'Construct 2001 ' attracts local and foreign exhibitors

The exhibition 'Construct 2001' will showcase the latest products, services, techniques and concepts that would contribute to the growth of the construction industry in Sri Lanka. It will also portray the potential in the local construction industry while bringing together many local and foreign companies who supply products and services to this vital sector of the economy, a spokesman for the organisers said. The three-day exhibition is organised by CDC Conventions (Pvt) Ltd., for the National Construction Contractors' Association of Sri Lanka (NCCASL). Originally scheduled for October 2000, it was postponed due to the General Elections. The event is supported by the Ministries of Urban Development & Construction & Public Utilities, Transport, and Highways.

Among the many exhibitors are local and foreign manufacturers, suppliers, designers, architects, town planners, IT professionals and technology promoters. The main sponsor of the exhibition is Asian Paints (Lanka) Ltd., the India- based multinational coatings company while the co-sponsor is Senok Trade Combine, an importer of modern construction industry machinery. The National Construction Contractors' Association of Sri Lanka is the sole representative body for over 3,500 contractors in Sri Lanka. It was formed in 1981 to harness resources and provide trained and experienced personnel for the booming construction industry.

Two Sri Lankan students get US scholarships

Both students had been outstanding performers in the School Company Programme which was organised by YESL (Young Entrepreneur Sri Lanka Ltd)

Mr. Wijesinghe and Miss de Zilva were among 100 students selected from 108 member countries worldwide and will receive scholarships to the Marmon Group 2001- Global Trade Institute. Training sessions will be held during June 9-17 at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA.

All 108 countries with Junior Achievement International (JAI) programmes are eligible to send a student delegate. Sri Lanka was fortunate to get two places.

Mr. Wijesinghe as the Secretary of Wallaby Company has kept the Ananda College flag flying high in the YESL/JAI system from its pilot stage in 1998. He continues to function as the student promoter in the college. Ananda College is among the best performing YESL schools today.

Miss de Zilva is the president of MAJE Company. She is the school captain of St. Joseph's where all levels of YESL/JAI programmes are conducted.

The Marmon Group 2001 Global Trade Institute will provide a dynamic environment for high achieving young people to study entrepreneurship, leadership, negotiation, networking, customer service, marketing, legal issues, product distribution, research and development, finances, accounting, world markets, technology, e-commerce, ethics, the environment and more. Throughout the intensive programme the students will train and work in teams to discover innovative ways to accomplish their goals. They will be inspired to convert ideas into action, as they will also develop lifelong networking contacts and friendships among future entrepreneurs and leaders from many countries, a YESL press release said.

Junior Achievement International (JAI) is the world's oldest, largest and fastest growing non-profit organisation that promotes economic education. YESL is the franchise holder and affiliate member of JAI for Sri Lanka. YESL starting with nine schools in 1998 has now reached 200 schools with a target of 300 schools and 45,000 students by the end of this year. There are over 100 school companies operating in selected schools.

Islamic banking and insurance practices growing in the world

This was the theme of an interesting seminar in Colombo last week organised by the Malaysian High Commission to apprise the Sri Lankan business community of the concept of Islamic banking and Islamic insurance and its benefits.

Senior bankers and insurance experts from Malaysia addressed the seminar titled, "The Islamic finance opportunities and challenges in the global economy – A Malaysian experience". Trade Minister, Rauf Hakeem, delivered the closing address at the session.

Malaysian High Commissioner, Iskandar Sarudin, noted that while Islamic banking had advanced rapidly in Malaysia, it served all communities and not Muslims alone.

Mustapha Bin Hamat, chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) said one of the questions often asked is how banks operate without taking interest. "This was one of the questions raised when Islamic banking was introduced in Britain many years ago." The concept, since then, has caught up and advanced in Britain.

He said under the Islamic banking concept, no interest is levied or paid by banks but profits are shared between banks and depositors. Banks collect deposits and give it to another firm or investor to invest and make a profit, which is then shared.

Mr. Hamat said there was a lot of potential for Islamic banking to be part of the global system with this style of banking aggressively taking shape in the rest of the world.

Mr. Fadzil Yusof, CEO of Takaful Malaysia (which is a part of Bank Islam) said Takaful or Islamic insurance was also fast gaining ground like Islamic banking.

Takaful Malaysia has a stake in a local firm, Amana Investments Ltd., Sri Lanka's first bank and insurance firm that exclusively follows Islamic banking and insurance practices. MERCbank is also involved in Islamic banking in addition to the normal banking practices.

Mr. Yusof, tracing the origins of Islamic banking and insurance, said the present system of buy and sell in banking and insurance was not in conformity with Islamic principles. Islamic insurance is based on cooperation, charity, mutual help and shared responsibility.

Under the Takaful insurance structure there are two types of insurance, family insurance and general insurance, he added.

Courier combats child labour issue

The company's country manager in Colombo, Mr. Hussain Hachem, recently donated Rs.500,000 to the UNICEF representative in Sri Lanka, Mr. Colin Glennie, as an initial contribution to this effort, UNICEF said in a press release.

Mr. Hachem said this company strongly believed in corporate social responsibility and was committed to donating parts of its income to social development programmes benefiting needy children in Sri Lanka. Aramex, a leading courier and freight service company, raised these funds by contributing a dollar for each shipment handled by them during the festive season in December last year. Mr. Hachem said that as a result all their customers have become partners in this noble initiative. Aramex hopes to continue this initiative this year as well.

It was McCallum Breweries

Asian Alliance launches Panadura operations

Speaking at the event, Mr. Dirk Flamer-Caldera, Director of Asian Alliance and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Capital stressed the importance of providing a quality service to customers. He also highlighted the uniqueness of the shareholders of the company which comprise Asia Capital, Richard Pieris, Sampath Bank and CIC.

The company, whose staff comprises high quality sales personnel, hopes to further expand its network by opening more franchise offices and by introducing a wide range of unique products.

Ceylinco Securities performs creditably

The major contributions for this performance were the income generated for the fund-based activities and diversification to different avenues of lucrative businesses. Lacklustre capital market operations and stock market conditions have re-directed the course of corporate strategy of CSFSL. Having identified this, the management has correctly diversified into leasing and real estate and moved into various other areas with success. Especially the intense competition in the financial sector industry has compelled the management to redefine its strategic focus giving renewed emphasis to these areas over the capital and share market operations. The company is already involved in a mass housing project in Athurugiriya, which is the largest BOI approved project of this nature. These factors have enabled CSFSL to move forward despite the low investment-banking environment.

Shipping and Aviation

Father of Containerisation passes away at 87 

Like many great American contributors to society, driven by the free spirit of the human being, which the US is driven by, no matter who you are or which country of origin you came from. The same spirit, opportunities is driving our own country men and women who went to settle in the US over the past 50 years. 

McLean basically transformed global trade. His idea made it possible for the Port of Colombo to handle regional cargo in millions of tons. The poorest societies got their produce to far a field markets in better condition - more importantly, faster and about 30% of what cost them for decades before. The effect on the container had no barriers of any form. 

Last May, McLean was recognized by the International Maritime hall of fame as the "Man of the Century".

His second wife, Irena McLean, survives him. He was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret McLean, with whom he had a son, Malcom, and two daughters, Nancy McLean Parker and Patricia McLean Mendenhall, as well as 11 grand children, all of whom survive him, as do three great-grandchilren. He is also survived by his sister Clara McLean, Mary McLean McFedyen and Margaret McLean Newberry and his brother John Luther McLean. He started MaLean Trucking Company in the middle of the depression and, with his sister Clara and his brother Jim, built it over the next two decades in to the second largest trucking company in the United States. 

In 1995 McLean purchased Pan Atlantic Steamship and in 1956 the IDEAL X, a converted World War II tanker sailed from Port Newark, NJ to Houston, Texas, launching containerisation. He soon changed the name of the company to Sea-Land Service and expanded the company and the concept of containerisation globally, becoming the largest liner operation in the world. 

He sold Sea-Land to R.J. Reynolds in 1969 and remained a member of the Reynold Board until 1977. In 1978 he purchased US lines, quadrupling it in size by 1985. A key aspect of the expansion was the construction of twelve huge new vessels, known as Econship, that each carried more than 2,000 forty-foot containers, making them the largest container vessels in the world at that time. However, these vessels never achieved needed utilization levels resulting in US lines going bankrupt. 

In 1992, at the age of seventy-eight, McLean founded Trailer Bridge, which operates between the US mainland and Puerto Rico.

The company Sea-Land, now owned by Maersk Line as Maersk Sea Land, was also dynamic, buccaneering and above all very direct and businesslike. This company was so far ahead in its human resources policy, apart from the USA itself where it had a clear policy of non discrimination, it promoted 'people' wherever they expanded. A 'Sea Lander', as they became known, could be any person from any society/country. It was common to meet with an Indian, Chinese senior person, - outside their own country, - in another regional head office. This in its singularity underpinned the colossal growth of container transport. The company, bought by the largest rail track and property company in the US, - CSX gave inland rail transport a new dimension.

My own interaction with this company spanning 25 years in three continents was an experience in itself. Their culture of listening to a customer/shipper with new ideas was unique amongst all ship operators to date. Ironically their Calendar and Christmas and New Year card, - the last year before the sale to AP Moller (Maersk), was captioned on 'Ideas'. 

Don Gazara,
Chairman.

"K" Line redoubling efforts to strengthen car carrier services bound for Asia

The Malacca Highway was delivered on March 25 from Usuki Shipyard Co., Ltd. She departed for Shanghai on her maiden voyage on March 30, 2001 after loading in Yokohama. She is going to call at main Asian ports, i,e. Hong Kong, Ho Chi Min, Singapore and Port Kelang.

We are projecting a complete rebuilding of our "New Asian service" by combining this restructured Japan/Asia service with our existing intra-Asia service being provided by 2 roll-on/roll-off ships. This newly-bom Asia service will further enhance "K" LINE's Japan/Asia & Intra-Asia services for the benefit of our customers, making it much more attractive and utilitarian than ever before. To advance and develop "K" LINE's global network, the Company will also proceed with networking this new Asian service with the established trunk service routes, i.e. Europe, Americas, Australia and the Middle and Near east. These consistent efforts for expanding our worldwide Car Carrier service network show promise of upgrading our transportation services to a significant extent.

This "New Asian Service" and 2 new buildings are being detailed as follows:

Every month from mid to end, we will provide a regular weekly service with the same intervals (3 sailings per month) and will stand ready to accept your bookings with stable space in hand at any time. Destinations by positions in Japan (main loading ports being Osaka/Nagoya/Yokohama) are as follows:

Position A (13th to 15th): Keelung-Hong Kong-(Huangpu)-Manila-Muara-Singapore-Port Kelang

Position B (19th to 21st): Keelung-Hong Kong-(Huangpu)-Singapore-Port Kelang

Position C (28th to end of month): Shanghai-Hong Kong-(Huangpu)-Ho Chi Minh-Singapore-Port Kelang

Position C' (same as above): Keelung

Creative talent needs nurturing

Mr. Aitchison, author of the book "Cutting Edge Advertising", was in Sri Lanka to conduct a workshop for Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. on the occasion of its completion of two years of advertising services in Sri Lanka. He also launched his second book, "Cutting Edge Commercials", which focuses on television advertising in the local market.

Leo Burnett, one of the youngest advertising agencies in Sri Lanka, had organised as part of its skills development, a workshop on Creative Advertising. 

The 44 participants included its staff, key clients and 14 others from its regional offices in Asia. Speaking at a media briefing Mr. Ranil de Silva, Managing Director of Leo Burnett Solutions, said that their aim is not to be the biggest advertising agency in the country but to be one of the best operating with a small team of quality people.

He also spoke of their commitment to high standards and how they review their performance every quarter and submits it to an international agency for rating. The seven-plus system rates the agency's work on a scale of 1 to 10. The agency is yet to obtain a score of 7 or more. He added that striving for 7-plus rating would be their aim during their third year in operation.

Mr. Aitchison told reporters that he saw talent in the participants at the workshop and said that some of their ideas were potential prize winners for international awards. He was of the view that this creativity needs to be nurtured to build a strong local infrastructure to project the country to a hub status. He also said that the local agencies should submit their work for international awards.

Mr. Aitchison is also an actor and announcer and has judged many international competitions. He was formerly the Creative Director of the Ball Partnership and Batey Ad Agencies. His follow up book, "Cutting Edge Commercials" has already sold over 20,000 copies in Singapore with Sri Lanka being the second market in which the book has been launched.

Leo Burnett Solutions provides marketing and advertising solutions to its client by offering event management, web design, print buying, below the line marketing, recruitment and retail advertising, direct marketing and media advertising services. The agency won 13 awards at the recent SLIM Advertising Awards that included the campaign of the year and the print ad of the year. Locally its clients include Odel, Barefoot, the Sri Lanka Army, Domino's Pizza, KFC, UNICEF and MAS Holdings. Leo Burnett is part of a global network of over 200 operating units across 81 markets handling seven of the world's 25 most valuable global brands.

Training important for project management

By Akhry Ameer

"Project management today is more strategic because the type of projects are more organisation-wide. As organisations remake themselves for the new economy with heavy investments in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Systems and IT, there is a strong demand for project management skills," explained Mr. Moore.

Carsons Cumberbatch conducted two workshops for their senior management staff on project management and strategic management. The workshops were conducted essentially through computer-based simulations. The participants divided into groups had to take part in a simulated project after tutorials on the subject. The computer simulations were time-based and decisions had to be taken by the groups as new situations that developed were presented through the software. Once the project was completed the software provided a detailed report evaluating the decisions taken by the teams. "We find this effective as there is a lot of experimental learning involved. Participants really get to try the concepts in a safe environment," said Mr. Moore.

The Strategic Management Group conducts standard and customised consultancy and training services on strategic management, sales and marketing, project management and leadership throughout Asia and in other parts of the world through its branches. Their clients include Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems in the Asian region. "The courses are current and reflect world trends as they are developed by professors from Wharton Business School and we are updated with the latest as a regional franchise," noted Mr. Moore, who personally has conducted training programmes for over 200 companies formerly in change management and now with courses from SMG.

Carsons Management Services (Pvt) Ltd also organised an open forum for human resources personnel from about 100 companies in Colombo where Mr. Moore addressed them on the current issues in HR and the role of training. 

Wall's works well with special people!

Ms. Himpa Gunawardana, Brand Manager, said she believed that their consumers deserve nothing but the best. Hence the never-ending quest for quality. While suppliers are subjected to the most stringent quality control procedures to ensure that all expectations are met, Wall's also believes in giving an opportunity to new suppliers to prove themselves for inclusion in their pool of suppliers.

Wall's recently launched an innovative new game of "Cricket at home", as Sri Lanka is a cricket crazy nation. This game can be obtained from any retailer who stocks Wall's products by submitting five branded Wall's ice cream sticks. The game called "Cricket Kate"' is based on a pair of hexagonal wooden dice in vibrant colours.

Wall's contacted Motivation-Rehab Lanka which had provided specially-abled people the opportunity of producing the wooden dice. Wall's decision to work with these specially-abled people has benefited both organisations. Wall's had been able to obtain the cricket dice and Motivation-Rehab Lanka had gained additional funds for their programmes.

Motivation-Rehab Lanka is a British-based non-profit oriented organisation with branches in many countries around the world. Motivation liases with many local charity organisations in helping the specially-abled people to live a normal life as far as possible. In Sri Lanka this organisation works with Rehab Lanka, which is an organisation of disabled people who have specialised in carpentry, sewing and the manufacture of steel equipment.

E.A.P. group now in 'e-business' 

The search engine – BviaE.com – makes it easy for companies and individuals to market and sell produce and products, locally and abroad, company officials said.

This product, launched after extensive research into marketing trends and techniques, provides research information at no cost to customers, feedback on specific or non-specific orders and flexibility to design one's own advertisement. Its customer base ranges from a housewife, small business to a conglomerate.

The E.A.P. Edirisinghe group is involved in a range of activities including the jewellery business, film industry and cinema management, electronic media, computer technology, engineering and construction. 

Public lecture on industrial strategy

Qatar Airways felicitates award-winning agents 

Qatar Airways also introduced their newly appointed District Sales Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mr. Gyan Amerasinghe, to the travel trade.

Qatar Airways commenced operations in 1993 and General Sales Agents (GSA) for Qatar Airways in Sri Lanka, Delmege Forsyth Tours (Pvt) Ltd., have been representing Qatar Airways since 1994 with flights to Colombo three times a week.

Delmege Forsyth Tours were the very first overseas GSA outside the Middle East to be appointed. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Fakhri thanked the agents for their unstinted support and co-operation through the year and for the commitment displayed towards Qatar Airways. He said that although Qatar Airways was the 'youngest' international airline they had an extensive fleet, and in fact, would add a further three aircraft to their Airbus fleet this year.

Award winners for the year 2000/2001 in the Passenger Division were World Air (Pvt) Ltd. - Gold Award. The Travel Team - Silver and T.G.L. Travels & Tours - Bronze, while in the Cargo Division the Gold Award was awarded to Speedmark Transportation Lanka, the Silver to Expolanka Freight and the Bronze to Roton Vander Freight.

Mr. Fakhri said that Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar AI Baker, had major expansion plans and intended to increase their number of destinations from 27 to 34. "By the end of 2001, the airline would have carried over 1.55 million passengers," he said.

Mr. Fakhri said that Qatar Airways was the fastest growing airline in the world with a 40% growth rate every year.

At present Qatar Airways flies three times a week from Colombo to Doha.

Mr. Fakhri said that the airline was planning to market Sri Lanka as a tourist destination via their newly-launched leisure travel arm, Qatar Airways Holidays. "We have our own tours department, Qatar Airways Holidays, and are more than ready to market Sri Lanka," he added.

With an ever-increasing up-to-date fleet, professional multi-national staff (currently numbering over 2,000 worldwide), a co-ordinated programme of expansion and the will to succeed, Qatar Airways is poised to fly to even greater heights.

La Passion sets the pace

By Murali Jayadeva

La Passion have in their repertoire a fantastic range of exquisite hair styles now in vogue in the west. They have handpicked men and women hairdressers who are skilled and trained in the job who could satisfy the fastidious tastes of men and women of the now generation.

La Passion's Tonsorial Artistes and Coiffure specialists are in a class of their own. They don't simply believe in giving you the conventional hair cut. They study you head of hair, decide on the most appropriate hair style that would click with our personality and thereafter their serated scissors and clippers go into action.

They will trim it, shape it, straighten the curl, or curl the straight hair. In short they will repair your whole head of hair and give it chic appearance of a sophisticate mademoiselle, or a dignified demeanor of a high society socialite. As for men, they will give the Yul Brynner look with shiny bald pate, a ruggedly handsome look of a macho personality, the long haired look of an artist or the urchin look of the wayward boys.

La Passion's menu is vast and varied. Backed by up market equipment imported from developed countries, La Passion is fully geared to provide you with the best of services in style and comfort with modern technology, but without levying fancy prices.

Look at the range of their service: Latest hair cuts, blow drying, hair styling, perms. spiral perms. curling the striates, straightening the curls tints, scalp massage, facials with frequency treatment, manicure pedicure waxing, bleaching etc.

To add glamour to your face-which is actually your fortune they can give you the ideal make-up that will suit your high points on your face and your complexion. All that will not make you a complete woman if you are not draped in your saree with grace and dignity. La Passion will dress you up for any occasion with their master dressers and make you a gorgeous person.

'Super Weekend' grows in leaps and bounds

Once again on June 9,10 HSBC's Visa/Master credit cardhol-ders are in for a real treat at Hameedia (Majestic City, Crescat, Kandy, Hilton Jaic and Designers and Tailors Wellawatte) and Vogue Jewellers (Colpetty, Nugegoda and Kandy). 

Millennium City to launch its third phase

This modern, wholly self-supporting township and housing project is conveniently located at Malabe, Athurugiriya 9.4 miles from the city and in close proximity to proposed Colombo-Kandy highway. According to Mr. Harsha De Silva, Director Operations, Ceylinco Developers Limited (CDL) has successfully sold 320 houses in Phase I and 250 buyers have already settled down. The Phase II was launched in July 2000 and 350 housing units have been successfully sold and the construction of those houses are in progress. The Millennium City houses have an enormous demand as they are built on natural land to an intelligent layout using bricks and the doors and windows are made out of class I timber. Infact so great has been the success of the Millennium City, BOI has recently granted another 25 acres for the Millennium City Development. This will permit 300 more housing units to be built at the Millennium City.

Describing the Phase III, Mr. Harsha De Silva said that 225 housing units will be on offer and the product mix would comprise of Paradis, Olympus, Heartland and yet another new concept which again is novel to Sri Lanka, that of Shop Houses. This product is named Home & Company and as the name suggests will permit the owner to live and work under one roof. 

another first from Harcourts

Harcourts have launched for the first time in Sri-Lanka CARTISAFE-FORTE (Glucosamine sulphate 500 mg & Calcium Carbonate 625 mg) "a near permanent cure" in Osteo arthritis. Harcourts Medical Delegates are already promoting Cartisafe-Forte to the Medical profession.

Cartisafe-Forte has been made available in all leading pharmacies in major towns.

The main ingredient in Cartisafe-Forte is Glucosamine sulphate. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in the body which stimulates bio-synthesis of proteo-glycan - the building block of cartilages. It is the cartilage which offers protection to the bone and facilitates movements in the joints thus helping us to move our limbs bend our knees and protect our hips. Glucosamine prevents damage to cartilages, and helps to regenerate damaged cartilages.

In a study published in Lancet in Jan 2001. Glucosamine sulphate has been hailed as a "disease modifying agent in Osteoarthritis".

Timex Garments gets ISO 9002 certification

As a benchmark standard of quality, the ISO certification speaks volumes about the attention paid to quality by the company that receives it. 

Timex Garments is one such company that has striven to achieve this excellence of standard and are now proud holders of the ISO 9002 Quality Management System Certification from SGS United Kingdom (Yarsley International Certification Services)

The ISO 9002 certification is no small achievement for the Timex Garments factory in Wattala. Timex which is part of the Fergasam Group of companies, is a 100% export oriented company which is solely owned by Sri Lankan shareholders. 

As a high profile rapidly expanding company, it currently consists of 9 factories. 

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