HSBC Holdings plc and JA Worldwide have launched a US$3.4 million, three-year, global programme to teach basic financial skills to 7- to 11-year-old students.

With funding from HSBC, JA More than Money (JAMM) will be localised and piloted in 15 countries and districts across five continents in the 2008/ 2009 academic year. The programme is expected to be rolled out in many more countries in the following academic year. JAMM aims to reach over 100,000 children worldwide in its first three academic years. In Hong Kong, JAMM will reach 25 local primary schools with HSBC staff delivering the programme as business volunteers in the first year. The programme aims to serve more than 2,000 primary 4 to 6 students in three years' time.

JAMM will teach students about earning, spending, sharing and saving money and about businesses they can start or jobs they can perform to earn pocket money. When assessed by an independent evaluator in 2007, results showed conclusively that the 7- to 11-year-old students who had participated in this curriculum in the USA demonstrated significantly greater knowledge and retention of financial concepts compared to their non-participating peers.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. (HSBC) Asia-Pacific Region Corporate Sustainability Head Teresa Au said: "At HSBC we have always believed that education is essential for a successful society. Financial education plays a pivotal role especially in Hong Kong, as it is important that we equip our children with the financial literacy skills they need to make wise decisions in how they spend and save their money. HSBC is committed to investing in and upgrading financial literacy to build a sustainable future for the local community."

Junior Achievement Hong Kong CEO Vivian Lau said, "At JA, we stay focused on inspiring our young people to achieve their dreams and become future leaders of Hong

Kong. Financial management has become one of the core life skills for our future leaders. With JA More than Money, students learn the essential life lesson and kick start financial management at early ages.

We are honoured to have the support of HSBC and the Education Bureau working in partnership with JA to prepare our young people to become the future financially responsible leaders of Hong Kong."

Sampath Bank is sponsoring Thilini Sunari Jayasinghe, the very first woman badminton player to represent Sri Lanka at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Jayasinghe, who is also a member of the Sampath team is ranked the number one badminton player in Sri Lanka at present. She has won two gold medals, four silver medals and a bronze medal at the last seven international badminton federation tournaments. She is also a talented musician, a swimmer and a good athlete as well.

Sampath Bank Chief Operating Officer Aravinda Perera said that the bank's position in providing such sponsorship was not only to encourage the talent that is within the bank, but also to actively support the sporting stars of the country in their endeavours in reaching greater heights and bringing pride to their motherland. 

Customer service trainer Dhammika Kalapuge will conduct a one day programme titled as 'Spot The Smart Service Seconds' to the public at the Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo on July 15, 2008.

This programme is aimed at all levels of staff at customer interaction points in the corporate sector and small and medium scale enterprises. It will give an insight to perform effectively through service excellence in a challenging environment. Moreover, this programme will educate the participant how to manage each service second to create a memorable experience.

Kalapuge has conducted programmes both locally and overseas. He has conducted over 1,300 programmes to nearly 300 private and the public sector institutions, mostly to achieve excellence in customer service. His ability to take a message quite simply and effectively to reach the hearts of audiences from all walks of life has been considered as a quality of his educational programmes.  

Kalapuge said: "Every 'point of interaction' is important to build, grow and strengthen relationships with customers. When dealing with customers we never get a second chance to make a good first impression with our service seconds. In this programme I give emphasis to success stories of local and foreign organisations where customer service was used to make a differentiation in tough market conditions.

 In designing this programme I have taken the concept of 'Moments of Truth' used by Jan Carlzon, the past president and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines. I have tailor made this concept to suit our audiences with a local touch. 

Kalapuge's programmes are organised by SIPCOM-1(Pvt.) Ltd., a company focusing on people development. 

More than 8,000 people living in towns and villages across Sri Lanka have been provided an opportunity to be checked by doctors in the first five months of 2008 by life insurance leader Ceylinco Life.

Ceylinco Life Chief Executive Director R. Renganathan said, "We have on occasion been moved and shocked in equal measure to learn that the Ceylinco Life Waidya Hamuwa has been the first opportunity that some people in remote areas have had to consult a doctor practising western medicine."

Releasing details of its signature corporate social responsibility project 'Waidya Hamuwa,' the company recently said it had conducted free medical camps in 30 locations so far this year, taking medical expertise to needy people from all walks of life.

These medical camps are conducted by teams of travelling doctors and offer consultations with general practitioners, checks by eye specialists, opticians and dentists as well as free ECGs, blood pressure and blood sugar tests.

The checks cover the general condition of the person examined and include oral and dental condition, vision, hearing, the cardio vascular system, respiratory tract, abdomen, skin, joints and central nervous system.

All participants undergo a structured examination at these camps and are provided with a medical report containing the doctor's findings and recommendations.

This year's programme has already covered the length and breadth of the country, with medical camps in towns such as Trincomalee in the eastern province, Akuressa, Beliatta, Beddegama and Deniyaya in the Deep South, Anuradhapura and Hingurakgoda in the North Central Province, Puttalam in the North Western Province and Teldeniya and Rikillagaskada in the hill country.

Among the areas where more such medical camps are planned to be held in the months ahead are Kahatagasdigiliya, Deniyaya, Ingiriya, Ambalangoda, Wattegama and Gampola.

Renganathan said, "There could be no better cause for a CSR initiative than the health of the nation.""As the country's leading life insurer, Ceylinco Life is positioned to conduct a programme of this scope and has the support of more than 150 branches in all districts for effective execution."

Now in its sixth year, Ceylinco Life's Waidya Hamuwa programme is estimated to have taken free medical expertise to more than 25,000 people in all parts of the country including the Jaffna peninsula, making it one of the widest-reaching CSR initiatives in Sri Lanka, Renganathan added.

Online treasury is Standard Chartered Bank's (SCB's) comprehensive proprietary Request for Quote foreign exchange service which is integrated into their industry leading Straight2Bank platform.

The online FX service delivers fast automated prices from SCB straight to any desktop. It leverages the Bank's comprehensive coverage of the global FX markets supporting Swap, Forward and Spot pricing in over 100 currency pairs twenty four hours a day. The online treasury eFX service provides a direct link to the Bank's trading floors delivering fast, "competitive," and "consistent" pricing.

The Bank's presence as a major participant in International Foreign Exchange markets gives it the ability to deliver "superior" FX solutions to its customers. It leads the market in the Asian, African and Middle Eastern currencies while offering competitive services in all major currencies with specialized onshore and offshore traders providing pricing in many illiquid and restricted currencies. Online Treasury offers a customer instant access to liquidity to efficiently achieve FX management objectives.

SCB Sri Lanka CEO Clive Haswell says, "We offer market transparency and real time prices to our customers. He will have the ability to transact all ticket sizes including exact amount to the last decimal unit."

Integration with the comprehensive range of Straight2Bank products and services across cash, trade and securities services enables a single point of access for the customer's transaction, hedging, and information needs. 

"SCB believes in leading the way by example. We are committed and responsible towards developing our regional markets. This is not the first time SCB has risen to the challenges in the market and I'm confident that there are many more to come" says Financial Markets Head, Sri Lanka Rukshan Dias."With the launch of our on-line treasury eFX service via our award winning proprietary electronic platform, Straight2Bank, clients now have a single point of access linking them to real time information from the trading floor while accessing Straight2Bank's comprehensive range of products and services. Focusing on client needs, we continue to enhance our eCommerce capabilities and strengthen our market leadership in Asia, Africa and Middle East markets and currencies," said SCB Global Markets' eCommerce and Retail Products Group Head Tom Roche.

SCB offers competitive pricing in G10 currencies. In the emerging market currencies, it is the first to trade a broad range of less liquid African currencies ranging from Kenyan Shilling to Tunisian Dinar and Namibian Dollar. It is also the first bank to auto quote Middle Eastern currencies round the clock.  

In a bid to enhance communication facilities for international travellers touring Sri Lanka, Dialog GSM and Jetwing Hotels recently launched a "special" communications solution for its international guests. The Dialog package not only provides cross border connectivity, but also offers customers a host of value added services.

Through this communication solution, IDD enabled Dialog Kit prepaid SIMs and eZ charge cards will be made available at selected Jetwing Hotels to international guests, giving them the convenience of being contactable as soon as they arrive at the hotel.

Dialog Mobile Chief Operating Officer Supun Weerasinghe said, "Our partnership with Jetwing hotels is an extension of our commitment towards delivering exceptional service levels to all our customers. Through this partnership we seek to address the unique communication needs of our inbound customers by providing them with a customized mobile communications solution."

Jetwing Hotels Managing Director Ruan Samarasinghe said, "We are glad to partner Dialog on this project and are confident that this programme will enrich the travel experience of our guests by giving them the opportunity to enjoy their stay in Sri Lanka, while also being able to keep in touch with their loved ones back home."

The special connection equipped with value added services is available at Ayurveda Pavilions, Beach, Blue Oceanic, Seashells, Tropical Villas & Ayurveda, Lighthouse Galle, Vil Uyana Sigiriya, Hunas Falls and St. Andrew's Nuwara Eliya.

Let your imagination take you through vast wilderness, soaring mountain peaks, cosmopolitan cities, perfect beaches and more.

Dream the perfect destination for adventure, relaxation, culture and sport. Then imagine all of these places within the borders of s single country. A place where each day brings new sights, sounds and experience where no two days are ever the same.

The 'safari' was born in Kenya, where it means simply ' a journey'. But this is a journey unlike any other.

 Here you will find savannah rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats, an exotic history and a fascinating modern culture, and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, relaxation and so much more than you ever expected.

As the rains bring the grasslands of the Massai Mara to life, the vast plains rumble with the thunder of approaching hooves as 1.5 million wildebeest migrate north from Serengeti. The resulting spectacle is a vision beyond belief.

Kenya has long been known as the home of Africa's famous "Big Five" (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo). It is the best continent to see these five magnificent species in their natural environment.

The southern Maasai country encompasses Amboseli, where "our" largest elephant herds can be found in the shadow of Kilimanjaro and to the west is the might Maasai Mara one of the worlds best known game reserves, the staging ground for the Great Wildebeest migration.

Northern Kenya is real adventure country. A world apart from the lush green South, this arid wilderness is a place where the cool oases of Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo springs attract a profusion of game.

Central Kenya has trout filled streams, white water and dense forest filled with big game- best seen from the world famous treetop lodges raised over waterholes.

Nkar Travels & tours (Pvt) Ltd have the expertise to tailor make your tour to Kenya this season to witness the great wildebeest migration - an awe-inspiring natural event in the world. 

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and JayKay Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd (JMSL), a John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) subsidiary teamed up to strengthen the company's sustainable sourcing initiatives and collection centres, including farmer cooperative societies and other farmer communities in the value chain and making the model replicable.

This will achieve the twin objectives of offering customers quality products at reasonable prices and improving job stability and skill development of growers and producers.

IFC's approach will be to initially carry out a diagnostic study which will lay the foundation for future work with JMSL. JMSL owns and operates 37 supermarkets under the brand names 'Keells Super' and 'Super K'. These food and grocery retail outlets will facilitate securing sources of quality produce from the farm gate and set up collection centres in agricultural areas as part of its "Sustainable Sourcing Initiatives" programme.

JKH Consumer Foods and Retail Group President Jit Gunaratne said, "Our retail chain, 'Keells Super', has been working with farmer communities in various parts of the country in sourcing vegetables, rice and related products. IFC's support to partner us in our effort to improve the productivity of our farmer groups and to assist in streamlining the post harvest handling and the supply chain is going to add value to our business and help in making the model replicable."

IFC Maldives and Sri Lanka Country Manager Gilles Galludec said, "As part of this project we will analyze the supply chain operations from both the farmer community and from JMSL perspective. The study will be useful in identifying critical gaps and making appropriate recommendations for addressing these. Effective interventions will assist in the ultimate goal of replicating this model to reach more farmer communities and to make a better and wider rural impact. We are keen to partner with JMSL in this activity, as it aligns with our larger role of developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," he added.

IFC support to the food and retail sector of the JKH Group through an Advisory Services package is aimed at providing a sustainable source of income and livelihood, increase the quality of life, job stability, skills and social development of growers and producers in the rural sector by bringing in best practices in terms of quality control, post harvest handling, access to finance and supply chain linkages.

IFC extended a corporate investment facility to support JKH's expansion in key business areas in Sri Lanka and other countries in the region in February 2008. IFC's standby loan of US$75 million for John Keells was IFC's single largest investment to date in the manufacturing and services sectors in Sri Lanka.

IFC will draw on lessons learned from previous Sri Lanka and worldwide projects and leverage IFC's core advisory products to generate maximum results. Once the recommendations are implemented the project will aim to equip rural SMEs to take advantage of market opportunities.

For this project, IFC-South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, Sri Lanka-Maldives, a multi donor funded facility managed and operated by IFC will work with JayKay Marketing Services. IFC-SEDF is funded by IFC and the Norwegian and Netherlands Governments with the objective of promoting the growth of SMEs in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Q. What is your current role at Monash College and your experience in the industry?

A. My role at Monash University if of Academic Dean, Monash College Sri Lanka. I have over 40 years experience in education administration in Australia, Asia and European countries. The academic processes of Monash College Sri Lanka come under my responsibility.

Q. What are the programmes available in Sri Lanka and who will benefit from these programmes?

A. Monash College programmes offered in Sri Lanka consist of two main programmes.

1. Monash College Undergraduate Diplomas part 1 and part 2):-Students after O/Level can start Undergraduate Diploma part 1 and on successful completion they can start Diploma part 2. After successfully completing the Undergraduate Diploma part 2, students can gain direct entry to the 2nd year in more than 50 degree programmes at the Monash University. Students after A/levels can directly join Diploma part 2 (Equivalent to 1st year university. Students can start undergraduate diplomas in Business, Engineering, IT, Arts (Communications and Human Behaviour) at Monash College Sri Lanka.

2. Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY):-MUFY is a university pathway programme that provides the academic bridge to successfully transfer to undergraduate studies at Monash University. MUFY has a proven track record as a successful transfer pathway to other prestigious Australian universities as well. With thousands of students worldwide wishing to be admitted in to prestigious universities in Australia, it is reassuring to know the recognition of MUFY by all prestigious Australian universities.

Students can start degree programmes in Business, Information Technology, Medicine, Engineering, Law, Arts and hundreds more. Sri Lankan students awaiting O/Level results now have the opportunity of starting the MUFY in Sri Lanka and transferring to a university of their choice in Australia.

Q. How do you maintain the quality of these programmes?

A. Well, we always engage Monash approved Australian faculty and local faculty with international exposure. The University has a well qualified and internationally experienced panel of lecturers.  The course material is written by them in Melbourne, and, whether a student is in Australia, South Africa or Malaysia or Monash College Sri Lanka, they will be following the same academic criteria. Exams are held on the same day in all locations and the answer papers are sent to Melbourne for moderation.

All our Australian and Sri Lankan lecturers at Monash College Sri Lanka are internationally qualified and experienced.

Q. What are the advantages of joining these programmes over other programmes offered in Sri Lanka?

A. Monash University is ranked among the top five universities in Australia and the top 40 in the world.  None of the other Australian programmes offered in Sri Lanka have such a higher ranking. That fact definitely gives a student an advantage over other programmes.

Monash College Sri Lanka is the only placing offering students Engineering, Medicine and Arts pathways. From day 1 at Monash College, students are registered with Monash University Australia and their succession to Monash University is guaranteed if the necessary marks are obtained.

Since Monash University Australia is one of the highest ranked universities in Australia, Monash programmes are recognised by all Australian universities.  This makes it easy for students to transfer to universities of their choice after the completion of their programmes.

Q. When is the next intake?

A. The intakes for Diploma 1 and 2 are scheduled to be in end June and the next MUFY intake will be in mid July.

Q. How can an interested student obtain more information?

A. They can call or visit us at Monash College Sri Lanka.

Going beyond the theme of 'indulgence,' Cinnamon Grand's charity initiative, 'Spread a Little Sunshine' undertakes its most ambitious project to date, since its launch in September 2007- a 16 kilometre walk to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital from the hotel premises on July 17.

The aim of the walk is to raise funds for a theatre lamp for the hospital's new operating theatre and to create awareness of this debilitating disease. 400 Associates of Team Cinnamon Grand led by General Manager Rohan Karr and the management will walk to raise the required Rs 1.8 million for the theatre lamp, while distributing educational material on the detection, treatment and prevention of cancer.  At the conclusion of the walk which is billed to take about three hours, the cheque for Rs 1.8 million will be presented to Maharagama Cancer Hospital Director Dr Kanishka Karunaratne.

"Our aim, through this walk is to reach out to the public.

The theatre lamp will undoubtedly help the cancer afflicted community and will aid in taking up more cases for surgery. This is another way for us to show our community that we care," says Karr.

'Spread a Little Sunshine' has seen numerous projects since its launch. This is also not the first time that the hotel has been associated with the Cancer Hospital, said Karr. For the walk, funds were collected on a privately circulated card system among the associates, who requested donations from family and friends. Each Associate aimed to collect a minimum of Rs 5,000 each.

'Spread a Little Sunshine' has aimed to work primarily on the CSR platforms of education, health and environment and has in the past, worked mainly with projects involving health and nutrition.

"CIMA Spellmaster 2008" organized by CIMA Sri Lanka Division had over 1,200 students from 240 schools participating in the competition.  90 spellers entered the second round of which 40 spellers have now qualified for the semi finals. Interestingly only 4 spellers have qualified for the semi finals from Colombo in this grand competition that has prize money of over Rs. one million at stake.

Meanwhile, the final competition in the second round of the CIMA Spellmaster 2008 that was worked off at the CIMA auditorium ended in an anti climax.

In the Fifth competition of the 2nd round 18 students started off the competition that was working towards identifying  eight "spellers" to join the band of already qualified spellers to compete in the semis.

In contrast to the pervious competitions this was an anti climax with 10 contestants been eliminated due to misspelling in the very first round thereby paving the way for the balance eight to walk straight into the semis without much of an effort.

The  eight spellers who qualified for the semifinals were M.Gaajathry of Udupiddy Hindu Girls' College, M.M.Fathima Shahana of Vishaka Girls' High School Badulla, D.M.Venura Bandara Dissanayake of Bandarawela Central College, Y.M.Poorna Yassas Yapa Bandara of Wellassa National School, L.P.Kalingu Yasas Premarathnal of MO/Rajakeeya National School, F.A.Asmara Agus of Crescent Schools International, Gehan Dilruk Dharmagunarathne of St.Joseph's College Anuradhapura and S.Aravinth of Hartley College.

Caltex has entered into an arrangement with TVS and Honda motorcycles in the Bangladeshi Market where Caltex will be the preferred brand of initial fill and aftermarket lubricants for TVS and Honda motorcycles as recommended by their original equipment manufacturer.

Chevron began export operations to Bangladesh in April 2006 to capitalise on the expanding lubricants market in Bangladesh.

 "The success of this operation has resulted in greater economies of scale for the company as well as the generation of foreign exchange which is a direct benefit to the Sri Lankan economy," said Kishu Gomes, Managing Director Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, exporter of Caltex branded lubricants to Bangladesh.

"Our partnership with both TVS and Honda in Bangladesh is an important part of our operations in Bangladesh helping us to leverage our competencies and expertise further in the Bangladeshi lubricants market," he said.

"Chevron's technology driven lubricants form a 'natural' fit with both TVS and Honda," he added.

The Bangladeshi motorcycle market has grown significantly over the last few years with TVS and Honda accounting for a major share of the market. TVS, represented by Auto Bangladesh Ltd, is a joint venture between TVS & Sons and Rian Motors Ltd of Bangladesh who is the distributor for the TVS range of two wheelers in Bangladesh. The Company assembles and distributes products through its network of sales, service and parts dealers throughout the country. Honda motorcycles are distributed by Atlas Bangladesh Ltd., one of the largest motorcycle and three wheeler manufacturing companies in the country.

Chevron is represented by Navana Group, Bangladesh, a highly diversified entity. 

Odel's 'Sari Bar' has been featured in a recent issue of 'Retail Design International,' one of the world's leading design magazines.

Among the other hip stores featured for their interior design in the same issue are:'Ripley'Chile), 'Primark'(UK), 'Fornarina'(Italy), 'Holt Renfrew' (Toronto), 'Street One' (Germany), 'Morgan Homme' (Japan), 'River Island' (Netherlands), 'Jimmy'Z' (Florida), 'Calvin Klein' (Dallas), 'All the Hoopla' (Michigan), 'Plaisio' (Greece), 'Stratus Winery' (Canada), 'Bush's' (Michigan) and 'Mikasa' (New York).

Odel CEO Otara Gunawardena said: "This recognition of the design excellence of Odel by an authoritative international publication is most encouraging and a tribute to the design talent in the region.

This article acknowledges that Odel continues to make waves with its trend setting concepts." 

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Sri Lanka (SL) website has acquired a "fresh" look through Eureka Interactive Media's creativity.

 "We are very pleased to have had Eureka re-design the CIM website which gave the right persona required by us. They have excelled beyond our expectations, " said Management Committee Member Islima Careem.

Eureka was faced with the challenge of revamping the website to fall in line with the concept and theme sported by the CIM UK website.

The new website features updates on CIM SL's events, including an event calendar box which provides information on upcoming training seminars programmes.

Among new features are membership benefits as well as a Learning Zone where students who need to download CIM's latest question papers or specimen papers can now obtain these from the website. Previously, they were required to log on to the CIM UK website, a process which was time consuming. 

Nokia and Tigo have come together to offer free pre-paid Tigo connection and limited free talk time on every purchase of a Nokia 1680 classic phone.

The Nokia 1680 classic is Nokia's most affordable camera phone offering mobile phone functionality with the added benefits of a basic digital camera and video recording features.

The Nokia 1680 classic offers consumers social networking via its photo sharing and video recording functionality & contemporary design. In addition to the VGA camera, the device comes equipped with one-touch access for photos and videos, phone sharing functionality and access to email which makes it useful for families and small businesses. In addition to showing people photos on the device display, people can share their pictures using communications technologies such as multimedia messaging (MMS) and the internet. Photos can be shared with friends and family without the need to print the image. The device also offers ring-tones with audio recording to personalize and share.

Other features include a phonebook which allows for 1,000 contacts, audio message, basic organizer toolkit including calendar, to-do list, prepaid tracker, MP3 ring tone, expense manager, calculator, integrated handsfree speaker, "large" colour display and easy to use key mat.

The New Zealand (NZ) Dairy Farming model has benefited the farmer through an efficient co-operative system and common branding.

Sri Lanka needs a co-operative model in which small farmers still are part owners, but exists within a framework of a large scale production model.

The New Zealand Dairy industry is a good example. The entire industry is configured towards a common dairy brand that has given it the strength to dominate world markets.

In this situation, dairy farmers are all shareholders that reap the

rewards of value addition long after their primary producer role within the supply chain is over.

My reference to corporate does not restrict us to the Colombo based blue-chips, it could well be a cooperative of rural farmers who are equipped with the skills to set up large-scale agro projects.

(Excerpts from observations made by MTI Consulting's New Zealand and Pakistani based offcials Jason Cordier & Dhanushka Jayakody respectively)