Two teams representing the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) were placed as the winner and the runner up under the ‘Special Category’ at the ‘Great HR Quiz’ organized by the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM). 2016 marks the second occasion a team representing the CSE has excelled in the competition following a win in the Special Category in 2015.

The ‘Great HR Quiz’ was organized for the third consecutive year and attracted the participation of 53 corporates from around the country and the South Asian region. The quiz offered a unique opportunity for private and public sector employees to showcase knowledge and an understanding on the field of human resource management and beyond.

Conducted as a team based event, the quiz saw the participation of organizations categorized under Banking/Finance/Insurance, IT/Software/Telecom/BPO, Travel & Hospitality/Leisure, Apparel & Textile, Manufacturing/FMCG, Food & Beverage along with an additional Special category, through which the CSE was granted the opportunity to compete.

The two teams submitted by the CSE performed remarkably well to win the Special Category and were placed 5^th and 8^th in the overall competition. The competition format included two rounds on Human Resource Management followed by further rounds on Organizational Behavior, Current affairs, Sports and a final round on Contemporary Human Resources Management.

The CSE Teams were represented by Kusal Nissanka, Nishantha Hewavithana, Kaushal Siriwardena, Nadeera Athukorale, Ruchira Jayasinghe, Dulani Warnakulasooriya, Ashan Thareendra, Arfath Saleem, Nushara Fonseka and Maleesha De Silva.

Photo caption: (From left) Nushara Fonseka, Dulani Warnakulasooriya, Arfath Saleem, Ashan Thareendra, Kusal Nissanka, Ajith Bopitiya Treasurer IPM, Ruchira Jayasinghe, Maleesha De Silva, Kaushal Siriwardena, Nishantha Hewavithana and Nadeera Athukorale

About CSE: The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) operates the only stock market in Sri Lanka and is responsible for providing a transparent and regulated environment where companies and investors can come together. The CSE is a company that is limited by guarantee established under the Laws of Sri Lanka. The CSE is licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and is a mutual exchange consisting of 15 Members and 20 Trading Members. All Members and Trading Members are licensed by the SEC to operate as Stockbrokers. For more information, please visit: www.cse.lk

A leading architect and two young architecture students from Sri Lanka attended this year’s World Architecture Festival in Berlin. They were selected by AkzoNobel Paints Lanka to attend the festival’s programmes and meet the world’s top architects; all amidst the rich architectural heritage of Berlin.

The three participants were chosen by AkzoNobel Paints based on promise cemented via accreditation in the field. Damith Premathilaka was recognized as the Best Young Architect of 2016 by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, whilst Maas Imad Asmone Faiham and K.D.R.S. De Silva both topped their batches at their schools; the Colombo School of Architecture and University of Moratuwa respectively.

These bright students were chosen for the incredible aptitude they have displayed, as well as their commitment to the discipline, said AkzoNobel Paints Lanka Mr. Gerald de Saram, Managing Director, AkzoNobel Paints Lanka. “We strongly believe in Sri Lanka’s young crop of talent. They have a very rigorous and focussed work ethic and that’s something we embrace at AkzoNobel, so we try to create opportunities to nurture this talent.”

The young architect and students travelled to Germany for the festival at Arena Berlin. The World Architecture Festival draws in over 2500 architects, and offers live award critique by a panel of 100 judges for 411 shortlisted projects. 58 countries are represented at this festival; these architects have access to over 50 lectures and seminars, curated tours and networking opportunities. Everything happens in the historic city of Berlin- a melting pot of culture, design and history.

Architect Damith Premathilaka heads his own practice based from Kotte, and has been awarded several accolades for his work from the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects. Mr Premathilaka has also won the World Architecture Community Awards twice. Sharing his experiences at the festival, he said “It was a good opportunity to meet other architects from around the world and to connect with those that I hope to work with in the future. I’m grateful to AkzoNobel for facilitating the journey and handling all the logistics with such efficiency-all we had to focus on was the festival experience.”

The two young students, Maas Imad Asmone Faiham and K.D.R.S. De Silva, attended several lectures and workshops conducted by renowned architects. “It was a surreal experience to be surrounded by all these well-known names in the architecture world,” shared De Silva. “I’ll definitely remember everything we learnt during this festival, and apply it to my work at CSA while I complete my degree. It expands our perspective and helps us make a real impact as an architect in Sri Lanka,” added Faiham.

About AkzoNobel Paints: AkzoNobel Paints is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals.   Its ‘Dulux’ brand is a household name in Sri Lanka, with over a hundred of local staff members.

Photo caption (from left): K.D.R.S. De Silva (Best student of the year 2016 – University of Moratuwa), Maas Imad Asmone Faiham (Best student of the year 2016 – CSA), and Damith Premathilaka (Best young architect 2016 – SLIA)

CAKE LABS recently announced that its parent company Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY) will move forward with plans to setup a technology innovation center in Sri Lanka. The announcement follows a recent visit to Sri Lanka by Sysco leadership comprising of Wayne Shurts – Executive Vice President and CTO, Brian Beach – President of Sysco Ventures and Wesley Story – Vice President of Sales and Marketing Technology.

In the course of their visit the Sysco executives were able to witness first-hand the skills and capabilities of the CAKE LABS teams responsible for engineering the CAKE technology platform which is distributed throughout the U.S. The decision to launch the innovation center came about as a result of the engineering expertise resident within CAKE LABS which has made the company a technology powerhouse in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Sysco aims to leverage CAKE LABS’s proven ability to hire highly skilled resources that can form the nucleus of a world class entity that will undertake the next generation of Sysco’s innovation projects. The Sysco Innovations team in Sri Lanka will also be supported by an on-site team of Product Managers and Architects located out of Austin, Texas.

Commenting further on the announcement Shanil Fernando, SVP of Engineering for CAKE LABS said, “The launch of the Sysco Innovation Center is a true testament to the amazing work that has been done by the team and it speaks volumes of the capabilities of Sri Lanka. I am very proud that a Fortune 100 company which has partners around the world chose to do this in Sri Lanka. This is a substantial achievement for the industry and country.”

Sysco’s distribution network is far reaching, from suppliers, to restaurant operators, to consumers. CAKE LABS is already developing technology that is revolutionizing the way restaurants and consumers interact in that value chain.

Wayne Shurts, EVP and CTO of Sysco commented, “We were delighted to see the potential that the CAKE LABS team had to offer; the quality of the engineering talent we saw was very impressive. We hope to further increase our focus on innovation in the coming years and CAKE LABS will be a key asset to us in this journey.”

CAKE LABS has already commenced the build-out of a new state of the art facility and the operation is set to commence before the end of 2016. The new center will initially house 80 persons and is estimated to scale further in 2017.

About CAKE LABS: Technological disrupter CAKE LABS, is the engineering arm of CAKE Corporation which is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with operations teams in Austin and Houston, TX. CAKE is an associate company of Sysco (NYSE: SYY) – a leading global foodservice company and engineers a technology platform for the global restaurant industry. Known across the corporate sphere for its employee-centric practices and disruptive culture, CAKE LABS has established itself as one of the leading technology companies in Sri Lanka.

About Sysco: Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 198 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For fiscal year 2016 that ended July 2, 2016, the company generated sales of more than $50 billion. Subsequent to fiscal year 2016, the company completed the acquisition of the Brakes Group, a leading European foodservice distributor with operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Sweden, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Photo caption: (Above – from Left: RasikaKarunatilake (General Manager & VP – Shared Services – CAKE LABS), Wesley Story (VP DevOps / Enterprise Technology Services – Sysco), Jim O’ Connor (SVP Product & Customer Engagement – CAKE LABS), Wayne Shurts (‎Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer – Sysco), Brian Beach (Senior Vice President – Sysco), Shanil Fernando (Managing Director & SVP – Engineering – CAKE LABS) and ChathuraRatnayake (VP – Operations – CAKE LABS)

A member of the CAKE LABS team demonstrates the CAKE Platform and new innovations in the pipeline to the Sysco Team during their visit

Casio wrist watches are world renowned as iconic timepieces which offer reliability and style for users worldwide. However, a problem faced by Casio watch lovers in many countries is buying a genuine watch in a market flooded by fakes. Understanding this need of the customer, Blink International (Pvt) Ltd., Official Distributer for Casio watches and related accessories in Sri Lanka, has now presented the widest range of Casio watches available in the market to the Sri Lankan customer.

The Casio range of watches are now available at 15 locations including Cool Planet, ABBA, Nastars and Haamaa in Negombo and will hopefully expand to another 50 locations island wide by July 2017.

The extensive range of Casio watches distributed by the company includes the internationally popular G-Shock, Edifice, Sheen, Protrek, Enticer and Youth brands. To complement the reliable performance of Casio watches with a matching after-sales support, Blink International has taken steps to open a Casio Authorized Wrist Watch Service Center at Galle Face by mid February 2017.

Mohamed Mansoor Director at Blink International emphasized that customers should exercise caution when purchasing Casio watches in the market to avoid being duped by fakes.   They should insist on the green warranty card duly signed and sealed by the dealer.  As a further precautionary measure, they can also log onto the Casio international website http://www.casio-intl.com/lk/en/support/sales/wat/  to verify the list of official retailers.  If the retailer’s name is not on the website, then there is a possibility that they are selling fakes.

Blink International (Pvt) Ltd., the official distributer and importer of genuine Casio watches, is a fully owned subsidiary company of Rainco (Pvt) Ltd, the leading manufacturer of   quality Umbrellas, Mosquito Nets and Rainwear in Sri Lanka. The company was formed by a group of passionate watch enthusiasts to cater to the fast growing segment of price conscious watch wearers who want a stylish and reliable watch at a price affordable to them. More details about the exciting range of Casio Watches can be obtained by visiting their website www.blink.lk or calling the hotline 0766292292

The Audiology Centre of Durdans Hospital – one of the leading private healthcare providers in Sri Lanka – is the only state of the art facility in Colombo providing excellent auditory and speech screening services to patients.

Durdans Audiology Centre offers auditory, speech screening and therapy, providing quality service to patients, a majority of whom are children. It is important to note that it is the only centre approved by the Civil Aviation Authority for auditory and speech screening for the National Airline.

Durdans Hospital has been in the forefront in introducing cutting edge technology over the years and the audiology centre provides vital support for surgical procedures such as cochlear transplants, which require pre and post-operative therapy.

According to the audiologists at the centre, the preparatory and follow up treatments are crucial for the success of procedures, as speech therapy and training is essential. Patients with hearing impairment require assistance to start speaking, and speech therapy and training becomes crucial.

The centre which is staffed by audiologists, speech language therapists who are specialists in the field offers hearing tests and high-quality digital hearing aid services, as well as a range of other services dedicated to helping adults with their hearing, balance and tinnitus.

The Audiology Centre conducts hearing tests, the standard Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test which is done to establish the degree of hearing loss in a person, the Tympanometry test done to identify the problems in the middle ear, the Otoacoustic Emission test (OAE) for screening of patients for issues in the inner ear, and Auditory Brainstem Response test (ABR) for testing hearing sensitivity.

These tests cover areas such as audio-logical testing, balance/vestibular testing, cochlear implants, custom ear protectors, electro-acoustic assessments of hearing aids, hearing aid evaluation, hearing and balance disorders, immittance testing, implantable hearing aids, infant hearing screening programmes and pediatric audio-logical testing

Regular hearing checks should be part of everyone’s healthcare plan and the centre encourages people to take action on hearing loss as soon as the person notices a problem, because the longer you delay, the worse the condition could become.

Over the years Durdans Hospital has invested significantly to ensure that its clinics have the very latest internationally-accepted technology available. Durdans Hospital can be contacted on Short Code 1344 or hotline 0112140000.

Hameedia has brought its special kind of magic and its unique brand of clothing to its thousands of customers in and around Pelawatte with the recent opening of the Hameedia Showroom at No. 486, Pannipitiya Road, Talangama South, Pelawatte.

This store also goes on record as being Hameedia’s first ever purpose built eco-friendly outlet and has a whole range of environment-friendly features. Its solar power net metering system has modern LED light fittings and harnesses sunlight to a great extent. In addition, a system of rainwater harvesting has been put into place while bio-degradable bags are being used instead of polythene bags.

“We’re happy to be part of the national effort to help save the environment. It gives us a deep sense of accountability and fulfillment both to ourselves and to Sri Lanka, as a responsible corporate citizen”, said Managing Director Fouzul Hameed said.

Two key processes are also in operation at the new store in Pelawatte. There’s a 3R Implementation (reduce, reuse, and recycle) with the garbage disposal system and also the 5S system (sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain. “These processes will greatly minimise waste and optimise productivity” Hameed said, adding that while the usage of power and water will be minimised, paperless operations (e-business) are also in place.

Enjoying a strategic location on the main Pelawatte-Pannipitiya arterial highway, the 4300+ square metre store is spread over three floors. Open from 10 am to 8pm, it displays the latest collection of Hameedia’s brands such as Le Bond, Envoy and FH with casual wear and formal wear, sports apparel, footwear and accessories, and caters to a rapidly growing and discerning clientele.

“Hameedia already enjoys top billing as the most popular and leading menswear specialist with exclusive branded stores strategically located around the country. Being the first to introduce the Mega Showroom Fashion Store concept to Nugegoda, Pettah, Wattala, Kurunegala, Negombo and Kandy in particular, we’re now proud to bring world class products to hundreds of existing and new customers in and around Pelawatte”, Hameed added.

Commanding a large island-wide presence, Hameedia’s Flagship Store is at Wellawatte. It is also present at Ja-Ela, Kandy, Kiribathgoda, Kurunegala, Kandy City Centre, Main Street Pettah, Majestic City, Negombo, Nugegoda, Rajagiriya, Ratnapura, Wattala, at the BIA Transit Lounge, Crescat Boulevard and the World Trade Centre. Hameedia is also present overseas in the Maldives, Envoy Australia and Envoy Seychelles.

Hameedia is today the benchmark for menswear in Sri Lanka and a much emulated trendsetter. Over the past half a century, the brand has been able to build a reputation of quality and a tradition of excellence in service. “As a household name in Sri Lanka for both men’s designer ready-made clothing, Made-to-Measure and also Bespoke Tailoring, customer expectations are very high. We’re committed to give every visitor to our showrooms, an experience he will relish for a long time. Indeed many Sri Lankan men of distinction and repute are clothed by Hameedia today”, Hameed said.

Hameedia also has affiliations with leading international brands such as Raymond, Lee, and adidas thus enabling it to widen its offering from ready-made and casual to formal wear to its thousands of Sri Lankan customers.

With this new mega store, Hameedia now opens a whole new range of opportunities to hundreds of new customers in areas around Pelawatte such as Malabe. Hokandara, Talangama, Battaramulla, Madiwela. Kaduwela, Koswatte etc.

“These are fast developing areas. It is a known fact that there are also a lot of high spending Sri Lankans and expatriates living in these areas. The new Hameedia Store affords them the opportunity of shopping at leisure without having to go all the way to Colombo”, Hameed concluded.

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry, established in 2015, held its second Annual General Meeting on Friday, the 9^th of December 2016. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, the Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and the Guest of Honour, the Chairman of the National Medicines Drug Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Professor Asitha De Silva. The event was attended by the key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, National Medicines Drug Regulatory Authority, State Pharmaceutical Corporation, and Biomedical Engineering Services.

Speaking at the AGM President Mr T. Sayandhan of SLCMDI said, “The Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry is a regulated, equal opportunity and ethical industry that pursues to create lasting solutions for the healthcare needs of the nation”.

Drifting away from the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry (SLCMDI) was formed with the intention of specifically representing the fast-growing innovative industry of medical devices and equipment and addressing their own issues. Now functioning with 40 members, with the potential of 70 member in the industry the chamber focuses on earning and maintaining the trust and loyalty of the specialist, officials & regulators, patients, members and society at large by appointing four subcommittees, namely Regulatory, Suppliers, Membership and PR subcommittee which committees achieved its planned milestones in the year 2016.

Mastercard and Uber announced their partnership to reward cardholders in Sri Lanka with free Uber rides for payments made using their Mastercard credit cards on the Uber app. New users signing up for the Uber App for the first time will be awarded two free rides (of up to LKR 250 each) when they register their Mastercard credit card as the preferred payment option on the app and choose to pay using it.

Every fourth ride (up to LKR 500 each) will be free for all new & existing Uber users when they pay for all the four rides using their Mastercard credit card. This offer will be valid now till 28^th February 2017.

“We have received an incredible response from our riders since our launch in Colombo last year. At Uber, we have always appreciated the convenience and security offered by electronic payment options such as credit cards which have been a key element of our service, right from our inception. Promotions such as these give riders yet another reason to choose to adopt electronic payments. We are delighted to reward them with free rides in partnership with Mastercard,” said Bhavik Rathod, General Manager, Uber Sri Lanka.

Mr. R.B. Santosh Kumar, Country Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard said, “Around the world, Mastercard actively seeks to promote the benefits offered by electronic payment solutions. Our partnership with Uber in Sri Lanka is yet another step in this direction. Acknowledging our customers for their continued loyalty, we seek to reward them for every transaction they make through our world-class, secure payment solutions. We will continue to work with partners on rolling out more benefits and privileges that are aligned to their evolving lifestyles.”

About Mastercard: Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MastercardAP and @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

About Uber: Uber’s mission is to make transportation as reliable as running water—everywhere, for everyone. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? Six years and more than two billion trips later, we’ve started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in our cities by getting more people into fewer cars.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., – VirtusaPolaris, the market-facing brand of Virtusa Corporation and Polaris Consulting & Services, Ltd., and a leading worldwide provider of information technology (IT) consulting and outsourcing services, announced that both Virtusa Corporation and Polaris Consulting & Services have been recognized by American Banker and BAI as members of the 2016 FinTech Forward 100 list of the leading technology providers in the world. Virtusa Corporation was ranked at 49 and Polaris Consulting & Services were positioned at 47. The FinTech Forward 100 list is based on 2015 calendar year revenues attributed to financial institutions. On March 3, 2016 Virtusa Corporation acquired a majority interest in Polaris Consulting & Services Limited.

“As technological advances continue to reshape customer experiences and operations of the banking and financial services industry, banks and financial institutions are committing to innovation and digital transformation,” said Samir Dhir, president – Banking & Financial Services, VirtusaPolaris. “This recognition reflects our continued dedication to providing our global banking clients and their customers with compelling digital experiences, while also realizing new cost efficiencies and synergies.”

With over 25 years of experience serving top financial companies, VirtusaPolaris has delivered successful solutions that have enabled several global banks, top brokerage firms, and card and payment providers to deliver personalized service to their customers. Through its industry-leading business consulting capabilities, cutting edge solutions, and transformational technology expertise, VirtusaPolaris works with banks and financial services firms to leverage digital disruption to reinvent and transform businesses, expand their addressable market and increase revenues. With the recent set up of a world class FinTech Lab, VirtusaPolaris is enabling banks to accelerate at business innovation as well.

“Financial services companies are increasingly turning to vendors to augment legacy technology, better understand data and provide customers with products that hold up across the digital universe,” said Robert Barba, technology editor of American Banker. “The companies we recognize as members of the FinTech Forward rankings are giving banks the tools they need to handle the challenges and opportunities they face.”

FinTech Forward, now in its 13^th year, provides a comprehensive and forward-looking view of the strategic imperatives driving bank technology, both from the vendor and the user perspectives. The program draws on the two organizations’ deep industry expertise, market-leading proprietary research, and strength in live events to produce actionable content for decision makers.

BAI’s Chief Marketing Officer and Companies to Watch Judge, Holly Hughes, said, “This year’s Companies to Watch are driving positive change within the industry. These organizations provide financial services leaders with powerful tools to better serve their customers.”

About VirtusaPolaris: VirtusaPolaris, the market-facing brand reflecting the combined strengths of Virtusa Corporation and Polaris Consulting & Services, Ltd. is a global provider of information technology (IT) consulting and outsourcing services that accelerate business outcomes for Global 2000 companies and leading software vendors in banking and financial services, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, technology, media and entertainment.

VirtusaPolaris’ solutions address the CXOs’ dual challenge of growing revenues while improving IT cost efficiencies. VirtusaPolaris’ digital services leverage innovative new technologies to reimagine the customer experience, increasing retention and creating lasting value. VirtusaPolaris’ preemptive outsourcing solutions help clients reduce risk and improve IT operations.

VirtusaPolaris delivers services across the IT lifecycle, including consulting, solution design, technology selection, implementation, testing and maintenance & support, including infrastructure support. Inheriting a strong heritage in software engineering, VirtusaPolaris is highly qualified to both develop and maintain software, using a proven platforming methodology and advanced Agile and Accelerated Solution Design techniques to reliably produce results on time and within budget.

Holding a record of success across industries and unparalleled domain expertise, VirtusaPolaris understands clients’ business challenges best and uses that to deliver distinctive, differentiated and innovative application of technology to solve those problems. Examples of large business transformations completed include the world’s largest P&C claims modernization program, one of the largest corporate customer portals for a premier global bank, an order to cash implementation for a multinational telecommunications provider, and digital transformations for media and banking companies.

Virtusa Corporation is headquartered in Massachusetts, and together with Polaris, has 50 offices across North America, Europe and Asia.

Polaris Consulting & Services is a subsidiary of Virtusa Corporation. Copyright © 2016 Virtusa Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re a music enthusiast living in Colombo who loves to support local talent, the name Kingdom Life will definitely ring a bell. The band has gained much popularity in a short span of time around the country since their extraordinary performance and victory at TNL Onstage 2016 held a few months back. The band swept the floor winning five awards at the competition including the coveted award for “Best band”. It was also the first time in the history of Onstage that a single band walked away with all the awards on offer.

Following suit on their success, Kingdom Life launched their debut album titled “Not About Religion” at a launch concert held on Friday 9^th December 2016. Attended by fans, family and well-wishers the launch also featured guest performances by Mayanthi De Silva, Dilrukshan, The Disciples and Street Magician Orlando.

Based on their collective faith in God and driven to create a culture of creating music that is about a relationship and inspiration of the love they possess for Jesus, the album titled “Not About Religion” features 9 tracks of different genres. The album consists of songs titled “Free Falling, Messiah, Not About Religion, In His Name, Wildfire, I Believe In Miracles, Eagle, Christ Victorious and My Everything.” It is available for download on iTunes.

The urban spiritual band consists of Gloria, Avishka, Gayan and Subodha on vocals, Thilanka on the keyboard, Dexter on bass, Previn on drums and Sheahan on lead. Subodha acts as the manager of the young band and was also the one who received the vision to write the first lyrics and create the band. Subodha’s involvement in the music industry started years back as a part of a local hip hop group known as Brown Boogie Nation. As for the other members of the band, they were involved in bands and church worship teams which enhanced their passion towards creating music throughout the years.

For more information on how to obtain the album, please visit www.kingdomlifemusic.org or visit Kingdom Life’s Facebook fan page.

Nawaloka Hospital Negombo recently celebrated two years of providing easily accessible, world class healthcare to the people of the region. Eliminating the need to travel to Colombo for medical care Nawaloka’s first regional hospital has made a significant impact on the community and blazed a new path for healthcare. To commemorate their second anniversary, the state-of-the-art facility gave gifts to the first and 400^th babies born in their Maternity Unit.

“I am proud to say that in two short years we have become an integral part of the community. We have managed to make healthcare convenient, reliable and affordable” said Jayantha Dharmadasa, Chairman, Nawaloka Hospitals PLC.

With its 70 beds, state-of-the-art amenities, three operating theaters, highly qualified staff and the only Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) in the area offering 24×7 care, the hospital has become a beacon of advanced medical care in the region.

The hospital also features the most technically advanced Intensive Care Unit (ICU) which includes dedicated medical intensive care and surgical intensive care units. A wide range of diagnostic and treatment facilities are also available including CT and Ultrasound scanning, ECG, physiotherapy, and dental screening and treatment services as well as a fully-fledged Dialysis Centre.

In the two years since commencing operations the hospital has also launched a dedicated urology unit as part of its initiative of offering world class healthcare to people in the region. The unit brings together the hospital’s team of renowned urologists and cutting edge equipment geared to handle all urological procedures.

“As we continue to invest in our facilities and staff in the region. We look forward to building on our success and bringing similar services to other parts of the country,” said Mr. Dharmadasa.

As the joyous and infectious spirit of Christmas permeates, amanté devotees eagerly await this year’s scintillating Christmas offerings. This year too, amanté boutiques offer a variety of events centred around its festive collection for the empowered woman. The sheer scale and diversity of the brand’s seasonal celebrations make it a must-experience with this year expected to be its grandest celebrations thus far.

amanté launched the FestEve Collection on 1 December, adding colour and sparkle to its Racecourse and KCC Boutiques. The collection comprises of a Balconette Bra, Brazilian Brief, Baby Doll, Thong, Chemise and a Robe. The colour palette is in keeping with vibrant Christmas colours and is available in a gorgeous Tibetan Red, decorated with tone on tone embroidery to add that festive touch. The seductive yet versatile collection embodies an irresistible festive mood.

The famed iconic amanté windows at Racecourse Boutique do not disappoint this season. The dreamy ethereal quality of the winter wonder imagery combines with a stunning Christmas tree all dressed up in stylish embellishments to truly bring alive all the warm fuzzy feelings of a classical white Christmas. The instore décor is equally magical – really sparking the festive spirit for shoppers at both Boutiques.

Christmas at amanté is never complete without the hype and buzz of its phenomenal promotions and offerings. In keeping with the spirit of gifting, amanté has a range of special bundle offers available on their exclusive lingerie, sleepwear, sportswear and swimwear, giving the customer the opportunity to splurge on themselves and their loved ones.

Visitors to the Racecourse and KCC Boutiques can avail the Christmas Happy Hours from 18-31 December at various hours throughout the day, where they are able to indulge further in exciting product offers ranging from discounts and free products.

The special offer this season is the amanté Gifting Tree promotion which will take place at both the Racecourse and KCC Boutiques from 15-24 December. During this period, customers are able to pick a specially designed gift bag from the Gifting Tree located at the boutiques as per their individual bill value and receive an exclusive amanté Christmas Gift. These various gift boxes include free amanté products, handmade Christmas soaps, special bath salts, exclusive amanté make-up pouches and fun Face Shop samples. These gift packs are limited and will be on first come first serve basis.

In addition to these amazing celebrations, amanté adds more colour and excitement to Christmas with the sounds of Contempo and Thuuryaa, two all-girl bands which will be performing on 17 December at the amanté Boutique Racecourse foyer from 6.15 pm onwards.

Contempo, a renowned choir formed by past pupils of St. Bridget’s Convent Colombo 7, will be singing contemporary Christmas carols, in collaboration with the drummers of Thuuryaa. Eggnog and gingerbread cookies will be served to share the Christmas cheer. This evening is expected to be the highlight of the joyous season.

With so much on offer, the amanté Boutiques Racecourse and KCC are the perfect places to shop at for a truly magical and classical Christmas experience this season.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered that the sale of Seylan Bank shares valued at Rs. 1.3 billion owned by the Bank of Ceylon be cancelled immediately.

While it has been reported that this transaction has been carried out without the government’s approval, sources add that it has also been carried without the knowledge of the Minister in charge or the Ministry Secretary.

While ordering this transaction be cancelled, the Prime Minister has also called for an immediate investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) into this issue.

The Bank of Ceylon owned 13,198,305 voting ordinary shares of Seylan Bank which is 7.5 per cent of the declared capital of Seylan Bank. While the transaction has been at Rs. 100 per share, it has recorded a turnover of Rs. 1.32 billion (1,319,830,500).

Yesterday (16 December) the final price of a Seylan Bank share had been recorded at Rs. 85.00 each, this particular transaction had been carried out at a price above the market rate, that is at Rs. 100.00 each.

According to share market statistics, a foreign party has been the buyer in this transaction.

A renaissance to the Colombo high quality culinary feasting is now facilitated with the new culinary enclave in the Dutch Hospital Square in the form of “BLACK PEPPER”.

The well-appointed restaurant, located in the heart of Colombo offers multi cuisine dishes with a special focus on Crab, and is managed and owned by the Earl’s Court Group, locally and internationally renowned in the tourism and hospitality industries.

Some selected highlights at BLACK PEPPER include the delicious Jaffna Crab Curry, the Negombo Clay Pot Prawn Curry, the Tangalle Seer Fish Head Curry, the traditional Batticaloa Mutton Curry, the BLACK PEPPER Crab, Yellow Fin Tuna Steak, Sri Lankan style Chicken Curry, which is apart from a variety of other exclusive local delicacies and delectable desserts. Black pepper is the “King of Spices”, known for its exceptional strength and flavor.  The restaurant’ menu weighs much to the authenticity of Sri Lankan seafood cuisine. Its key features are the delectable signature dishes representing the north, south, east and the west of our resplendent island, making dining an unforgettable culinary voyage.

Commenting on Earls’ Court Group’s venture into the restaurant industry, Chairman Earl Gunasekara stated, “With our knowledge and highly acclaimed experience in managing three premier Earls’ Hotels in Kandy and Resorts we are confident of expanding our expertise to ‘BLACK PEPPER’. With many of the dishes being exclusive to BLACK PEPPER along with specialized dishes from the four corners of Sri Lanka not popularized before, we are able to provide a unique experience to our guests.”

The Earls’ Court Group is a diversified business located in Sri Lanka with financial services and hotel management being their core businesses.

Chairman Earl’s Group Dr. Earl Gunasekara and Mrs. Sujatha Gunasekara at the soft opening

Team Black Pepper

Barista Coffee is treating the most wonderful time of the year with lots of new and traditional goodies. To make this Christmas memorable, walk in to any Barista outlet and try their mouth-watering treats and enjoy the blessed month with friends and family.

Speaking about Christmas goodies it wouldn’t be Christmas without traditional turkey, stuffed with all the trimmings and glazed with cranberry sauce. Barista is making it so much easier to tuck in to the delectable flavours of juicy turkey and cranberry sauce in a soft Panini for a mouth-watering meal at any time of the day.

Traditional Austrian dessert Linzer Torte is a zesty combination of cinnamon, lemon, berry jam and hazelnuts. Barista recommends that you try the pie warm and fresh out of the oven to truly savour the combination of fruit and nut flavours.

For a more tropical flavour this season, you can also try the Coconut Cherry Tart which will be a sure winner for dessert. The blend of creamy coconut and tangy cherries baked to perfection in a thick pie crust will definitely bring back memories of grandma’s good ol’ recipes.

To wash down the meal Hot Chocolate with Mint Marshmallows will add a seasonal chill while the Gingerbread Frappe is for those who prefer a hint of spice in their drinks.

To make this Christmas merrier come to Café Mocha every Friday and Saturday to listen to live performances to bring back all the nostalgia.

For more information and to pre-order from the Christmas Goodies list, please contact Barista on 0719 999922.

Janashakthi General Insurance Limited (Janashakthi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Associated Motorways Ltd (AMW) to offer special value additions to Janashakthi Full Option policyholders.

As part of the agreement, in the event of an accident, Janashakthi Full Option policyholders are able to have their vehicles repaired and attended to at any of the AMW Pitstop centers and AMW authorised service centers located island wide, irrespective of the make of the vehicle. Eliminating traditional delays, the Insurance provider will process claim settlements based on the damage assessments and repair estimates submitted directly to them by AMW’s team of experts. AMW will undertake all necessary repairs on the vehicle on an expedited, priority basis, and in the event of a minor repair will even enable online approval for Insurance which will not require the Insurance assessor to visit the workshop.

“At Janashakthi, we constantly seek ways to add value to the lives of our customers, by offering convenient solutions, coupled with an enhanced level of service in all that we do. Therefore, it gives us great pleasure to partner with Associated Motorways, a respected leader in Sri Lanka’s automotive industry, to offer our customers convenience and peace of mind by providing a hassle-free and efficient claim processing service in the event of an accident. We look forward to seeing our customers avail of the benefit of an expedited service facilitated by Janashakthi and AMW in the days ahead,” said Prakash Schaffter, Managing Director of Janashakthi General Insurance Limited.

Janashakthi Full Option policyholders will also be eligible for discounts on Nissan, Suzuki and Maruti Suzuki collision related spare parts and car clinics conducted by AMW. They will receive complimentary detailing and lubricant services, based on the nature and extent of repairs carried out. Janashakthi will also be collecting the salvaged parts directly from AMW, thereby sparing policyholders the inconvenience of having to transport them over to the Insurer themselves.

“The partnership between Associated Motorways and Janashakthi, one of Sri Lanka’s leading Insurance providers, is well aligned with our mutual vision of understanding and meeting our customers’ needs at all times. We strongly believe that the decision to facilitate an automated claim processing service will benefit customers of both parties by providing an efficient service with minimal delays. As two organisations that believe that customers are an intrinsic component of our operations, we will continue to monitor the process with the aim of providing greater value to them along the way,” said Samantha Rajapaksa, Group Managing Director of Associated Motorways.

Janashakthi Insurance PLC, founded in 1994, made its mark in the industry as an innovator and household name over a span of two decades. As an organisation that thrives to deliver excellence in Customer Service by addressing the Insurance needs of its customer base, Janashakthi has an island wide branch network of 109 branches, a 24-hour call centre and around the clock assessor service. Today, the Company stands strong as a leader in Motor, Non-Motor and Life Insurance services, and with its recent acquisition of AIA General Insurance Lanka Limited, continues resolutely on its vision of lighting the lamp of Insurance in every home and work place.

Associated Motorways (Pvt) Limited, established in 1949, progressed on to become the premier automobile conglomerate in Sri Lanka. Dedicated to providing quality brands to an increasing customer base, AMW also markets globally renowned automobile brands that include Suzuki, Yamaha motorcycles, Nissan, Renault, Datsun and Piaggio automobiles, as well as EPIC batteries, Goodyear tyres, BP and Castrol lubricants, and New Holland tractors. In addition to being the leading automobile products and services provider with a wide dealer and service network, AMW also offers financial products and services through AMW Capital Leasing.

• 11 lucky winners have walked away with Monteros from Mobitel for 2016
• Cash Bonanza Montero Extravaganza has awarded a total of 619,761 customers with prizes worth over Rs 3,210 lakhs up to November 2016

Cash Bonanza Montero Extravaganza 2016 Introduced by the National Mobile Service Provider, SLT Mobitel, has become one of the most popular competitions in the country. It rewards customers on a monthly and daily basis an amazing Rs. 3,500 lakhs including 12 luxury Mitsubishi Montero jeeps to 12 lucky winners. The 11^th lucky winner to walk away with the Montero for November 2016 is Mr. A.L. Sathkumara from Weerapokuna Bingiriya. Cash Bonanza Montero Extravaganza 2016 will be awarding one more lucky winner a Montero for December 2016.

For the year 2016, 10 lucky winners have already walked away with a luxury Montero each from Mobitel. The lucky winners for January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October are Ms N.G. Shanika Srimali from Ambalantota, Mr. J.M. Thushantha Jayalath from Wariyapola, Mr. R.M. Roshan Priyadarshana from Badalkumbura, Mrs. R.M.B. P.P. Kumari from Nittambuwa, Mrs. P.A. Kusumawathi from Thanamalwila, Mr. R.D. Nimal Jayasinghe from Padavi Shri Thissapura, Mr. W. Vijith Rodrigo from Kalutara, Mr. H.J.S. Samantha Senevirathne from Eppawala, Mr. Rasanayagam Athputharaja from Trincomalee and is Mr. Prabath Krishantha Rathnayake from Polgolla respectively.

The Cash Bonanza prize giving for November was held at Sir Albert F Peiris Grounds in Wennappuwa and commenced with a musical show where the performing band was ‘Line One’ along with various popular artist performances. SLT Mobitel awarded the 11^th Montero prize to its customer Mr. A.L. Sathkumara from Weerapokuna,Bingiriya and the prize was awarded to him by SLT Mobitel Chief Operating Officer Mr. Nalin Perera. This customer is the 11^th lucky customer to walk away with the luxury Montero from Mobitel. Including the 11 brand new Mitsubishi Monteros, Cash Bonanza has awarded a total of 619,761 customers with prizes worth over Rs 3,210 lakhs up to November 2016.

On the day of the carnival at, a special ‘Eye Clinic’ was held for valued customers where 1,000 customers were given spectacles free of charge along with an eye checkup done by qualified and experienced opticians. Additionally, many activities were organized during the day for participants including a kids play area with entertainment for them to have a good time and Mobitel products stalls to experience the products and services offered by Mobitel. Special offers were also given for valued Mobitel customers, including the Upahara smartphone offer, gift items and more. A gaming zone was also set up for customers for entertainment powered by Mobitel Broadband for the ultimate gaming experience.

Mobitel Pre-Paid, Post-Paid and Broadband customers are eligible for the Mobitel Cash Bonanza draw with every Rs 50/- cash recharge, reload or Post-Paid bill value payment. For the daily cash prizes, Pre-Paid winning customers will receive the prize by way of talk time for the same value and Post-Paid winning customers will receive the prize by way of a rebate on their Post-Paid bill.

Cash Bonanza winners will only be notified via Mobitel’s customer care hotline 071 27 55 777 and in writing via post. Customers will not be charged an additional fee for any prizes they have won.

Photo caption: (Above) Cash Bonanza Montero Extravaganza 2016 November Montero winner Mr.  A.L. Sathkumara from Weerapokuna, Bingiriya

SLT Mobitel Chief Operating Officer Nalin Perera awarding Cash Bonanza Montero Extravaganza 2016 November winner Mr. A.L. Sathkumara from Weerapokuna, Bingiriya

~ Waters Edge and Ebert Silva introduces Colombo’s latest party sensation

Sri Lankan’s love to party and when we do we definitely know how to do it in style. Playing on our ability to celebrate, Sri Lanka’s culinary hub Waters Edge together with premier travel and vacation company Ebert Silva Holidays recently introduced the latest party sensation the “Party Bus at the Edge” which will no doubt be an experience for tourists and locals alike.

The party starts when guests are picked up from city hotels and then driven around to experience the country like never before. Take in the sights and sounds of the city while enjoying a cool breeze on the upper deck of the only open deck city sightseeing double-decker bus. The lower deck of the bus can also be converted to an open dance floor for those who wish to get their groove on to music courtesy of either a typical Sri Lankan “papare band” or a DJ providing the music in the background.

Tours will be operated every Saturday and Sunday commencing from Colombo at 6pm. The experience will also link the commercial capital Colombo and administrative capital Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte highlighting the scenic beauty along the way. The entire tour including travel time and stop overs will span about 2.5 hours.
The bus will make its way to the suburb of Rajagiriya en route to the Bavarian Garden at Waters Edge. Revelers from the “Party Bus” can enjoy a complete Bavarian inspired meal inclusive of schnitzel and strudel at special rates or choose to take a walk in the picturesque Boardwalk area overlooking the Diyawanna Oya. Once a hearty meal is complete the tour heads for a night-time glance at the scenic parliamentary complex and the surrounding waterways.

The “Party Bus” can also be booked for weddings, private parties, kid’s parties and corporate events. Ebert Silva Holidays has customized packages that will suit each occasion including themed décor etc. For more information please contact Ebert Silva Holidays on 0777 599963/0777 772595 or Dilrukshi from Waters Edge on 0773587419 or 0112683863.

Photo caption: (Above) Party Ebert Silva Holidays Chairperson Rajini de Silva Mendis declaring open the Party Bus

Thunder and Neon (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer of high-end signage and the largest chain of distribution of advertising raw material was recently honored with a Merit award in the category of  Manufacturing – Other, at the National Business Excellence Awards overseen by the National Chamber of Commerce. This annual event looks at capacity building, innovation, leadership skills and corporate governance to establish rankings and is a coveted recognition of success. Thunder and Neon is the only advertising company recognized at this year’s National business Excellence Awards.

Speaking on Thunder and Neon’s win and its plans for the future, Milinda Lokuge, Managing Director, Thunder and Neon, explained, “We are very happy to have been a part of the National Business Excellence Awards and to have been honored with a Merit Award. As a highly diversified conglomerate, our focus has been to not only to provide the best quality products and services in each of our business platforms, but also to enhance our technological, strategic and human resource capabilities. Our commitment to excellence and constant innovation has been the driving force behind our exponential 31% growth in the last year”.

Established in 1991, Thunder and Neon (Pvt) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Thunder and Neon Group, the core business of which is the design and production of high-end signage and the distribution of advertising raw material. Over the last decade the company has integrated the direct import of high quality raw materials and exponentially enhanced its production capability, in addition to strengthening its network of 9 branches, making it possible to serve virtually the entire Island. Thunder and Neon also recently expanded into the manufacture of roller doors & gates with the launch of THUNDER GATE SYSTEMS and the provision of total security solutions via the launch of BEAM.

Having executed an investment plan of over Rs. 125mn over the last three years, Thunder and Neon is a pioneer in the delivery of high-end signage and advertising raw material. Serving clients such as Dialog Axiata, Union Bank, Vision Care, Aitken Spence, Hemas, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Burger King, the Hilton, Odel and Lamborghini, delivering excellence in service and production with each project.

Speaking on the development plan implemented at Thunder and Neon, Lalith Lokuge, Chairman, Thunder and Neon, explained, “The Thunder and Neon Group recently invested in an unprecedented technology boost– including the integration of CNC based technology that is able to cut down production time and deliver flawless finished products. The integration of this technology has made it possible for us to assure our clients that we can produce anything they desire – offering both the client and our design team the scope for limitless creativity. Having invested in the signage industry since 1991, Thunder and Neon plans to continue to strengthen both our own business and the industry as a whole”.

In addition to its technological and production advancements, Thunder and Neon recently expanded to a state of the art production facility in the Homagama Industrial Zone – making it possible for projects to be completed as fast as two days from approval. The business has also expanded regionally, servicing the Maldives – and plans to expand into the South Asian Region.

Photo caption: (Above – from left) Mr. Dayanada Lokuge (Director operations –Thunder and Neon), Mr. Lalith Lokuge (Chairman – Thunder and Neon), Mr. Sujeeve Samaraweera (Senior Deputy President – NCCSL), Dr. Trevor Mendis (Member – Technical Evaluation Panel), Mr. Milinda Lokuge (Managing Director Thunder and Neon)

The Manufacturing – Other award won by Thunder and Neon

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) and Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (‘Allied World’) announced that they have entered into a merger agreement, pursuant to which Fairfax will acquire all of the outstanding registered ordinary shares of Allied World.

A global financial services conglomerate, Fairfax owns Union Assurance General, Sri Lanka and its fully owned subsidiary, Fairfirst Insurance Ltd., Sri Lanka. Continuing to further strengthen its footprint around the world, Fairfax had also entered into an agreement to acquire insurance operations from American International Group, Inc. (AIG) in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela and Turkey, recently.

Allied World’s position as a market-leading global property, casualty and specialty insurer and reinsurer; its major worldwide presence and its disciplined approach to underwriting make it a natural candidate to join Fairfax’s expanding worldwide operations. Additionally, Allied World will be able to leverage Fairfax’s expertise in Canada, the United States and international insurance and reinsurance markets, thus enhancing Allied World’s global product offering and providing it with expanded underwriting opportunities and support.

“We are excited to have Allied World join the Fairfax group,” said Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax. “Allied World is a high-quality company with an excellent long-term track record and an outstanding management team led by Scott Carmilani. We look forward to supporting Scott and the entire team at Allied World in growing their business over the long-term.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Allied World,” said Scott Carmilani, President, CEO and Chairman of Allied World. “We are excited to be joining the Fairfax organization – we share their passion for underwriting excellence and their entrepreneurial approach to growing the business with a long-term orientation. Fairfax provides a great home for Allied World to continue to build a strong business for our customers, business partners and employees.”

The transaction is subject to approvals from applicable regulators and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Closing of the transaction is currently expected to occur in the second quarter of 2017.