Ceylinco Building Society builds an
unshakeable image
By Ranee Mohamed
"The Ceylinco Building Society Limited is
the only private building society in Sri
Lanka registered under the National Housing
Act," said Deputy Chairperson, CAS Group
Mala Sabaratnam, Attorney-at-law and N.P.
Sabaratnam went on to record the valuable
services that the Ceylinco Building Society
has provided to society, especially to the
forgotten strata.
Speaking out at a time when the Ceylinco
Building Society is set to celebrate its
tenth anniversary, coinciding with the
birthday of Chairman, Ceylinco Consolidated,
Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala, Sabaratnam
said that the CBSL came into being owing to
the vision of Chairman Ceylinco
Consolidated, Deshamanya Dr. Lalith
Kotelawala. "It is his vision and dynamism
that has helped us reach great heights,"
said Sabaratnam.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader on
October 29, the Deputy Chairperson of CAS
Group said, "Today is the birthday of our
Chairman, Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala.
Today is also the tenth anniversary of the
CBSL. During the past ten years we have
established 16 branches in the north, south,
east and west. We have our own head office
at 101, Galle Road, Colombo 4 and networking
in our units."
"We are certainly on the path to success
and we really want to reach out to the
people in the areas where the housing needs
of the common man have not yet been met,"
she said and went on to say that people in
the north and east too turn to the CBSL for
support when they have to repair and
renovate their houses or restart their lives
and so it is in all other areas of the
country.
The Deputy Chairperson of Ceylinco CAS
Group, who is also a Director and Chief
Legal Officer of the Ceylinco Group of
Companies went on to say that there are many
people in society today who cannot prove
their income to the bank when it comes to
services of traditional lending.
" For example small time entrepreneurs
may have successful grocery shops and
businesses but when it comes to applying for
credit, these small time entrepreneurs are
unable to furnish all the information
required by the bank. Our services are
unique in that we cater especially to a
lower strata of society who do not have
access to bank loans because they may not
have the documentation needed by the bank,"
pointed out Sabaratnam.
Explaining further, Sabaratnam said
"There are many people in the rural areas
who are self-employed and traders who do not
know how to handle their finances and more
particularly to show their
credit-worthiness. Thus they are in a
situation where they are unable to get
credit from banks. In our line of business
we get involved with this section of society
for a long period of time. We encourage them
to save and we become very close to our
customers,’ said Sabaratnam.
She went on to say that it is not only
the forgotten strata of society that is
benefited by the CBSL but also higher
segments as property developers who come to
CBSL seeking help in the form of loans for
their buyers. Sabaratnam statd, "And we have
made our services available to that segment
too."
She also explained that CBSL is
recognized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
as an authorized company. "We reach out to
people in this situation and encourage them
to save. Depending on the quantum of their
savings, we give them loans," she stressed.
She went on to point out that the
Building Society concept is very popular in
the United Kingdom and has been in existence
for over 100 years. Some have converted to
become banks in the UK. They operate like a
Co-operative Society when members subscribe
and housing loans are given, said Sabaratnam
adding, ‘We believe in bonding together for
common prosperity, our logo of five people
holding hands, denotes a bonding of us all."
The most cost – effective solution for
your constrution
The construction of houses and buildings
has become an arduous task due to the
exorbitant cost o construction.
International Construction Consortium (Pvt)
Ltd better known as ICC a giant in the
construction industry – established in 1980
is an ISO 9001:2000 certified MI class
construction company and has won the IFAWPCA
gold medal for Civil Engineering
Construction and ICTAD award for
construction excellence 2002, 2003 and 2004.
ICC, a pioneer solution provider in the
construction industry has accomplished a
significant task in introducing the
innovative pre-cast SBS Floor system as a
revolutionary alternative to in-situ
concrete slabs.
This SBS Floor systems translates into
cost saving solution on reinforcement steel,
concrete shuttering, and labour costs
compared to the conventional cost in-situ
method, achieving maximum saving out of
minimum investment by constructing sturdy
single beam floors (for housing) and double
beam floors (for shops and offices)
The SBS floor has a multitude of
advantages and has generated a rapid demand
at present in the construction industry.
This SBS systems requires no scaffolding,
props and shuttering and this saves the
usage of timber and eco- friendly solution
for the future timber related problems.
Normally slabs are designed to impose 150KG
per square metre, but SBS slabs have an
enhanced strength up to 500kg per square
metre. All precast elements are manufactured
and tested in ICC’s state-of-the art
laboratory. Technical Officers of ICC visit
the construction sites and deliver free
technical advice and provide transport up to
20 km from their yard at Madapatha, to ease
the hassle of customers.
At present, this is the ideal solution
for the construction of homes for thousands
of Sri Lankans ensuring quality, maximum use
of space while saving time and money.
SBS slab systems now has stepped up to a
new innovating way of constructing the
balconies without projecting the structural
beams of the buildings. The SBS pre-stress
beams for the adjoining can project outwards
to form the balcony. This is becoming these
days extremely popular among the builders.
Buying a new home?
Knowledge is said to open doors. This is
literally true when it comes to buying a
home. To become a first-time homebuyer, you
need to know where and how to begin the home
buying process. The following questions and
answers have been carefully selected to give
you a foundation of basic knowledge. Use the
information to determine if you’re ready to
buy a home.
Getting started
1. How do I know if I’m ready to buy a
home?
You can find out by asking yourself some
questions:
Do I have a steady source of income?
Have I been employed on a regular basis
for the last 2-3 years?
Is my current income reliable?
Do I have a good record of paying my
bills?
Do I have few outstanding long-term
debts, like car payments?
Do I have money saved for a down payment?
Do I have the ability to pay a mortgage
every month, plus additional costs?
If you can answer "yes" to these
questions, you are probably ready to buy
your own home.
2. How do I begin the process of buying a
home?
Start by thinking about your situation.
Are you ready to buy a home? How much can
you afford in a monthly mortgage payment?
How much space do you need? What areas of
town do you like? After you answer these
questions, make a "To do" list and start
doing casual research. Talk to friends and
family, drive through neighborhoods, and
look in the house and property sections of
newspapers.
3. How does purchasing a home compare
with renting?
The two don’t really compare at all. The
one advantage of renting is being generally
free of most maintenance responsibilities.
But by renting, you lose the chance to build
equity, take advantage of tax benefits, and
protect yourself against rent increases.
Also, you may not be free to decorate
without permission and may be at the mercy
of the landlord for housing. Owning a home
has many benefits. When you make a mortgage
payment, you are building equity. And that’s
an investment. Given the freedom, stability,
and security of owning your own home, they
are worth it.
4. How does the lender decide the maximum
loan amount that can afford?
The lender considers your debt-to-income
ratio, which is a comparison of your gross
(pre-tax) income to housing and non-housing
expenses. Non-housing expenses include such
long-term debts as car or student loan
payments, alimony, or child support. The
lender also considers cash available for
down payment and closing costs, credit
history, etc. when determining your maximum
loan amount.
5. How do I select the right real estate
agent?
Start by asking family and friends if
they can recommend an agent. Compile a list
of several agents and talk to each before
choosing one. Look for an agent who listens
well and understands your needs, and whose
judgment you trust. The ideal agent knows
the local area well and has resources and
contacts to help you in your search.
Overall, you want to choose an agent that
makes you feel comfortable and can provide
all the knowledge and services you need.
6. How can I determine my housing needs
before I begin the search?
Your home should fit the way you live,
with spaces and features that appeal to the
whole family. Before you begin looking at
homes, make a list of your priorities —
things like location and size. Should the
house be close to certain schools? Your job?
To public transportation? How large should
the house be? What type of lot do you
prefer? What kinds of amenities are you
looking for? Establish a set of minimum
requirements and a ‘wish list.’ Minimum
requirements are things that a house must
have for you to consider it, while a ‘wish
list’ covers things that you’d like to have
but aren’t essential.
The Park Lane Residencies come to Mount
Lavinia!
Riding on the wave of success of The Park
Lane Residencies Homagama, ASPIC is
set to unveil The Park Lane Residencies
Mount Lavinia.
Located just 150 meters from Galle Road
down Lumbini Avenue, The Park Lane
Residencies Mount Lavinia consists of 23
super luxury houses and is set to be a
landmark project and one of a kind in Mount
Lavinia.
Model homes are ready to be viewed by the
public, however, 7 of the 23 houses have
already been booked.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader
Chaminda Pallawala Managing Director of
Aspic Developments stated that this is the
company’s first venture in Mount Lavinia and
they are confident of repeating their past
success.
Pallawala said, "We wanted to cater to a
higher end this time around and the
facilities and features of the houses are
fantastic. Customers can come by and choose
their plot of land which ranges from 7.5
perches to 10 perches and the houses will be
different from each other as the land sizes
differ. Also each of the 3 to 4 bedroom
houses will be two storyed with a two car
garage, 12 foot parapet wall and 24-hour
security, gym, swimming pool and of course
being located in Mount Lavinia, the houses
are in close proximity to leading banks,
supermarkets, schools, the police station
and restaurants."
The fully air conditioned homes also come
with luxury amenities including Cable TV,
phones and internet access, remote
controlled roller shutter, hot water and a
servants room among others.
Coupled with all this, The Park Lane
Residencies Mount Lavinia has another unique
selling point; being just a walk away from
the beach.
In keeping with the company’s eco
friendly ways, the houses come in two
categories with four contrasting designs.
The in-house nature friendly ventilation
system is a unique method of keeping the air
you breath fresh and clean at all times.
The amenities that each house features
are similar to top luxury apartments in
Colombo, only The Park Lane Residencies
Mount Lavinia is a 20 minute drive,
offering the scenic beauty of Mount and a
more personal home in a cosy neighbourhood.
Talking about the location, Pallawala
said that the houses are ideal for new
families or young working executives as it’s
just a few minutes drive from the city.
He said, "This project, just like the one
in Homagame is very child friendly. The 12
foot parapet wall ensures security and
there’s easy access to schools and other
commercial establishments."
The houses come with warranties as well
and ASPIC also offers highly professional
maintenance of the houses. He added that one
of the most unique features of the houses is
that just like the project in Homagama, this
too will give homebuyers easy access to the
top management to solve any issues they may
have.
Priced at just Rs. 19 million onwards,
each of the 23 homes will be designed using
imported fittings in the bathrooms, a
kitchen with fitted pantry cupboards, dining
and living room and the upper floor area
will feature Kumbuk timber, a truly
luxurious finishing touch.
If the alarmingly fast rate that The Park
Lane Residencies Homagama pre-sold,
then there’ll be no time to lose in checking
out the The Park Lane Residencies Mount
Lavinia.
According to Pallawala construction of
the houses are already started and can be
completed as early as April 2009.
The Park Lane Residencies Mount Lavinia
is funded by CIFL Finance and Asset
Management Ltd and a BOI approved project.
The Mount Lavinia project is yet another
expansion of ASPIC Group Chairman Deepthi
Perera’s vision to provide all Sri Lankans
with affordable, beautiful, quality homes.
Pallawala went on to say that customers
can look forward to the same superior sales
and after sales service that ASPIC has
become known for.
But it doesn’t end in Mount Lavinia,
ASPIC has taken on yet another project in
the hill country of Kandy with a project
called Park Lane Residencies Kandy. The
project consists of 25 luxury houses that
have stunning views of the Hunnasgiriya
Mountains.
The success of The Park Lane Residencies
Homagama and the current undertaking
by ASPIC in Mount Lavinia proves the high
demand for quality homes in the country
despite the turbulent times the housing
industry has been facing and that ASPIC is
ready and able to meet the demand.
The future is green, and you just found
it !
These days you probably feel flooded by
dire-sounding environmental news ("the Earth
is set to deflate by 2011") and endless
suggestions for greener living ("algae
cold-fusion reactors for your shoes"). But
fret not we’re here to help sort things out
and get your eco show on the road.
Here, we bring it back to basics and
break it down into bite sized chunks of
simple, everyday ways to live a greener,
healthier, more ethical (and ultimately more
fun) life. So read on. And remember, if you
have a friend, relative, or a colleague who
needs a little help on the green front, send
them this way to 49/16, Galle Road, Colombo
3 (Close to the Galeface Green) to get to
know more about the "eco friendly- green
homes, surrounded by green in all its
splendor"
Educate yourself - How can you solve
the problem if you don’t know what the
problem is? Luckily, information on green
thinking, environmentalism and sustainable
living is everywhere these days. Why not
start with walking, biking or using mass
transit, at least a few days a week. Why not
turn lights off when you go out, install
energy efficient bulbs and appliances,
insulate your home, and keep an eye on
consumption.
Clean, drinkable water is precious and
needs to be used most efficiently — so why
not turn the tap off when you’re brushing
your teeth, switch to more efficient
appliances or collect rainwater for use in
the garden.
It stands to reason that our collective
food choices have a huge impact on the
planet — so why not eat local, eat seasonal,
eat organic, and finally, eat less meat.
Every item thrown away has taken energy and
resources to manufacture and transport, and
it will take even more energy and resources
to process and dispose of — so why not
reduce, reuse, recycle and don’t forget to
compost, says Dilan Senevirathne, Assistant
General Manager of Nivasie Developers (Pvt.)
Ltd (the only eco friendly – green home
project developer in the country).
Not content with greening your own life?
Then why not start tackling the emissions in
your neighborhood, village, or town? Maybe
you can set up an action group to plan for a
greener future, or to tackle specific issues
like community composting. Perhaps you want
to move into a dedicated green ‘intentional
community’ or ecovillage. Whatever your
level of community involvement is, our guide
to greening your community is as good a
place as any to start. Why not take a tour
with us to the Victoria Range . Green and
soothing as ever —wherever your eyes could
roam.
Become your own power station. So
you’ve installed your low-energy light
bulbs, insulated your loft, and taught your
kids (or parents!) how to kill phantom
power. You’ve even signed up for your
utility’s green power scheme. What next?
If you’ve got the time and money, you
might want to consider following every
hippy’s dream and generate your own power
through wind, solar, biomass, or other
sources. This doesn’t mean you have to go
off the grid completely—you may want to
generate only some of your power, through
solar water heating for example as found in
one of the many luxury bungalows in the
Victoria Range.
Make it your business. We’ve saved
this one for last, because we tend to think
that positive action should start with you.
It’s clear, however, that none of us are
going to achieve a sustainable lifestyle
overnight but once you’ve done your best to
read this article, you may want to consider
knowing more about Green Future Living at
Eco Town — Victoria Range, nestled in nature
amongst lush green forests, and towering
majestic peaks..
Make sure you are comfortable with the
idea first, then talk to Green Man –
Janaka on 0777 719714 or Priyashan on 0777
714715 or better still visit 49/16, Galle
Road, Colombo 3 (Opposite Galle Face Hotel).
EXTERMINATORS 10 Years of Excellence
The Exterminators (Pvt) Ltd Sri Lanka’s
leading pest management company celebrated
its 10th anniversary on October 30, 2008.
Exterminators began business in 1998 with
just a technician and vehicle. Today the
company has more than 50 employees, four
branch offices in Kandy, Galle, Ampara,
Kurunegala, Hambantota. Exterminators has
also been in the news in international
magazines such as the Economist, PestWorld
and PCT.
Exterminator’s ideology is to ‘Absolute
Service Integrity’ and ‘Profit, from the
work that benefits humanity.’ Exterminator’s
main slogan is the "Customers will never
regret with Exterminators" Therefore the
Exterminators adopt the state-of-the-art
chemistry to control pests without harming
you, your family pets or plants.
Exterminators hierarchy of responsibilities
begins with customer first, employee’s
second, society at large the third and the
shareholders fourth.
The exterminators 10 year anniversary
will celebrated with a ‘Grand Pest Fiesta’
which begins on October 30 and ends on
December 31. They offer Sri Lankan’s a great
opportunity to win during this season and
everyone who purchase our service to the
value of LKR 10,000 and more will receive a
fire and lighting insurance up to LKR 10
million.
What to Win
1st Prize : Securing your life from
deadly disease
2nd Prize : Protection your business
reputation and profits
3rd Prize : Protecting your home,
lifetime investment from termites
You will also enter the Grand Draw
automatically and win return air tickets to
Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok.
Termites the destructive pest
Nobody takes termite problem lightly.
Those who casually shake off the threat have
soon found the termites are already shaking
their homes and offices. No matter how your
home or office is constructed; where it is
located or how old it is, the termites can
attack it at will. And the menace is
everywhere across the globe. Damage caused
could go unnoticed and that is the reason
why termites are so destructive.
"Ours is a unique product offering a
total service. We are not a traditional pest
control company," says Marlon, CEO of
Exterminators (Pvt.) Ltd., located at
Koswatte, Battaramulla. "Our guarantee is 10
years for new constructions and five years
for existing constructions," he says and
adds that termite control takes only 0.1 per
cent of the total cost of construction.
"We also offer, for the first time in Sri
Lanka, a money-back guarantee that comes
exclusively from Exterminators," says Marlon
and explains that offer comes with
conditions depending on the location and
adjacent areas.
The total package of assurances comes in
the form of —
· 100% Satisfaction guarantee
· Re-treatment guarantee
· 24-hour Response guarantee
· Money back guarantee
Asked about the chemicals they use,
Marlon said that the products they use are
not only extremely safe, but also are
environment-friendly, eco products.
Exterminators no longer use detectable,
repellent chemicals for the simple reason
that termites sense the chemical and turn
away to find a weaker area to attack the
building.
The goal of the Exterminators is to
ensure that a current infestation is totally
eliminated and that subsequent infestations
does not occur.
The service begins with a comprehensive
inspection performed by a highly trained
inspector. Exterminators’ inspectors are not
only knowledgeable in Entomology; they are
also knowledgeable in building practices and
termite control biotechnology.
There are 10 key reasons to rely on
Exterminators:
1. Training and competence:
Technicians undergo intensive training in
all aspects of termite control including
safe use of pesticides and also
knowledgeable in building practices and
termite biology. Exterminators invest over
Rs. 2.5 million annually to train its staff
nationally and internationally.
2. Experience: Exterminators has
treated more than 25,000 homes and buildings
against subterranean termites in Sri Lanka
since 1998 and the call back rate is less
than 0.5%.
3. Proof of service and guarantee:
Exterminators provides termite protection
for a period of 10 years for new homes and
buildings sites and five years for existing
buildings. Homes that qualify for the EITM
system will receive the exclusive Money-Back
guarantee.
4. Safety: Exterminators understands
the importance of safety in pest management
operations and has legal responsibilities
for the safety of clients as well as the
environment. In addition, a professional
obligation to use pesticides in a safe
manner. Therefore, a comprehensive risk
assessment is carried out in all sites prior
to the treatment considering all safety and
environmental factor.
5. License and authorisation:
Authorized by the ROP – Department of
Agriculture, Sri Lanka and also accredited
by the AQIS Department of Agriculture,
Australia.
6. Affiliations: The American
Mosquito Control Association; International
Pest Control Operators Network USA; National
Pest Management Association USA and the
Singapore Pest Management Association;
Corporate member of the Sri Lanka
Association of Quality and National
Construction Association of Sri Lanka.
7. The CEO: The Chief Executive
Officer, who has been in the pest control
industry in Sri Lanka since 1992 undergoing
training at the Royal Society for the
Promotion of Health UK; Warwick University,
Derby, UK; British Pest Control Association;
PEST IT – Australia; Australian
Environmental Pest Managers’ Association;
Malaysian Pest Control Association,
Singapore Pest Management Association;
Federation of Asia Oceania Pest Managers’
Association. Marlon is also a member of the
British Pest Control Association and the
Basis Pest Control Mangers, UK.
8. CEO’s qualifications: MBPL (Pest
Control UK; RSPH/BPCA (Pest Control) UK;
Diploma in Fumigation UK; Accredited
Fumigator AQIS Australia.
9. Quality standards: Exterminators
adheres to the Australian Termite Management
Standards, WRAP Principals, ISPN, AQIS, NPQS
Standards, ISO 18000, 14000 and GMP
requirements.
10. Service integrity: There are no
hidden recipes to control termites or any
other pest. Exterminators provided all
information about termiticides such as
dosage, safety concerns, guarantee period
and product lifetime and even the
termiticide manufacturers links in the
proposal, which any other pest controller
cannot even imaging to do.
It all adds up to the fact that with
Exterminators, you are in safe hands.
Exterminators online www.pestcontrol.lk
Ceremonial Opening of 6th Avenue
Apartments
In Sri Lanka the last two decades have
witnessed a housing boom catering around the
needs of the more affluent sections of
society. Mushrooming of high rise apartment
blocks, more often with scant regard for the
availability of corresponding infrastructure
facilities.
In this background it has become
necessary for property developers to be
mindful of the essential needs of customers.
6th Avenue Apartments are specially
designed to make sure that not only the
customer’s, luxuries are taken care of, but
their needs and more specifically their
welfare is protected.
Air and noise pollution has become a
vital issue particularly in today’s context
of ever increasing traffic. The unique
concept adopted in the designing of 6th
Avenue Apartments, eliminating balconies and
windows without restricting air circulation
and lighting has greatly cut down on air and
noise pollution.
In considering the welfare of the
occupants it was not only the physical
welfare that was considered. Apartment
living has contributed towards changing the
fabric of our society’s traditional living.
Joint families not only become non existent
but even a visiting grandparent is to be
shunned. Children returning from school
enter an empty house and are left to their
own devices.
Design of 6th Avenue Apartments not only
welcome grandparents and family members but
provide expansive accommodation, while
ensuring privacy both for the visitors and
the inmates.
Our vision "linking generations" is to
foster the eastern tradition of joint
families where care, concern and love of the
extended family is shared, without the
hassle of maintaining large family homes.
Large well designed apartments provide
many amenities including fridge, cooker,
washing machine and fitted pantry. The
construction of 6th Avenue Apartments needs
no further comments than to state that it
won the contractor an ICTAD award. Ideally
situated in the city 6th Avenue Apartments
will no doubt fulfill every house owner’s
dream.
Finding the right loan for you
How do I choose the best loan programme?
Your personal situation will determine
the best kind of loan for you. By asking
yourself a few questions, you can help
narrow your search among the many options
available and discover which loan suits you
best.
1. Do you expect your finances to
changeover the next few years?
2. Are you planning to live in this home
for a long period of time?
3. Are you comfortable with the idea of a
changing mortgage payment amount?
4. Do you wish to be free of mortgage
debt as your children approach college age
or as you prepare for retirement?
5. Your lender can help you use your
answers to questions such as these to decide
which loan best fits your needs.
What is the best way to compare loan
terms between lenders?
First, devise a checklist for the
information from each lending institution.
You should include the company’s name and
basic information, the type of mortgage,
minimum down payment required, interest rate
and points, closing costs, loan processing
time, and whether prepayment is allowed.
Speak with companies by phone or in person.
Be sure to call every lender on the list the
same day, as interest rates can fluctuate
daily. In addition to doing your own
research, your real estate agent may have
access to a database of lender and mortgage
options. Though your agent may primarily be
affiliated with a particular lending
institution, he or she may also be able to
suggest a variety of different lender
options to you.
What responsibilities do I have during
the lending process?
To ensure you won’t fall victim to loan
fraud, be sure to follow all of these steps
as you apply for a loan:
1. Be sure to read and understand
everything before you sign.
2. Refuse to sign any blank documents.
3. Do not buy property for someone else.
4. Do not overstate your income.
5. Do not overstate how long you have
been employed.
6. Do not overstate your assets.
7. Accurately report your debts.
8. Do not list fake co-borrowers on your
loan application.
9. Be truthful about your credit
problems, past and present.
10. Be honest about your intention to
occupy the house
11. Do not provide false supporting
documents.
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