Generation Network and National Backbone Network and Next Generation access of ADSL2+,VDSL2, Optical fibre, Carrier-grade Wi-Fi and both fixed and mobile 4G LTE technologies. SLT aims to be a key regional player by offering state-of-the-art global services provided through multiple international undersea cable systems. Thus, the company has made major investments in international submarine cable systems such as SEA-ME-WE 3, SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, Bharat-Lanka and Dhiraagu-SLT submarine cable systems.

~ BG Microfinance Myanmar for acquired for USD 8.0m

In what has been described as a historic financial transaction, Group Lease Public Company Limited (GLPCL), a digital finance company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), acquired a stake of 22.99% stake in Commercial Credit & Finance Plc (CCF) for USD 70 million on the CSE. The transaction valued at over Rs. 10.56 Billion is one of the highest recorded on the CSE.

In the same exercise, BG Investments (Pvt.) Ltd and related companies along with CCF sold 100% stake in microfinance subsidiary in Myanmar – BG Microfinance Myanmar Co Ltd (BGMM) – for a consideration of USD 8.0m to GLPCL. The CCF stake of 28.1% was valued at USD 2.284 Mn and works out to Rs. 330 million at the current exchange rate of Rs. / USD 146.85. CCF will book a profit of Rs. 277.21 million before taxes on the transaction.

“First announced in September this year, the former is a historical transaction in terms of size. Two years ago, the investment of Rs. 1.68 billion (US$12.8 million equivalent) by Creation Investments Sri Lanka LLC was the biggest foreign investment into a finance company. Commercial Credit is very happy to partner with GLPCL where we see a long term win-win partnership through this investment with many opportunities for capital raising, synergies and growth”, said Commercial Credit’s Chief Operating Officer Rajiv Casie Chitty.

GL’s Chairman/CEO Mitsuji Konoshita sees this decision to buy 29.99% of Commercial Credit & Finance Plc (CCF) as one which will further enhance the strategic partnership between the two groups. “We look to combine our efficient digital finance platform with CCF’s very successful track record in the field of finance, to grow our businesses in all markets where we are and will be present, while CCF’s need to access to capital can easily be met by our capability to raise funds internationally”.

The acquisition valued at USD 70 million marks GL’s first major expansion outside of the ASEAN region. From its home base in Thailand, GL has expanded successfully into Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and, more recently, Myanmar through BGMM.

With a history of 34 years, Commercial Credit and Finance PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s leading finance companies with a total asset base of Rs. 70 billion as at 31 March 2016. It is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

CCF offers a wide portfolio of products and services including Fixed Deposits, Savings, Leasing, Hire Purchase, Education Loans, Real Estate, Term Loans, Gold Loans, Revolving Business Loans, Factoring, and Microfinance products which are offered in over 120 locations across the country. Upgraded branch facilities and cutting-edge marketing strategies continue to garner the Company a rapidly expanding and loyal client network.

A memorandum of understanding was signed today (08 December) between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Merchant Holdings Limited (CMHL) on the framework for the revitalization of the Hambantota harbour.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between officials of CMHL and the secretaries of three Ministries of the Government of Sri Lanka, namely the Treasury, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the Ministry of Strategic Development and International Trade.

This decision has been also approved by the Cabinet.

Logistics solutions provider Expolanka Freight (EFL) announced that the company was going live on the GT Nexus platform to bring enhanced visibility and collaborative opportunities to the supply chain. EFL joins the world’s top 10 supply chain solutions providers and the first in the subcontinent in using a tier one cloud based business network for global trade and supply chain management.

GT Nexus capabilities include end-to-end inventory and shipment visibility, purchase order management and origin management. The platform enables robust and flexible interchange of electronic data and integrates information with customers, carrier, truckers, brokers and customs via EDI connectivity in a web-based, real-time, 24/7 accessible system.

EFL is a leading logistics solutions provider in the region with operations in 18 countries and business in four continents. By connecting EFL’s supply chain to GT Nexus, the company is joining the world’s biggest cloud based commerce network with 25,000 other businesses and 100,000 users worldwide.

With a single technology platform and fused financial and physical supply chains, GT Nexus will strengthen EFL’s operations across the board, noted Saif Yusoof, Managing Director. “In global cargo movements, there are multiple stakeholders who work together to ensure that goods reach the destination yet the visibility across the supply chain is limited. With GT Nexus now, we will be able to give our customers that glass line view that enables them to know where their goods are at any given time. This will also help with planning as brands and buyers can manage disruptions and plan ahead for promotions and product launches.”

The new platform will provide EFL and its customers a complete end-to-end supply chain monitoring system, covering events while from inventory on order through to final delivery and is line with the company’s efforts to streamline solutions that are backed by best in class technologies.

Commenting on the partnership, Dastaquir Ismail, Vice President, Supplier Solutions at GT Nexus said, “Operating on a cloud network will enable EFL to capture a single global view of suppliers, data and movement of goods in a central hub viewable across internal departments and external partners. “Every major ocean carrier is a member of the GT Nexus network and our partners and their clients benefit from deep levels of operational efficiency and business agility across the spectrum.”

About EFL: EFL (Expolanka Freight) is a leading provider of supply chain solutions across 18 countries and over 55 cities. Founded in 1982, EFL is part of the logistics sector of Expolanka Holdings PLC, is ranked among the top five forwarders in the Indian Subcontinent and recognised for expertise in fashion logistics.

Photo caption: Saif Yusoof, Managing Director, EFL Sri Lanka (front centre) and Dastaquir Ismail, Vice President, Supplier Solutions at GT Nexus (front right) along with the EFL and GT Nexus teams at the signing

The costly trade-offs involved in leaving data unprotected can spell trouble for your organization- why risk it when you can be insured? – asks H One. The risk is an unnecessary one with cloud based solutions such as MS Azure readily accessible. Relied on by over  66 percent of Fortune 500 companies, MS Azure offers enterprise grade SLAs on services, 24/7 tech support, and round-the-clock service health monitoring making it particularly adept at ensuring the continuity of your business’ core data-based operations when disaster strikes.

Data loss can affect virtually every area of a business, from reputation to current and future sales and even continuity. Research conducted by Gartner in the US revealed that 43% of companies were immediately shut down by a major loss of computer records, and another 51% permanently closed their doors within two years-thus leaving a mere 6% survival rate. These alarming numbers reveal the fragility of business operations when it comes to unprotected data in the face of disaster, theft or a system crash; an area that risk mitigation processes can often overlook.

Companies that do take measures to protect data by using traditional tape often only back up business critical workloads for protection. In addition to being easily susceptible to deterioration and damage, the hidden cost of using tape comes in the form of heavy equipment and labor costs, intensified by businesses failing to conduct time-heavy restoration procedures to test backups.

Cloud-based data protection and storage is a high-end solution that many businesses have begun to opt for considering the high fall out cost of data loss. In the long run, ensuring the protection of your business’ and customers’ privacy simply pays better dividends.

At a recent gathering of the country’s top Chief Information Officers, H ONE CEO Samath Fernando reaffirmed this, noting that cloud storage was already a secure and popular medium of storage with many corporates – especially in Sri Lanka, where companies value lean operational expense models. “Sri Lanka was an early adapter to the cloud due to relatively faster and cheaper internet than the rest of the region. Most of us already use it for readily accessible mail and via file storage sites like One Drive for Business. It makes complete sense, both operationally and financially, to let this secure storage medium protect your company’s data and ensure business continuity.”

MS Azure is one of the most effective ways to do this. The cloud provider leads the industry in customer advocacy and privacy protection with unique data residency guarantees. Azure was developed by Microsoft drawing on decades of experience building enterprise software and running some of the world’s largest online services to create a robust set of security technologies and practices. This means that Azure infrastructure is resilient to attack, safeguards user access to the Azure environment and keeps customer data secure via encrypted communications, threat management and mitigation practices that include regular penetration testing.With Azure, businesses can take advantage of flexible costing with the pay-as-you-go/opex model that allows payment on a monthly basis instead of making a very large one-off investment on infrastructure. The model is ideal for any type of business, be it a small start-up or a large conglomerate, with the daily investment required to back-up 1TB of data amounting to around a mere Rs. 270. Businesses can also meet compliance needs such as ISO that requires data stores external to company premises. Azure offers offsite storage, zero maintenance costs, and easily retrievable data. Data belongs to the company fully, and will not be mined for research or advertising purposes.  In addition to setting up and maintaining the system, H ONE also provides training for businesses on harnessing the best of Azure for their needs. Call H ONE’s Cloud Team on +94 773 128 091 for more details on how your business can protect data and cut down on operational costs with Microsoft Azure. After all, it just makes sense to shield and strengthen the backbone of your business from within.

About H ONE: Since its inception as the IT arm of the Hirdaramani Group in 2008, H ONE has made a name for itself with industry tested and proven cloud solutions expertise. H ONE is the Microsoft Country Partner of the Year for Sri Lanka, 2016. It is also Sri Lanka’s Best Enterprise Partner (LAR), 2016, serving the largest number of Enterprise Agreement customers. The company is well known for successes on complex cloud migration projects for clients including John Keells Holdings, MAS Holdings, Softlogic Holdings and The Capital Maharaja Organisation. H ONE has solution presence in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.

Photo caption: (Above) H One CEO Samath Fernando 

H One customers and partners join them in bidding farewell to tape backup and usher in cloud based solutions

The holiday season has arrived. As adults, we are all excited about taking a much needed break from work. With friends and family flying in from around the world, everyone’s making plans for year-end dinners and 31^st night parties. To kids, it is that time of the year when they tear through countless presents and discover new toys.

Having experienced this joy in our own childhood days, we are very aware of the excitement of receiving a cool new toy. And today, as parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, we try to relive these moments with the kids in our lives. We scour through the isles in search of that one perfect toy that we believe is sure to bring a smile to their face.

However, finding the right toy for the right kid is a tricky task. In the mad rush of our daily lives, we often tend to overlook certain details. Minor details that may end up putting kids in harm’s way.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys this holiday season:

1. Go for toys that can stimulate the child’s mind and help in their cognitive development. This includes toys such as jigsaw puzzles, LEGO sets, etc.
2. Glued to their digital gaming platforms, kids are less interested in physical, indoor and outdoor active play experiences that are important for their development. So try and encourage them to get active with toys like balls, hula hoops, ride on bikes and cars, etc. or to head outdoors with beach sets, gardening kits, etc.
3. Check the sturdiness of the toy to see if it can withstand impact and day to day wear and tear as the kid would be heartbroken to see the toy break apart within the first few days.
4. Always play attention to the age and skill level recommendations, safety warnings, etc. from the toy’s manufacturer which are often displayed prominently on the packing.
5. Make sure that no toxic materials such as lead based paints and coatings which could cause poisoning were used. Lookout for “nontoxic” certifications and labels.
6. Inspect toys for sharp edges and pointed surfaces which could cause cuts or stabs. Some stuffed toys too have hidden metal wires to support them which are equally dangerous.
7. Take special care when buying toys for infants and toddlers. We all know that they often put things into their mouths to explore them. Toys with small, removable parts could get caught in the child’s throat and pose a serious choking hazard.
8. Avoid toys with small magnets and ensure that batteries, if any, are secured within the toy. If swallowed, they could cause serious injuries.
9. Make sure that any strings, cords and wires attached to the toy are short as children can get strangled by them.
10. These are the some of the guidelines that established toy brands too take into consideration when designing their products. Brands that made playtime all the more fun during our childhood days. Being sold in several countries around the world, they come under tough scrutiny, especially in some of the more developed markets. Hence, they diligently adhere to the stringent safety and quality standards prescribed in these countries. And this tends to make them a safer choice for the kids in our lives too.

So, let’s head out and pick the perfect toys that are both fun and safe. Hope you have a fun filled holiday season with your loved ones.

P.S. – Do remember to dispose plastic bags and packaging material safely as they can lead to suffocation and are also bad for the environment.

Kaspersky Lab has presented the new version of its flagship security solution Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 with Multi Device protection, which provide users with additional opportunities to manage their Internet protection and to ensure their data safety.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 Multi Device security solution is for the whole family; they protect Windows, Mac, and Android users against malware, dangerous sites, online tracking, fraud and money theft.

This year Kaspersky Lab products for Windows have integrated several new functions including new features wherein, users can patch potential “holes” in their device security with Software Updater and Software Cleaner.

Mr. Altaf Halde, Managing Director – South Asia, Kaspersky Lab said “Sri Lanka is growing at a fast pace in the digital world and so it needs digital security. At Kaspersky Lab we strive to protect everything of value to our users from cybercriminals, hackers and malware writers. People are now more conscious about security and they are careful with their digital assets; we believe that our new product line will ensure that our users enjoy their computing experience. The new product line has become more powerful and has been further enhanced to ensure users’ privacy and security.”

On the eve of the press launch the Board Directors of Avian Technologies – Ranil Francisco and Buddhika Liyanage said “Avian Technologies’ alliance with Kaspersky Lab runs back to almost a decade, a partnership which has ensured latest IT Security solutions to the rapidly growing ICT industry in Sri Lanka. We are proud to be launching the Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 version with Multi Device Security protection. Having established itself over 10 years ago, with the goal to maintain the most robust, reliable services and solutions for the industry, Avian Technologies stands as the leader of the IT Security industries of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Avian Technologies is the only technology company to have a 24/7 hotline for professional sales and technical support in Sri Lanka, and a wide distribution network with over 300 re-sellers island wide.”

The two new functions included in the latest version are the Software Updater and Software Cleaner, both developed to ensure protection and speed in the devices.

One of the common methods of malware penetrating the computer is the use of errors (so-called vulnerabilities) in the programs installed on it. Developers regularly update their products, however not all users regularly update these on their devices. Software Updater can automatically find the applications that need to be updated and, if the user agrees, install the latest versions from vendor sites on their computer. The user can also request the update of an application manually or add any of them to the list of applications that should not be updated (for example, if the older version is required).

According to the Kaspersky Lab study, 37% of users store programs that they do not use on their device. In addition to the fact that this overloads the device memory, it also provides extra opportunities for cybercriminals to penetrate the system. Software Cleaner scans all applications installed on the computer and marks those posing potential risk. Users sometimes do not even know about these applications being installed on their devices or are unaware of their negative effects.

Software Cleaner will inform users of a program if it has been installed without their awareness or clear consent (for example, as additional software during the installation of another application), or if it slows down the user’s device, provides incomplete/incorrect information about its functions, operates in the background mode, shows banners and messages without permission (e.g., advertising), or is rarely used. Upon receipt of a report from Software Cleaner, the user can either remove or leave the application in question.

In addition to the new functions, Kaspersky 2017 Multi Device have been enhanced with improved advanced technologies such as the multi-level protection of financial transactions (with Safe Money), the prevention of the installation of unwanted applications (with Application Manager, part of the former Change Control feature) and the blocking of advertising banners in the browser (with Anti-Banner).

About Avian Technologies: Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, a Subsidiary Company of Avian Group represents Kaspersky Lab products as the exclusive distributor for Sri Lanka and the Maldives for the past ten years offering uncompromised and unmatched post sales and pre-sales, marketing and technical support. Kaspersky is the leading Anti-Virus product in retail & corporate sectors in both countries.

About Kaspersky Lab: Kaspersky Lab is a global cyber security company founded in 1997. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com

Photo caption: (Above – from left) Mr. Eranga Dissanayake – Technical Manager – Kaspersky; Mr. Ranil Francisco – Director – Avian Group of companies; Mr. Derrick Ferdinandus – General Manager – Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd; Mrs. Hemamali Balasooriya – AGM -  Finance – Avian Group of Companies

Kaspersky Internet Security Multi Device 2017 – Press Launch

Official handing over of the new version of Kaspersky Internet Security with Multi Device Protection for the Dealers

Kaspersky Internet Security Multi Device 2017 version is officially launched in Sri Lanka & Maldives

Mr. Ranil Francisco, Director of Avian Group of Companies addressing the guests

~ Nehemiah Consultants Partners with Block3 Creative

Nehemiah Consultants, one of the fastest growing public relations agencies in the country recently entered in to a partnership with Block3 Creative, a dynamic young digital media agency to enhance their portfolio of services. The agreement was signed between Founder/Managing Director of Nehemiah Consultants Sanura Gunawardana and Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Block3 Creative Inzamam Hassim.

Speaking on the agreement Sanura Gunawardana noted, “Digital marketing is creating such a phenomenal paradigm shift globally and Sri Lanka being such a tech-savvy nation needs to embrace this change. Companies and brands are also becoming increasingly aware of the importance of digital presence and visibility across all social and mobile media. This partnership opens up opportunities for our clients to explore new avenues of getting their message across”.

Also commenting on the partnership Inzamam Hassim said, “We are indeed glad to be on board with Nehemiah to strategize and execute complete marketing solutions for clients and look forward to drawing up comprehensive marketing plans.”

Under the new partnership Block3 will act as Nehemiah Consultant’s Digital Media arm and will extend services such as responsive web development, complete brand design, business/enterprise email solutions, social media management and marketing automation to all of Nehemiah Consultant’s existing and new clients.

Block3 consists of Inzamam and Shiva Balachandran as the Founding Partners.

The partnership is also unique in terms of the stories behind the two start-ups who both began as inspired ideas, with zero capital investment and have come a long way in the industry in a short period of time.

For more information on the extended list of services please contact Marketing Manager at Nehemiah Consultants Sharon Kelly on 0767 055661.

Photo caption: (Above) Inzamam Hassim & Sanura Guanwardana

(From left) Inzamam, Sanura & Sharon

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) recently organised its annual Inter Sport Triangular, at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. This annual event brings together many corporates to compete for top honours in Cricket, Netball and Badminton.  Mrs Laura Davies, the Deputy British High Commissioner graced the event.

This year’s event saw Commercial Bank walk away with top honours for Netball, HSBC winning the Badminton and RR Donnelley winning the Cricket tournament. Runners-up in each event were MAS Active Shadeline, MAS Active Linea Intimo and HSBC respectively.

Speaking on the event and the teacher training project it benefits, Committee Chairperson, Michael Koest explained, “All proceeds from the day go towards financing the CBB’s English Language Teacher Training Project, which is managed by The British Council in collaboration with the National Institute of Education and the Ministry of Education.  The project has been built up and refined over a number of years and its primary objective is to upgrade the English language skills of pupils in schools throughout Sri Lanka. This is achieved by building the capacity of local English teachers so that they deliver lessons that are more effective. By the end of 2015 the project completed training close to 1886 teachers which in turn has had an impact on more than 238,000 students island-wide covering the North, East and also the South of Sri Lanka.”

The event was supported by MAS Holdings who came in as the principal sponsor, with Hilton Colombo Residences and Finlays as Silver Sponsors and E FM as the Media Sponsor.

Photo caption: (Above) Winner of the CBB Cricket Sixes 2016 – RR Donnelley

CBB Committee Members with Cricket Sub-Committee

Mrs Laura Davies, Deputy British High Commissioner congratulating the participants

Participants at the venue

15 year old Vinod Weerasinghe of British School Colombo played brilliant golf on the last day to catch up four shots under tremendous pressure to take the coveted national title at the Sri Lanka Junior Open Golf Championship 2016, concluded at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. He shot 78, 79, and 74 over the three rounds, playing 18 over par. Armand Flamer Caldera pipped Taniya Balasuriya on the last day score of gross 78, playing 22 over par over the three rounds to be runner – up. Taniya who was the overnight leader had to settle for third place in the age group category 15 – 17 years (Gold Division) with same 22 over par total score of 235 but losing on the last days card.

In the Silver Division (age group category 12 – 14 years) playing 18 holes, Kayla Perera proved her class by winning the division by 18 shots over her closest rival with an aggregate score of 240. Dilshan Malinda took second place with aggregate gross score of 258, closely followed by Dhuwarshan on total gross score of 259. The fourth place went to Mahisha Hirushan with aggregate score of 263.  We are likely to see the progress of Kayla in the coming years with the maturity as a fine girl golfer.

The Bronze Division (age group category 10 – 11 years) playing 14 holes we saw Yannik Kumara outclass Nirekh Tejwani to take a comfortable win by six shots with total score of 182.  Nirekh Tejwani totaled 188 after three rounds. Followed by Sherin Balasuriya on total aggregate gross score of 200 and in fourth place K. Danushan on 202. We saw much competition in this category on the final day and these juniors show much promise for national representation in the years ahead.

The event was conducted by the Sri Lanka Golf Union, the national body for golf in Sri Lanka and sponsored by Prima Sunrise Bread. Mr. Shun Tien Shing – General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries promotors of Prima Sunrise Bread gave away the main awards. The age group category prizes were given by Mr. Sajith Gunaratne – Senior Business Manager & Marketing Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Prima Group, Mr. Priath Fernando – President of The Sri Lanka Golf Union, Mr. Johny De Saram – Vice President, Sri Lanka Golf Union and Mr.Premal Wijenayake – Captain of the Royal Colombo Golf.

Results:

Gold Division (Age Group 15 – 17yrs)

Vinod Weerasinghe         231

Armand Flamer Caldera 235 L/B/C

Taniya Balasuriya       235

M. Hiruna                     247

Silver Division (Age Group 12 – 14yrs)

Kayla Perera                240

Dilshan Malinda            258

Dhuwarshan                 259

Mahisha Hirushan         263

Bronze Division (Age Group 10 – 11yrs)

Yannik Kumara            182

Nirekh Tejwani 188

Sherin Balasuriya          200

K. Danushan                202

Copper Division (Age Group 09 & under)

Shanal Binuksha           95

Kvahn Tejwani             96

Musa Shariff                 107

T. Deshan                     108

Shean Markus              112

Photo caption: (Above from left) Sajith Gunaratne (Senior Marketing & Senior Business Manager, Ceylon Agro Industries Prima Group), Premal Wijenayake (Captain Royal Colombo Golf Club), Mr. Shung Tien Shing (General Manager – Ceylon Agro Industries), winners, Niloo Jayatilake (Chairperson, Junior Sub Committee) and Priath Fernando (President Sri Lanka Golf Union)

Kids – (from left) Armand Flamer Caldera, Vinod Weerasinghe, Kayla Perera, Yannik Kumara, Shanal Binuksha

The Body Shop in Sri Lanka introduced its all new Vitamin E formula with 48 hour moisture for thirsty skin last month. This lightweight, long lasting moisturizing product harnesses the antioxidant power of wheatgerm oil, muscling up with intense moisture from 100% natural origin hyaluronic acid for a formula that will keep skin feeling fresh and silky smooth all day.

The iconic Body Shop Vitamin E skincare range is the cornerstone of anti-oxidant protection and intense hydration for the skin, with women around the world using these products to protect and moisturize their skin. In a survey conducted by The Body Shop, 108 women used the new products and agreed that it left their skin feeling soft, supple and protected. 93% of users agreed that their skin felt non-sticky, 95% found no white finish and 91% were very happy with the intense moisturizing properties of the formula.

The newly improved Vitamin E range simply enhances the strength of favourites such as the best-selling Moisture Cream by infusing 100% natural origin hyaluronic acid to the formula alongside the anti-oxidant power of wheatgerm oil. Wheatgerm oil is one of nature’s richest sources of antioxidants and helps to protect the skin from moisture loss and environmental damage such as free radicals. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body and acts as a moisture magnet trapping up to 100 times its own weight in moisture. The Body Shop Vitamin E range uses a version of hyaluronic acid derived by bio-fermenting it with wheat, which is usually a by-product that would go to waste-thus reaffirming its commitment to the planet and the brand promise to “Enrich not Exploit”.

The new and improved Vitamin E range offers a complete moisture-locking routine according to skin type and needs. For daily needs choose from the 48 hour lightweight Moisture Cream, Aqua Boost Sorbet with fresh mattifying moisture or the 72 hour Intense Moisture Cream for rich non-greasy moisture. The brand new 48 hour moisture protection emulsion comes with SPF 30 PA +++ sunscreen protection. For targeted moisture, use the Body Shop 48 hour eye cream, and nourishing night cream for overnight replenishment. The new, improved range of Vitamin E products even works effortlessly under makeup.

In Sri Lanka, the Vitamin E range is available at The Body Shop store on Bagatale Road and at Odel, Alexandra Place.

About The Body Shop: The Body Shop is an iconic British retailer of ethical cosmetics and toiletries. It was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976 with the belief that businesses should ‘enrich, not exploit’. A philosophy of creating the best quality cosmetics and toiletries without exploiting the planet’s resources or people has driven the brand, which pursued sustainability and ethical business long before it became fashionable.

Photo caption: (Above) Vitamin E Aquaboost Sorbet (left) and Vitamin E Refreshing Eyes Cube

Vitamin E Hydrating Body Lotion, Vitamin E Eye Cream and Vitamin E Moisture Protect Emulsion