People, Events & Advertorial Tuesday 02nd March, 2010 SLT rewards dealers The Sri Lanka Telecom Dealer Convention 2009 was held at the Water’s Edge on February 19. Many members of the dealer and retail network were appreciated for their contribution and performance during 2009, at the convention. SLT remarked that the main initiative behind this award scheme was to recognize and appreciate the achievements in the prepaid card operations for the following product categories – SLT Passport card, sltnet prepaid card and SLT Citylink CDMA prepaid cards. They also used the dealer convention as a platform through which the dealers can be motivated towards even better performance levels. Moreover, activities such as renewal of agreements and review of the past years’ operations and making plans for the current year were also conducted during the convention. The convention consisted of two sessions. The first session encompassed of agreement signing and the reviewing of operations conducted in 2009 as well as the discussion of plans for 2010. The second A R Kassam of ST Distributers receiving the award from Sri Lanka Telecom Chairperson Leisha De Silva Chandrasena. session, which was the highlights of gories - SLT Passport, SLT Citylink the first session, had the awards CDMA pre-paid card and sltnet prepresentation where awards were paid card. Under the ‘Island Wide presented for three main categories. award’ group, three winners were SLT has grouped the members rewarded for the best performance of the dealer network into four catin the context of all three products. egories based on their sales potenFurther, the Most Outstanding, 1st tial and strength. Four awards were runner-up and 2nd runner-up presented to the best dealer of each awards were presented to Mr. A. R. category. The next award category Kassam of ST Distributors (Pvt) was the ‘Product Achievement’, Ltd, Mr. W. G. S. P. Siriwardana of under which three winners were Shen Cellular and M. R. A. Perera awarded for the following subcateof Wijaya Distributors (Pvt) Ltd Live the Dream: Talk show with Otara Gunewardene & Ranjit Page Have you ever wanted to be someone different? Almost every person has aspirations for a successful future. But only a handful has actually gone the extra mile to turn their DREAMS into REALITY. Most have been too afraid to undertake challenges and turn them into opportunities. Well now’s YOUR chance to learn from those who have “gone the distance”!!! Live the Dream is a series of live talk shows featuring admirable personalities from top notch entrepreneurs to sports celebrities and more. Gain Insight, Inspiration, Guidance and the opportunity to Network. Learn from their achievements and uncover the secrets of their success. Be there as we speak to Otara Gunewardene (CEO, ODEL) and Ranjit Page (CEO, Cargills (Ceylon) PLC). On March 6 Saturday, at the Banquet Hall, Excel World. From 10am to 12.30pm. Tickets are priced at Rs 500. This project is for the charitable cause of educating the underprivileged children. All funds raised through tickets and sponsors will go towards these underprivileged children. This is organized by the Leo Club of Colombo (Host), District 306A1. The club has produced several District and Multiple district presidents in the recent past. The Leo Club of Colombo (Host) is the longest standing Leo Club in the country, now celebrating its 40th year in service. To celebrate its 40 years of unbroken service, the club has organised several projects this year. And live the dream is one of them. respectively. Over 250 members of the SLT dealer and retail network were present at the occasion. The chief guest of the event, SLT Chairperson, Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena shared her thoughts at the gathering saying, “Let me take a minute to congratulate all the award winners on the exceptional performance and dedication you have shown in the year 2009. As we go on to renew the agreements for the year 2010, we sincerely hope and encourage you to continue to show as much enthusiasm towards our products in this year as well” Even though the prepaid cards sector in Sri Lanka is highly competitive, SLT has been able to maintain a steady growth in their prepaid cards product range. In comparison to year 2008, SLT has marked an escalation of significant percentage in the prepaid cards growth. SLT remarked that they would not have been able to achieve such a success without the contribution of their dealers and retailers since more than 90% of their prepaid cards revenue is earned through the dealers and retailers. DHL Express appoints new country manager DHL, the world’s leading express company, announced the appointment of Manish Patel as Country Manager for DHL Keells (Pvt.) Ltd. – the market leading express services JV between DHL Express and John Keells Holdings in Sri Lanka. Prior to his current position, Patel was the Head of Business Development & Alliances for NonMetro Markets at DHL Express, India. With over 10 years of experience in DHL Express India, Manish has had a string of achievements. He was instrumental in the successful re-branding of DHL Express in India in 2003 and was also responsible for the expansion of DHL into 500 nonmetro locations across India. Speaking on the appointment, Ramesh Natarajan, Vice-President – Rest of South Asia, for DHL Express, said: “We are delighted to appoint Manish Patel as the Country Manager for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a key focus market and we are glad to have a seasoned industry expert leading Manish Patel the business.” Commen-ting on this new role, Manish said: “I’m happy to be in Sri Lanka. The economic situation in Sri Lanka is looking better now than it has in a long time. We see promising opportunities in tourism, auto and IT sectors besides Sri Lanka’s traditional strength in the apparel sector. DHL will continue to play the role of a trade enabler through superior service focus for its customers in Sri Lanka.” tain the precise colour shade as the larger cans of paint. “Available in the full range of Dulux hues, the Colour Tester will prove to be an effective tool for architects and interior designers to recommend colours to their clients. In fact, we hope that the Colour Testers will encourage customers to become more adventurous and try out shades they normally might not have considered. This Colour Tester range will be available at our premium distributor and dealer outlets, and we are optimistic that customers will use them as an effective way to experiment with colour and add scintillating new shades of paint to their walls. We are able to leverage on our global network’s expertise to bring Sri Lankan consumers the very latest in paint technology,” said Graham Marshall, Head of Marketing Akzo Nobel Paints Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. The compact and fashionable Colour Tester booth are also equipped with handy Colour Circles, which allow customers to play around with coloured circle cut-outs to work out the best colour combination. Although traditionally home owners tend to use one colour for all the walls, the recom- mended palette for the most visually pleasing effect is three colours used in a 70:20:10 combination usually from the same colour range. Patented by Dulux, this unique colour selection concept recommends the use of 70 per cent of the room in the dominant colour, 20 per cent in an intermediate colour and 10 per cent in the accent colour.. This combination has proved to be the most eye-catching and soothing in equal measure and the Colour Tester and Colour Circle are aids that will make the decision easier for customers. By experimenting with the Colour Testers, customers can realistically visualise what their walls and ceilings will look like once painted in the chosen colours. The Dulux booth also featured the ‘Colour of the Year 2010’, which took centre stage. The colour trends presented by AkzoNobel for 2010 are a part of the company’s Colour Futures™, which resulted from an ongoing worldwide colour trend research, forecasting and development efforts of the company. The company’s aesthetic centre in Netherlands brings together creative experts from around the world to study developments in fashion, architecture, art, design, technology and popular culture. They then interpret their findings into colours. Akzo Nobel Paints Lanka is the local arm of the Amsterdam-based AkzoNobel, the world’s leader in paints and coatings. AkzoNobel has forecast ‘reclamation’ would be the primary influencing factor of colour trends in 2010. Hence, ‘California Blue’ was declared the colour of the year, signifying an airy and optimistic blue that symbolizes infinite horizons, new beginnings, renewed energy and a positive dynamic. Dulux renders colour fun and customers can look forward to many more innovative ideas from Dulux on the unusual use of colour. Mix ‘n’ match with Dulux colour testers Akzo Nobel Paints Lanka, a member of CIC Group and supplier of Sri Lanka’s leading decorative paint brand Dulux, unveiled a whole new way of colouring dream walls at the recently concluded Architect 2010 exhibition. A showstopper at the event, the attractively designed Dulux booth was ablaze with a varied colour palette - enveloping all those who entered the innovatively devised booth in a dreamlike state. Serene greens, calm blues, fiery reds and passionate purples - colour never looked so good before. The newly-launched Colour Testers offer customers the facility to try out any colour that catches their fancy, before investing in a large quantity of paint for their homes or offices. Experimenting with colours and spoiling the customer for choice is a privilege that Dulux takes seriously. As an extension of this desire to offer its customers world-class products, Dulux has pioneered ‘Colour Testers’ to the Sri Lankan market. A novel concept that is capturing the imagination of people globally, ‘Colour Testers’ are small tubes of paint available at a nominal cost that allow customers to try out a small area on a wall before opting for the colour. This pioneering move offers convenience and affordability, as the customer does not have to invest in a litre of paint only to find that the colour perhaps does not suit the requirement eventually. By using these Colour Testers, customers will get a precise idea of what the colour will look like on the wall, since the tester tubes con- Page 7 World-class services at HSBC Cinnamon Gardens HSBC Cinnamon Gardens branch was ceremoniously opened by chief guest, Captain Sanka Rakkhita Wikramanayake, a valued HSBC Premier customer on Thursday, February 24, in the presence of Nick Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives, senior management, staff and customers. Located at No.41/1 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7, the branch offers a comprehensive range of products and services to serve the needs of both new and existing customers of HSBC. service. Addressing invitees, Nicolaou, said: “I’m indeed happy to announce the opening of our model branch in Sri Lanka and the second since our branch opening in Jaffna. The Cinnamon Gardens branch is conveniently located to serve customers with a spaciously designed banking area that conforms to the latest group standards.The branch is well equipped with modern facilities and a dedicated parking area to provide customers the best service and a truly international banking experience at all times.” The HSBC Cinnamon Gardens branch was declared open by Captain Sanka Rakkhita Wikramanayake, a valued HSBC Premier customer in the presence of Nick Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives. The location also boasts the opening of the second dedicated HSBC Premier centre in Colombo, which will cater to HSBC’s Premier personal banking clientele who will enjoy the highest standards of privacy and banking convenience in keeping with HSBC’s global standards. HSBC Premier is an exclusive worldwide service proposition reserved for HSBC’s high net worth clientele. HSBC’s team of knowledgeable and qualified relationship managers will assist HSBC Premier Customers with their banking and financial advisory needs, providing a truly personalised banking The Cinnamon Gardens branch is designed to meet the latest branch standards as offered by HSBC Group globally. It offers a larger reception area with a global ambiance to make customers feel at home and new meeting rooms to provide customers with privacy. The branch will also encompass a state-of-the-art express banking area with Personal Internet Banking, connection to HSBC’s 24-hour Call Centre, additional ATM’s and Easy Pay machines to withdraw or deposit cash when required. Ample parking facilities are offered for the convenience of customers, who visit the branch.