October 2017 - Lanka Business News

October 31, 2017

Launches Sampath Sanhinda Medical Benefit Card to Simplify Access to Benefits

In line with its commitment to caring for its customers and adding greater value to their lives, Sampath Bank announced that is distributing over Rs.100 million in medical benefits to Sampath Sanhinda Saver account holders.

This is the highest value of medical benefits being awarded in a given year by Sampath Bank under the Sanhinda Saver account. The Bank has been awarding such benefits to Sanhinda Saver account holders based on their annual average account balance for 9 consecutive years, from 2009. They are just one of the many privileges offered by the account.

Sampath Bank has designed the Sanhinda Saver account from the ground up to specifically meet the needs of its esteemed customers who are over the age of 55. Account holders receive a higher rate of interest, with interest payments being made twice a month. Additional interest is paid for foreign currency (USD) savings accounts. The Bank also offers them a host of deals and discounts at several leading hospitals, pharmacies, medical labs and other merchant partners.

Sanath Abhayaratne, Assistant General Manager – Deposit Mobilization, Sampath Bank PLC, said, “At Sampath Bank, we take great pride in being a truly Sri Lankan financial service provider. We have always strived to live by the nation’s values and belief systems and incorporate them in everything we do. Inspired by our society’s regards for elders and the tradition of caring for them when they get older, the Sampath Sanhinda Saver account is tailored to meet the unique needs of customers over the age of 50. It offers account holders a host of benefits and privileges that are aligned to their lifestyle. Thanking them for placing their trust in Sampath Bank, we are delighted to offer over Rs.100 million in medical benefits this year, the highest ever in our history.”

Sampath Bank has also launched the Sanhinda Medical Benefit Card to enable Sanhinda Saver account holders avail their rewards and benefits with greater ease. Coming in place of the Sanhinda vouchers currently in use, the cards bring in greater convenience and security. Unlike the vouchers, account holders will now be able to pay out only the specific amount they need from the total value of benefits available in their card using the new Sanhinda Medical Benefit Card. While the cards will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue, the benefits being distributed currently are valid until 28^th February 2018.

“We are constantly looking for more ways in which we can add value to our customers and provide them with greater conveniences. The Sanhinda Medical Benefit Card will simplify the process of obtaining medical benefits and make the lives of our Sampath Sanhinda Saver account holders easier, allowing them to spend more time enjoying their golden years,” said Nadi B. Dharmasiri, Head of Marketing, Sampath Bank PLC.

The Sampath Sanhinda Medical Benefit card can be used to make payments for selected medical services at Asiri Group of Hospitals, Central Hospital, Durdans Hospital, Hemas Hospitals, Nawaloka Hospitals, Lanka Hospitals, Philip Hospital (Kalutara), Nawinna Medicare, Northern Central Hospital (Jaffna), CDEM Hospital and Singhe Hospitals (Rathnapura) as well as their selected laboratories, Metropolis Healthcare Lanka and at Vision Care Opticians. It is also accepted at the pharmacies located at Hemas Hospitals and Northern Central Hospital (Jaffna) and at Harcourts Pharmacies.

October 31, 2017

The Trustees of the Kirulapone Jumma Masjid will be organizing a free medical camp in collaboration with the Kirulapone Police from 9am on Sunday 5 November 2017 at the Kirulapone Jumma Masjid at High Level Road Colombo 6.

Open to members of all communities, the free medical camp will offer a wide range of facilities and medical services covering Pediatrics, Gynecology, Mammogram screening for early detection of breast cancer, Ophthalmology, Blood tests and any other general medical needs.

In addition to the free check-up, the clinic will also offer free gift vouchers to pregnant mothers in order to help them on their journey towards motherhood.

The initiative is also viewed as an opportunity to strengthen ties between Sri Lankans of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, by bringing them together towards the celebration of a common cause. In that regard, learned prelates and religious leaders of all faiths will be in attendance at the event.

“We wish to thank the generous efforts of all of those who are volunteering their time and effort to make this free medical camp a reality, including all of the esteemed medical professionals who have offered their experience, expertise and knowledge in various medical fields towards this vital cause, and we warmly invite all those who are in need of any medical assistance whatsoever to attend the camp,” Roomy Rahim, Trustee, Kirulapone Jumma Masjid said.

October 31, 2017

New Oracle study reveals that enterprises want a more agile approach but lack the expertise to deploy new communications technologies

A new Oracle Communications study The Cloud Redefines Customer Experience revealed that enterprises view in-application communications technologies as critical to enhancing customer experiences and gaining a competitive edge and higher growth. While 65 percent of enterprise IT decision makers polled noted that embedded communications will become the dominant way of communicating with employees, suppliers and customers moving forward, nearly half (46 percent) noted they lack the expertise to deploy new communications technologies.

View the entire survey here for more information.

Enterprises risk losing customers, revenue and competitive advantage if they don’t meet their customers’ expectations of engagement and experience. As such, enterprises are increasingly turning to cloud-based communications solutions to effect this change and achieve their business objectives, although many are still behind the curve when it comes to infusing critical communications capabilities into their business transactions. Industries including education, energy, engineering and construction, financial services, public sector, technology, healthcare/life sciences, hospitality and retail rated their companies “below a C” in this regard.

“Businesses are under increased pressure to accelerate digital change to improve customer experiences and employee productivity, all while lowering costs,” said Doug Suriano, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Communications. “Businesses need the agility to take advantage of the latest communications technologies—be they chatbots, HD Voice, HD video, screen sharing, and annotation—to achieve these objectives, but many lack the infrastructure and expertise to do so. The race is on for companies to quickly implement these technologies, and they are increasingly looking to the cloud to help them achieve success.”

The survey also found that:

Fast adoption means faster growth: Those that described their communications adoption culture as “Leader” or “Aggressive” tended to achieve a higher revenue growth rate relative to their plan (more than 10 percent).

Cloud drives better business outcomes: the majority of enterprises (74 percent) agreed that cloud-based communications are a key factor in achieving business objectives, and nearly three-quarters expect to accelerate the deployment of cloud-based communications technologies over the next five years. 65 percent agree that communications embedded within cloud applications will become the dominant way of communicating with employees, suppliers, and customers.
Adoption comes with specific benefits: Enterprises see benefits in using communications cloud services, including increasing flexibility, reducing costs, and increasing worker productivity.
Security remains a top concern:Even though security concerns are the number one barrier to adopting the cloud, 60 percent of respondents consider cloud-based communications more than or at least as secure as on-premises solutions.

The survey polled 323 enterprises IT decision makers with buying authority for communication hardware and software across North America. To learn more about how you can transform your enterprise through embedded communications technologies, visit here.

October 31, 2017

Dr.-Indrajit-Coomaraswamy-Governor-of-the-Central-Bank-of-Sri-Lanka-1280x850.jpg

The Association of Banking Sector Risk Professionals of Sri Lanka together with the Association of Compliance Officers of Banks organized a Forum on Cyber Security & Trusted Cloud, Data Sovereignty and Blockchain recently. In his keynote address, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), reiterated CBSL’s commitment to support digital transformation in the financial services industry and highlighted the need to focus on cyber security. Regional experts from Microsoft showcased the secure technologies available to the industry to transform products and processes, so that they can better serve customers in the digital era.

October 31, 2017

Monday, 30^th October 2017, Colombo: Blue Mountain Group’s most iconic real estate development to date, Achilleion, recently announced 2^nd November 2017 as the last day for prospective customers to view the majestic model apartment at Achilleion to experience 7-star luxury at its best.

After the date, the model apartment will make way for the construction of the luxury project which is already underway on the land which is valued at Rs. 2.3 billion. The 7-star residence is set to offer unprecedented levels of luxury, innovation and exclusivity and its unique design concept has already won a string of international accolades.

Achilleion was recently recognized as one of the top three apartments in the Asia-Pacific region, at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2017. The iconic real estate development received a record number of eight awards including two 5-Star awards and emerged as the only Sri Lankan real estate development to be honoured at the event. This recognition enabled Blue Mountain’s Achilleion to compete against global real estate titans for the title of ‘Best Apartment in the World‘ at the ‘World Property Awards 2017‘, in November later this year.

This state-of-the-art complex will also feature Sri Lanka’s first-ever sky bridge, the tallest sky restaurant by sea and an infinity pool, which will offer breath-taking views of the Indian Ocean and the vibrant Marine Drive stretch.

Blue Mountain advises those interested in experiencing the world’s first model apartment, created purely for viewing atop a 7 storey building, to reserve personalised tours on: 0714260260 prior to visiting the site, so as to gain first-hand experience of upscale living.

October 31, 2017

Sometimes the smallest decisions can be the most rewarding ones. Such is the case with the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder account, an ideal alternative to fixed deposits with just a little more risk.

The Family Share Builder, from expert financial planner NDB Wealth, helps savers move away from regular fixed deposits, which currently offer very low interest rates. This is achieved by offering them the option of taking a few calculated risks with their capital while investing funds in Money Markets, Government and Corporate Bonds and the Share Market.

All this may seem complicated. But the expert financial planners at NDB Wealth take care of all the details, including the boring and tedious paper work; so you don’t have to be involved in the hassles of investing, just enjoy its benefits. Ideally, you should plan to lock in your funds for a minimum of three years to truly experience the full growth potential of your wealth.

The reason that the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder is the ideal investment account is not only that it gives your family the best returns. It is also due to the fact that it enables you to contribute small amounts monthly, allowing you to build a pool of money for any future plans that you may have. This helps when you either invest for retirement, or want to fund for your kid’s education. It even comes in handy when it comes time to take a family vacation to a resort or destination you never thought you could afford.

At the same time, one of the best features of the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder is that its income is credited to your account daily, while also giving you the freedom to withdraw funds in case of any emergency, without a penalty. Currently, the income is also tax free to your hands.

“Our Family Share Builder accounts are gaining in popularity because they offer all the benefits of the share, bond and money markets, with the risks managed by experts at NDB Wealth. Try the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder, it will truly super charge your income”, commented Dilan Jayakody, Head of Retail Sales at NDB Wealth.

Mr. Jayakody further added, “Having the best interests of my family in mind, I always invest where I can get the best returns, so the many, many advantages of the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder account are very appealing, especially when compared to fixed deposits.”

To get started, visit the NDB Wealth website to access plans for families, women, children and even retirement income. You can also try out the website’s “Auto Wealth Planner” function, to custom design a plan that meets your individualized financial needs. Or, call/visit NDB Wealth to speak to a Relationship Manager, to benefit from a greater level of personalized service. More information is available via www.ndbwealth.com.

October 31, 2017

Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen (left) and Qatari Minister of Economy & Commerce (HE) Sheikh Ahmad Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani exchange agreed minutes at the conclusion of the second Qatar-Sri Lanka Joint Committee for Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation in Colombo on 31 October

October 31, 2017

The Bank’s Chairman Mr Dharma Dheerasinghe (left) and Managing Director Mr Jegan Durairatnam (right) accepted the award on behalf of the Bank.

October 31, 2017

30^th October 2017, Colombo: Amãna Takaful PLC (ATL) was awarded the prestigious Gold Award in the ‘Takaful Entity of the Year’ category at the Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia (IFFSA) Awards held recently. At this gala ceremony held in Colombo the dynamic insurer was also recognized for its novel insurance scheme ‘Tuk Tuk Full’ (a scheme especially for three wheelers), which won Silver in the ‘Product of the Year’ category.

The event recognised the contributions made by individuals and organisations to the IBF industry within the South Asian Region. The IFFSA Awards highlight excellence in the industry and give special recognition to institutions demonstrating outstanding performance, innovation, use of technology and contribution to the society.

The awards ceremony was held as part of a gala evening which celebrated the gathering of the SLIBF fraternity. Accolades were awarded in multiple categories which were keenly contested. The nominees were selected after a thorough auditing process conducted by KPMG auditors, who partnered as the official adjudicator.

Commenting on these prestigious accolades, Fazal Ghaffoor, CEO, Amãna Takaful PLC, stated, “It is a great honour, in ATL being adjudged as “The Takaful Entity of the Year” in the South Asian region. We are also very proud to have ‘TUK TUK FULL’ win Silver in the ‘Product of the Year’ category. At ATL we strive to provide the best services and products to our customers while delivering the best to our stakeholders, profitably and productively. These awards are a welcome acknowledgement of our hard work and the trust our policyholders place in us.” Ghaffoor added, “As the pioneer and the only fully fledged Takaful operator in Sri Lanka, the accolade is a true testament to the stability, growth and acceptance of the Takaful way of risk management that we bring in to the financial services industry in the country.”

On the product ‘TUK TUK FULL’, he concluded “through our customer-centric philosophy to partner customers through their success or failure, we at ATL, last year launched this revolutionary insurance scheme – especially for the 3 wheel community. The scheme includes a host of eventualities, to ensure that at any point in time, the ‘Tuk Tuk’ Driver is shielded from loss. ‘Tuk Tuk Full’ covers natural perils, riot & strike, third party property damage for upto Rs. 300,000/- and hiring cover. In addition to this,’Tuk Tuk Full’ extends a comprehensive insurance cover against personal emergencies such as disability or hospitalization. This value proposition for 3 Wheel owners and its drivers is the most attractive in the market and takes into account all the challenges faced by the drivers on a daily basis, to ensure their livelihoods are sustained. It is a product that we truly believe in and we are proud that it has been recognised.”

ATL continues to be in the forefront of the insurance industry in Sri Lanka and caters to all segments of customers. The Takaful way of insurance operates on the concept of bringing people together to be part of a system that gives them the opportunity to help each other. Since its inception in 1999, ATL has been successful in establishing a strong position for the concept of Takaful amidst competition from established conventional players. As the pioneer Takaful provider, ATL operates 27 branches and is set to expand further to better serve customers across the country. ATL continuously reaches out to customers from all segments of society and offers innovative and state-of-the-art insurance products that are convenient, affordable and reliable. As part of its commitment to remain ‘open to all’, ATL serves all communities and employs a multi-ethnic team across its network.

October 31, 2017

MAS Kreeda Intimo - GOLD Textile & Textile processing

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