Sri Lanka’s pioneering vision and hearing care specialist, J M Wickramarachchi Opticians together with Orel IT, recently launched the revolutionary artificial vision technology in Sri Lanka. This technology which has taken the world by storm with its ability to allow the visually impaired to do much more than reading, is set to transform the way we look at Ophthalmology. OrCam, dubbed the most advanced wearable assistive technology device for the blind and visually impaired, not just reads text, but also recognizes faces, identifies products and more. OrCam was jointly founded in 2010 by Prof. Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram. The original OrCam MyEye device was launched in 2015, and the next generation OrCam MyEye 2.0 was launched in 2017. The latest version is what will be available in Sri Lanka. OrCam MyEye 2.0 increases users’ independence and this device can easily be used by children, adults, and the elderly alike which improves his/her quality of life. OrCam MyEye 2 is a tiny device, about 22 grams, that uses highly advanced AI, OCR and machine learning technology to instantly read any printed and digital text, recognize faces, identify products, money notes, colours, barcodes and even tell the user the time and date all with intuitive gesture control. It does this by conveying visual information audibly. The device could be easily attached to almost any pair of glasses and it works in real-time, requiring no internet connectivity to function. It assures full data privacy. Furthermore, persons suffering from dyslexia and reading fatigue could read properly with the use of the product.  OrCam enables persons who cannot read English to actually ‘read’ and absorb what is there in a written form as an automated voice does the reading for them.  Automatic LED illumination also permits the person wearing the product to read in the dark. The product also comes with a USB charger, automatic software updates, and Bluetooth connectivity. “OrCam MyEye 2 has won numerous awards over the years. It is available in more than 29 countries, in nearly 20 languages and is now available in Sri Lanka via Wickramarachchi Opticians island wide. The product is marketed by Orel IT, an innovative and groundbreaking IT company in Sri Lanka. JM Wickramarachchi and Co. who has partnered with Orel IT as the distributor of OrCam has built a strong reputation as a leading eye care solution in the country. Established in 1976, today Wickramarachchi Opticians has a wide network of outlets across the country providing eye care diagnostics, spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses. For more information, please contact Wickramarachchi Opticians on 0112 824646. Photo caption: (Above) German Ambassador in Sri Lanka His Excellency John Rodhe testing out the product

The post ‘Let the Blind See’ with Wickramarachchi Opticians and Orel IT’s OrCam appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The first and only hospital chain in Sri Lanka to have been accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHSI), Hemas Hospitals sparked a revolution in digitally-enabled healthcare in Sri Lanka with the launch of the Hemas Health mobile app. Available for download on Android and iOS, the Hemas Health app is designed to serve as a comprehensive integrated health and wellness platform that provides users with convenient and direct access to healthcare services offered by Hemas Hospitals in addition to a plethora of wellness services and products. “Digitally enabled healthcare and wellness has rapidly evolved beyond a global trend in the healthcare landscape – particularly in more advanced economies. We believe that emerging economies like Sri Lanka too can benefit from these technological advancements, particularly given the fact that we have over 6.71 million active internet users in the country. Of these, six million are active on social media, with 92% of them accessing these platforms through mobile phones. These conditions have created the ideal environment for Hemas Hospitals to take its maiden steps in the journey to become Sri Lanka’s first truly smart hospital. We believe that our expansion into the digital sphere is an important milestone in our path to becoming Sri Lanka’s most prominent healthcare service provider to deliver superior customer experiences and clinical outcomes, backed by digital innovations,” Dr. Lakith Pieris, Managing Director of Hemas Hospital and Laboratory Chain said. The app offers users direct access to a wide range of healthcare services including direct access to doctors and specialists at Hemas Hospitals through the Channel a Doctor feature. Unique healthcare facilities such as TeleMedicine and TelePhysio facilitate video consultations and therapy sessions between doctors at Hemas Hospital and patients situated at any location in the country or even the world. Embedded with an EMR (Electronic Medical Record) system, the digital platforms offer doctors the opportunity to maintain patient records record and allow patients to send in pictures of prescriptions and previous records. Users also have access to Lab Reports instantly through the Lab Report feature which also compounds health data and maintains a bank of the user’s health reports and has the ability to transfer said reports to doctors and other healthcare professionals. Users can also connect directly with specialists from numerous disciplines in addition to wellness specialties such as fitness instructors through the Ask a Doctor feature. Additionally, the Online Pharmacy also offers users in Colombo and Gampaha Districts the option of delivery for prescriptions uploaded to the app. “The mobile app was designed with the intention of not only linking users directly to the healthcare services offered by Hemas Hospitals but also to promote a healthy lifestyle among our growing user base through the availability of wellness services and products. As a responsible corporate citizen and leading healthcare service provider we believe that it is our responsibility to promote wellness and provide accessibility to all citizens to quality healthcare services,” Dr. Pieris elaborated. Doubling as a wellness app, Hemas Health when connected to a user’s Fitbit keeps a clear record of their health conditions. The product is one of many available within the online store of the app in addition to subscriptions to wellness related programmes such as those for weight loss, dieting and fitness. Finally, the blog space provides users with a platform on which to share health and fitness goals and partake in challenges set out by Hemas Health. The app is on track to be further developed with the addition of new features such as LiveTrack, in addition to a comprehensive platform for expectant mothers to track their pregnancy with easy access to healthcare professionals. A loyalty programme will also be introduced for the app, allowing users to utilise their points to purchase programmes and products from the store. Hemas Health is powered by Digital Health Solutions (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka’s premier digital health solutions provider which grants its subscribers the ability to retrieve health services through digital platforms. First established in 2008 with the launch of its pioneering facility in Wattala, followed by a second facility in Thalawathugoda, Hemas Hospitals is one of the most advanced hospital chains in Sri Lanka. It is currently aiming to expand its operations into super-speciality medical and healthcare through the addition of further state-of-the-art facilities aimed at providing an international standard of healthcare at an affordable cost for all Sri Lankans. The organisation provides a wide array of surgical and medical specialties and has established an island-wide network of clinical laboratories. Photo captions: (Above) Chandima Cooray (Chief Digital officer – Hemas holdings) demonstrating the functionality of the Hemas Health App and (below – from left) Nishantha Jayamanna – General Manger Marketing and Business development, Prof. Vajira Dissanayake – University of Colombo, Dr. Lakith Peiris – Managing Director Hemas Hospitals and Laboratory Chain and Mr. Chandima Cooray – Chief Digital Officer – Hemas holdings

The post Hemas Health app to revolutionise health and wellness in Sri Lanka appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Best in-class industry partners

Nokia 3.1 Plus: The perfect harmony of materials and performance

Nokia 2 V: The two-day battery life² smartphone gets even better

The post HMD Global partners with three leading wireless providers to offer latest Nokia phones to North American consumers appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

• Four times weekly service

• Porto will become Emirates’ second destination in Portugal

• Travellers in northern Portugal will have direct access to Emirates’ global network via Dubai

The post Emirates to launch new service to Porto appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The film festival, organised by SPORTSINFO, Sri Lanka’s premier sports promotion network in collaboration with National Sports Development Foundation aims to strengthen the country’s sports literature base through cinematic creations.   This inaugural SILK International Sports Film Festival will be held at the Tharangani Theatre of the National Film Corporation from 26 to 28 February. The three days of the festival will be graced by the presence of Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employmednt and Sports; Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Chairman, SLT and Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and 1996 Cricket World Cup Winning Captain respectively.   The objective of the organisers is to bring together passionate Sports Instructors, Social Scientists, Cinematographers, Literary Figures, Sports Critics and fans onto a single platform and introduce them to use Sports Media and Communication as a tool to reach greater heights in sports arena.   It also aims to promote cinema as a medium of sports education with related to subjects such as Sports science, Sports psychology, Sports medicine and Sports sociology in creating a sports-centered culture. The Film Festival further reinforces the need of building a base of sports literature while reaching towards international victories.  Yet another primary objective of this initiative is to introduce sports based literature as a learning material for sports enthusiasts.   According to many prominent sports personalities, a systematic programme should be implemented to enrich Sri Lanka’s sports literature including sports themed novels, short stories, sports literature reviews and sports documentaries, which will in return contribute to motivate the budding sports stars of the country.   Today, developed nations including the United States of America, Australia as well as the United Kingdom and also Asian countries such as Japan, China and South Korea have made the maximum use of cinema productions as a source of sports literature.   In the following year, SPORTSINFO plans to organise an International Cinema Festival in parallel with the Film Festival. An International Awards Ceremony is also planned to be held to recognise diverse talents including Best Documentary Film, Best Short Film, Best Director and Best Editor.   A symposium on sports cinematography will also be held with the participation of Harsha B Abeykoon, Sri Lanka Representative, Federation Interanationale Cinema Television Sportifs (FICTS) and External Lecturer. The panel will consist of eminent personalities including Dr Samantha Nanayakkara, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo; Rear Admiral Dr Shemal Fernando, Executive Committee Member, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and External Lecturer; Dr Seevali Jayawickreme, Director General, Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency and Deeptha Bandara, Veteran Film Critic.   SLT – PEO TV proudly sponsors the PEO TV SILK Film Festival while www.helawoodpopcorn.com joins hands as the official website of the event.   The opening film of the festival will be ‘Miracle Season’, which features how a devastating loss led an American girls’ volleyball team to victory. Directed by Sean McNamara, Miracle Season was first screened in April, 2018. ‘Gold’, a film based upon the Indian hockey team that won the first Olympic medal for India as a free nation in 1948 was first screened in August, 2018. This Bollywood blockbuster directed by Reema Kagti will be screened on the second day of the film festival. Released in September, 2016, ‘M S Dhoni’ is the incredible story of India’s cricketing legend Dhoni, which was directed by Neeraj Pandey. M S Dhoni will be shown on the last day.   For further details, contact Sanjeewa on +94 776 797997

The post PEO TV Partners with Sri Lanka’s First-Ever International Sports Film Festival appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Ceylon Leather Products Limited wins 3 major Design prizes and 12 certificates

The post Major recognition for DI at Footwear and Leather Fair 2019 appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

IRONKIDS Sri Lanka, which concluded this morning saw 680 children take part in a non-competitive race at Galle Face Colombo. The race started at 8am on the day before So Sri Lanka IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo which will be held on Sunday February 24, 2019. The event was open to all children aged from 3 up to 14 years old. Parents/caregivers were able to accompany the younger children. The event featured four distances to cater for all ages and abilities. The event course covered the entire Galle Face Walk and pavement up to Chaitya Road and the format will included a two kilometre run for the 12-14 year age group, a one and a half kilometre run for the 9 to 11 year olds, a one kilometre run for those aged between 6 to 8 years, and a 500 metre run for those aged 3 to 5 years.. IRONKIDS Sri Lanka is all about inspiring the kids to embrace an active lifestyle from a young age and to make them part of the big IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo event weekend. Participants received an IRONKIDS branded t-shirt, medal and a certificate. IRONKIDS is organised and run by Pro-Am Serendib, the event is partnered by Shangri-La Hotel Colombo .

The post IRONKIDS hit the streets of Colombo appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Enterprise technology solutions provider, Pyxle, announced the appointment of Anura De Alwis as Chief Executive Officer – one of many strategic moves to further strengthen the brand and its presence, following the launch of its fresh direction and vision, Pyxle 2.0. Founded in 2003, Pyxle has cemented its reputation as a reliable digital solutions and technology company, having provided enterprise solutions and services to a growing global customer base. The Pyxle 2.0 ethos was formulated in 2017, when the Tavistock Group, invested into Pyxle with the intention of transforming the company into a major global player in the technology space. With an unwavering ambition to be a leading global technology provider, Pyxle sought to find the best in field to take the head role and is delighted to have found those qualities in Anura. “Anura is a veteran in the game, with an established and consistent track record of driving key initiatives, fostering innovation and overall being a genuine leader of change,” said Pyxle founder, Presantha Jayamaha. “More importantly, he is a perfect fit for the company ethos, possessing the know-how that will take our vision forward. This is a transformational opportunity for the company, we welcome Anura to the helm as Pyxle prepares for its next phase of growth.” A seasoned ICT professional, Anura brings to the company over 28 years of industry experience in technology and business operations across Australia, Europe, USA, and Asia, and his resume reads big names such as Telstra, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Tabcorp, British Telecom, Verizon and Singapore Energy. Prior to his appointment, Anura was the General Manager, Global Business Services Sri Lanka at Pearson, and was responsible for spearheading the company’s growth from 160 to the largest captive technology centre in the country with over 800 professional resources. Entrepreneurial, dynamic and an out of the box thinker, Anura has established three start-up companies and a mentorship program, ‘Talk The Walks’, which has recruited the voluntary involvement of many industry CxOs and role model leaders from the country. With plans to hit the ground running, Anura de Alwis said “This is a welcome move for me at this point in my career. I know the Pyxle family to be a team of passionate professionals who have already delivered incredible results in the technological solutions landscape, and I have absolute confidence in the strong future we can build together for the business.” Anura starts with the business on 25 February. About Pyxle: Pyxle’s portfolio of digital transformation strategies include Technology Consulting, Software Development, Managed IT Services, Enterprise Data Consulting, Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence, and Oracle ERP Consulting. Pyxle is a member of the Elovate Group – a cluster of local tech businesses brought together under the private investment organisation, The Tavistock Group. Elovate offers their partners value through end-to-end technological solutions across hardware, software, marketing and analytics. www.elovate.global About Tavistock: Tavistock Group is an international private investment organization founded by Joe Lewis more than 40 years ago and built on a core philosophy: We strive for excellence in everything we do. Entrepreneurial and progressive, Tavistock values long-term relationships and seeks investment opportunities around the world, which benefit from their capital, experience, flexibility and broad base of resources. www.tavistock.com Photo caption: Anura De Alwis – Chief Executive Officer, Pyxle

The post Anura De Alwis takes the lead role in Pyxle’s next phase of growth appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Sri Lanka’s flagship real estate event of the year, the Lanka Property Show 2019 was concluded successfully, drawing praise from both exhibitors and visitors. The event, which was organized by Sri Lanka’s number one property web portal LankaPropertyWeb.com, is the largest property show in the country and was held recently at Kingsbury Hotel. This year’s event also comprised of a very perceptive panel discussion themed ‘Real Estate Market Outlook of 2019’, which was moderated by Nisthar Cassim, editor & CEO of Daily FT and included industry experts who discussed about the status of the property market and its prospects. With many property developers, exhibitors and buyers all gathered for a mutual purpose, there was an abundance of experts to liaise with and many insightful discussions were held throughout both days. It was also an ideal time and platform for anyone who was looking to buy property to find great deals on sale prices to invest, since the 15% VAT on apartment sales is expected to come in to affect from 1st April 2019, which is around the corner. Mr. Brahmanage Premalal- Chairman, Prime Group said The need is always there in affordable luxury segments which we cater to mostly. The biggest challenge in property sales is how you deliver the product, managing the costs on top of the taxes and bank interest’ When asked about how the property market can be more robust and affordable, Mr. Ravi Abeysuriya Group Director – Candor Holdings stated that, ‘Cost is a major issue for the developer as well as the buyer. The way the Government is managing the macro economy, interest rates are moving up. If you look at the rest of the world, they have brought in financial instruments like Real Estate Investments Trust, where you can attract trillions of Dollars. As a country we need these kinds of factors to attract foreign investors’ Mrs. Rajitha Jayasuriya, Director, Capital Heights spoke on few reasons as to why projects delay in the construction industry. She said, ‘labour shortage is one of the major reasons in Sri Lanka for the delay, it’s not available to meet the demands of the construction industry. It is a major reason why many projects go to other foreign contractors like China, India and Nepal to overcome this situation. The labour market in Sri Lanka need to be more productive and ready to embrace new expansion’ A major topic discussed by all panelists was, Is there a bubble in the property market? Tushan said “People must understand that the majority of our population is in Colombo which is 11.3% of the total Sri Lankan population. It is impossible to make houses for all these people. In my opinion there will be a shortage of apartments in the next couple of years’ Premalal further added to that saying “We are talking about a very small segment of 2000 to 2500 luxury apartments in the next 2 to 3 years. The people who are building these apartments too, are well established financially and are sound companies. Due to the overall political and economic factors there was a slowdown, but the industry is picking up and I don’t see a bubble coming’. Shiluka Goonerwardena – Head of Deal Advisory and Real Estate Advisory, KPMG spoke on the currency depreciation last year and how will it have any impact on the developers going forward. Another critical question looming was regarding the VAT and how it will impact the market, and will there be any incentive that could be provided to the customer once it comes into effect. Rajitha debated that “if it is introduced the developers can absorb a portion of it, which can be claimed as S-VAT, so may be 10% or whatever the percentage will be passed on to the customers, so it depends on how each developer calculate their price” Abeysuriya adding to that “Even in other countries you get VAT, but not on housing and apartments. VAT in Sri Lanka is a completely wrong strategy”. Attracting foreign investors to Sri Lanka is something we all look forward to as a nation. Premalal mentioned that “the best way to do this is to offer a Resident Visa program, we already proposed this in the Budget to allow Residence Visas to foreigners who brings in at least 300000 USD, which was not implemented. Another factor is to look to make Sri Lanka a retirement destination. If we have proper policies applied, Premalal further said we can sell all our apartments. Best way to attract investments to this country is to offer FDI’s instead of introducing VAT.” The discussion was concluded with Premalal, Jayasuriya and Wickramasinghe all agreeing that now was the best time to buy before VAT coming in to affect and due to the fact, that as land and material prices have increased along with the currency depreciation, developers won’t be able to offer properties at the current prices in future. In a separate interview at the event with Chairman of Access Group Sumal Perera, he said that the bubble was a “false alarm” and it was not the oversupply that was the issue, but the lack of confidence in the market. He went on to further say that, similar to what happened with the textile industry in the last decade, good, reliable and financially sound developers will remain in the market to take the sector in to the future. Commenting on the future of the apartment market. Sumal went on to say that apartment living is here to stay with people opting to live close to where good facilities, transport links and better qualify of life can be found. “Buy what you can hold for 10 years. otherwise make a lifestyle change to pay for loans.”, was his advice to property buyers at the event. Daham Gunaratna, Managing Director of LankaPropertyWeb said that “this year’s event was the biggest to date, in terms of the number of stalls being taken and visitor numbers. It also turned out to be a success for the participants with the number of sales, reservations and leads also showing an increase since the last show’ During his welcome message, Gunaratna too said that LankaPropertyWeb has made great strides towards promoting Sri Lanka to foreign investors and would continue to do so this year with further property events panned in overseas key markets in the coming months.

The post ‘Now is the time to buy’ is the chorus of property experts at the Lanka Property Show 2019 appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Sunday, February 24th saw 775 tri-athletes from 58 take part in So Sri Lanka IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo that commenced at 615am. The race began with a 1.9km swim on Galle Face, followed by a 90km three- loop through the Colombo Port, Colombo Fort Area and Marine Drive and finishing with a two-loop half marathon through the Colombo Port that ended at Galle Face Green. The flat and fast course through the bustling Colombo city, was enjoyed by both the participants and spectators, with the race concluding at 3pm. find below the winners list in the solo category: SO SRI LANKA IRONMAN 70.3 COLOMBO – MALE SOLO RESULTS Place Name (Bib) Official Time Country Category 1 Tim BALLINTINE (198) 04:10:13 Australia 30-34 2 Pierre LAFAYEEDNEY (408) 04:20:22 United Kingdom 35-39 3 Mats ALLEN (155) 04:27:12 United States 25-29 SO SRI LANKA IRONMAN 70.3 COLOMBO – FEMALE SOLO RESULTS Place Name (Bib) Official Time Country Category 1 Ling Er CHOO (1) 04:41:39 Singapore 30-34 2 Kimberly MCKINNEY (41) 04:43:22 Australia 30-34 3 Inge PRASETYO (6) 04:52:32 Indonesia 35-39 SO SRI LANKA IRONMAN 70.3 COLOMBO – MALE RELAY RESULTS Place Name Official Time Country Category 1 Team SRI LANKA NAVY 04:01:14 Sri Lanka Relay 2 Team Foundation Of Goodness 04:26:25 Sri Lanka Relay 3 Team Lekka Tri 04:33:43 UAE Relay SO SRI LANKA IRONMAN 70.3 COLOMBO – TOP SRI LANKAN MALE RESULTS Place Name Official Time Country Category 1 Ashwin DORANEGAMA (183) 04:41:18 Sri Lanka 18-24 2 Asith PERERA (487) 04:43:12 Sri Lanka 30-34 3 Sampath BANDARA (553) 04:44:14 Sri Lanka 18-24

The post So Sri Lanka IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo Concludes on a high appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Munchee, the flagship brand of Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL), recently partnered with the prestigious 19^thannual International Schools’ Championships (ISAC) as the principal sponsor. ISAC was held on February 15, 16 and 17, 2019, at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.   Supporting Munchee’s mission of raising the profile of local sports, starting from school sports, the ISAC sponsorship aimed to shine a spotlight on student athletes at International Schools, paving a path to enter into national competitions so that Sri Lanka can tap the widest pool of potential young sporting talent.   Ms. Surani  Sahabandu ,  General  Manager  Marketing  of   CBL  said, “This year’s ISAC was without doubt an exciting tournament, and the performance by Shelinda Jansen in particular has thrilled attendees. While congratulating all participants and the organizers, we also take this opportunity to reaffirm Munchee’s support in advancing the cause of local sports. As a fully Sri Lankan brand, Munchee continues to believe in the power and spirit of sports and sportsmanship in instilling the correct values in our children, while also bringing together all communities.”   The International Schools’ Championships 2019 included a total of around 1,500 athletes from 21 leading international schools across the island. Lyceum Wattala was adjudged as overall winner, with 36 Gold, 27 Silver and 21 Bronze medals. Gateway College Colombo walked away with 24 Gold, 16 Silver and 17 Bronze medals, while Lyceum Nugegoda came in third, with 11 Gold, 26 Silver and 17 Bronze medals.   The Challenge Trophies for Best Performer of the Meet as well as Best Female Athlete were won by Shelinda Jansen, from Gateway College Colombo, who incidentally also stood out at last year’s Youth Olympics by finishing her 200-meter qualifying heat in 24.07 seconds. Best Male Athlete was awarded to Kamalraj Elroy of Lyceum Wattala.   Former Sri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara graced the event’s prize giving on February 17 as its Chief Guest. Ms.Shea  Wickramasingha ,Group  Managing  Director  of  CBL  was  the  Guest  of  Honour.   Photo Caption: Shelinda Jansen of  Gateway College, Colombo  receiving  the  award  presented  to  Best Female  Athlete from  Chief  Guest  Kumar  Sangakkara  and  Guest  of  Honour  Ms. Shea  Wickramasingha, Group  Managing  Director of CBL. Kamalraj Elroy of Lyceum College,  Wattala   receiving  the  award  presented  to  Best Male  Athlete from  Chief  Guest  Kumar  Sangakkara  and  Guest  of  Honour  Ms. Shea  Wickramasingha, Group  Managing  Director of CBL.

The post Munchee extends its support to young athletes at ISAC appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019, Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) unveiled the World’s Fastest 5G Foldable Phone, HUAWEI Mate X, redefining smartphone design with a foldable form factor. Reflecting the innovative DNA of the HUAWEI Mate Series, the HUAWEI Mate X features the Falcon Wing Mechanical Hinge, 7nm multi-mode modem chipset Balong 5000, a high-capacity 4500mAh battery supporting the world’s fastest 55W HUAWEI SuperCharge and the brand new Interstellar Blue finish. When folded, the device is a huge display smartphone with a 6.6-inch screen, and when opened, it turns into a slim tablet with an 8-inch screen. The new multi-form factor revolutionizes both productivity and entertainment experiences on a mobile device.   Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei CBG, said, “The HUAWEI Mate X’s revolutionary form factor is achieved by Huawei’s relentless effort in R&D. It represents a voyage into the uncharted. As a new breed of smartphones, HUAWEI Mate X combines 5G, foldable screen, AI and an all-new mode of interfacing to provide consumers with an unprecedented user experience. The HUAWEI Mate X will be the first key for consumers to open the door to 5G smart living.”   A result of Huawei’s bold testing with novel smartphone form factors, the 2-in-1 smartphone and tablet HUAWEI Mate X features a high strength flexible OLED panel and a falcon wing mechanical hinge.   The 6.6-inch dual display panel equipped on the HUAWEI Mate X is a true FullView display. When unfolded, it transforms into an 8-inch tablet only 5.4mm thick. Images are displayed with great clarity and detail, and the panel itself is safe, durable and features outstanding cooling performance. As light as it is appealing, the foldable smartphone comes in a new Interstellar Blue that epitomizes the beauty of technology and sets a higher bar for future smartphones.   With an exemplary design that blends style with technology, the revolutionary Falcon Wing Mechanical Hinge supports movement, balancing between the overall aesthetics and technology. When unfolded, the screen is a perfectly flat surface; and when folded, the two halves of the screen fit snugly to the frame. The two modes—smartphone and tablet modes—transition seamlessly from one to another.   HUAWEI Mate X is a multi-form factor that unlocks a new page of 5G interfacing era to reinvent productivity and entertainment. The innovative flexible OLED foldable FullView display, unique falcon wing mechanical hinge and the industry’s best  5G modem chipset Balong 5000 combine to deliver a new mode of interfacing, in which the large-screen experience and portability co-exist in harmony.   The expansive viewing area lends well to both productivity and entertainment scenarios—everything from editing a document to reading feels better on a larger screen. In addition, consumers are able to drag images from their photo gallery to their emails in split-screen mode. The larger screen allows consumers to do more with their time.   Huawei’s flagship smartphones have always come with powerful cameras, and the HUAWEI Mate X is no different. Inside the smartphone’s slim body is the latest Leica cameras, supporting the most advanced imaging features to date. The foldable design makes it possible for the camera system to play the role of both front and rear cameras. When folded, the HUAWEI Mate X shows a view finder on both sides, so even the subjects in the frame can contribute to the creative process.   Moreover, the HUAWEI Mate X comes with an integrated Fingerprint Power Button that enables users to power up the device with one tap, offering a secure and convenient experience.   Equipped with the world’s first 7nm 5G multi-mode modem chipset Balong 5000, the chipset has unprecedented 5G download speeds, at 4.6Gps on the Sub-6GHz band (theoretical). Balong 5000 is also the world’s first chipset to support both SA and NSA architectures, users will not need a device upgrade to continue enjoying 5G connectivity. The HUAWEI Mate X’s dual SIM feature supports both 4G and 5G.   A new, purpose-designed 4,500mAh battery is packed in HUAWEI Mate X’s 5.4mm-thick body, combined with the AI smart power saving technology, fulfilling the demand for greater battery performance in the 5G era. 55W HUAWEI SuperCharge tops the battery up quickly to minimize downtime for those who prefer a fast-paced lifestyle. In just 30 minutes, HUAWEI SuperCharge is able to charge the battery back to 85 percent.   At MWC 2019, Huawei launched a series of new products, including the an updated HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, new mainstream notebook PCs HUAWEI MateBook 13 and HUAWEI MateBook 14, as well as the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro. At the advent of the 5G era, Huawei is committed to delivering new all-scenario smart living experiences to consumers.   In Sri Lanka, HUAWEI has succeeded in securing the number one position in smartphone sales according to recent GfK reports. HUAWEI has succeeded in securing the number one position in smartphone sales according to recent GfK reports. In 2018, HUAWEI was ranked 48 on BrandZ’sTop 100 Most Valuable Global Brands, number 79 in Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands and number 12 on the Brand Finance Global 500 Most Valuable Brands lists. HUAWEI has also achieved the No. 68 status on Interbrand’s Best Global Brands list in 2018 and ranked No.72 on Fortune 500.

The post Huawei launches HUAWEI Mate X, the World’s Fastest 5G Foldable Phone appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) today announced the pre-integration of its charging system with Axiata Group Berhad (“Axiata” or “the Group”)’s Apigate platform. Apigate is a new breed API ecosystem provider that enables businesses to achieve rapid growth and monetization on a secure and seamless platform. This will lead to the creation of an innovative digital API integration and monetization framework through a purpose-built API Microservices Accelerator Pack that will help communication service providers create new revenue streams through open APIs and innovation ecosystems. This innovative framework enables over 70 open APIs which can be leveraged to create transformative digital experiences and realize new revenue monetization opportunities. This development follows the MoU announcement between the two companies in November 2018 to collaborate and create innovative value propositions in the Business Support System (BSS), Operational Support System (OSS) and Internet of Things (IoT) domains by leveraging the next generation digital API platform offerings of Apigate and Ericsson’s Digital Business Systems portfolio. Todd Ashton, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh says, “The pre-integration of Ericsson Charging system with Apigate’s platform is a fine example of how collaboration between Ericsson and the Group can create new value opportunities beyond data volume and voice minutes with API-driven digital solutions. It will allow operators to create new type of digital services combining their capabilities with the vast internet ecosystem.” Zoran Vasiljev, CEO of Apigate says, “The pre-integration to Ericsson Charging will assist us to structure offerings for the monetization of telecom APIs with a large ecosystem of partners including the long tail developer community. Time to market will be accelerated with ready to use business APIs for payments, communications and messaging, identity and authentication. We are thrilled to enable seamless integration for our partners at lower costs.” Anthony Rodrigo, Axiata’s Group CIO, adds, “This is further testament to the relevance of Axiata’s Apigate platform in powering digital transformation to meet the fast-evolving demands of our regional markets. Our partnership with Ericsson places us in a sweet spot as an enabler for greater industry wins specifically in creating API-driven digital solutions and transformation of our IT/BSS stack, aligning well with our drive towards becoming a NG Telco Digital Platform Company.” Ericsson is a leader in real-time charging, with more than 184 implementations managing more than 2.3 billion end users worldwide. Ericsson is investing in a powerful roadmap of evolution for Charging and Billing that will provide support for 5G and IoT, advanced B2B functionality, an enhanced Catalog UI, an improved architecture, a thin digital omnichannel frontend and increased scalability across each of the products.

The post Ericsson integrates its charging system with Apigate platform appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The world’s largest life insurer, AIA, donated 3 Million Rupees to the Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA), raised at the AIA Walk for Life, a charity walk in celebration of the company’s 100 year journey. AIA donated Rs. 1000/- to the SLHA on behalf of each person that registered for the walk, which started and ended at the Race Course Grounds, Colombo. Over 2600 people including AIA’s employees, Wealth Planners, customers and the general public joined the walk to celebrate the company’s centennial while enabling their contribution to a worthy cause. Here are some highlights from the day.

The post AIA donates 3Mn to the SLHA, in celebration of 100 years appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

– Kimbula Kithul wins Aavishkhaar’s prestigious Impact Entrepreneurship Award

– Porukki and LiveRoom were adjudged First Runner-up and Second Runner-up, respectively

The post TravelSpends wins 7th Venture Engine appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The Fairway Colombo – the most happening venue in the heart of the city – has recently been honored with not one, but two awards by Booking.com and Expedia.com respectively. The Guest Review Award by Booking.com came with an excellent 8.6/10 rating as did the Loved by Guest Award by Expedia.com. Both ratings were based on guest reviews that were given within a time span of 12 months. A guest from the Netherlands named Paula posted a review on Expedia.com stating: “The location of this hotel is great. Just opposite the Dutch hospital area. The decor is contemporary, cheerful and colorful. The staff is good, professional and very helpful. The breakfast buffet is great!” While Sharon from Australia gushed about the hotel on Booking.com saying, “Great location next to the Dutch Hospital. Professional, friendly staff. Good rooftop bar/restaurant.” Located at the end of Hospital Street, the Fairway Colombo fits in perfectly with the colonial façade. However, upon entrance one is greeted by an entirely modern setting, along with the most technologically advanced features, all with the aim of conserving energy and preserving the environment. The Fairway Colombo offers guests comfort, modern luxury, hospitality and privacy. The hotel has been synonymous with the buzzing Fairway Street events, a variety of cultural and entertainment activities that regularly take place at Hospital Street including the Colombo Street Food Festival, Art & Jazz on the Street, the Fairway Colombo Cultural Show, Jam on the Street and the Street Latin Night. Picture caption: (Above – from left) Subanu Perera, Head of Sales & Marketing – Leisure Sector, Fairway Holdings; Priyanthi Panabokke, Hotels Account Manager, Booking.com; Ritu Mehrotra, Regional Manager Partner Services, Booking.com; Saman Perera, General Manager, Fairway Colombo; Samodya Pallewasala, Assistant Sales Manager E-Commerce, Fairway Colombo and Mohammed Himaz, Manager Reservations & Front Office, Fairway Colombo

The post Fairway Colombo secures 2 prestigious accolades appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

It is a well-known fact that the world’s emerging cities are formed and reshaped based on and around major infrastructural developments just like Colombo city emerged in history, around the then Port of Colombo which goes back to the colourful Silk Route days. During this time over 2,000 years ago, Colombo Port emerged as a major hub in the Silk Route attracting Indian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Arab and Chinese traders creating a vibrant multicultural dwelling place in areas known today as Colombo North. The interracial and interreligious fusion over a few millenniums has created a unique, vibrant and harmonious culture that is evident to date in Colombo North which is now being transformed into Uptown Colombo with the onset of ‘game changing’ infrastructure developments in this area. The New Kelani Bridge, the Elevated Inner-city Expressway Network and the development of the Port City is certain to change the ‘landscape’ of tomorrow’s Colombo. The best location to live in tomorrow’s Colombo will be based on how close you are to the Port City and the access points of the Elevated Expressway Network. Three industry giants who understand this have come together to bring a gilded investment opportunity in the heart of tomorrow’s Colombo. Access Engineering, China Harbour Engineering Company and Mustafa Singapore are regional giants in the industries of construction, infrastructure development and retail. The contributions and value addition brought in by these industry giants is not just the capital contribution but more importantly the collective experience in building and their collective purchasing power contribute, to the ability to develop a technologically advanced, completely value engineered and cost-efficient mixed development complex in Uptown Colombo. One of the primary concerns of investors in projects such as this, is the transparency, reliability and financial stability of the developer. This is one area that the investors in Marina Square need not be concerned about as the credentials and the industry standing of the developer are impeccable. Marina Square Uptown Colombo development embraces and amplifies the concept of Urban Luxury throughout the residential units and the common facilities made available to homeowners. The expansive over two acres of landscaped walking / jogging tracks, garden spaces, nooks and corners to hang out with friends and family, adds to the experience of Urban Luxury. The infinity pool, the club house, games room, unprecedented kids play area and the fully equipped gymnasium are all designed with the discerning city dwellers in mind. Even the commercial element situated within the complex is designed, for the convenience of the residents of Marina Square epitomising the concept of Urban Luxury. The commercial area consisting of a food court, retail outlets, wellness services and selected office spaces are all there to supplement and complement the needs of the residents in Marina Square Uptown Colombo. The ocean front location of Marina Square offers magnificent and breathtakingly captivating views of the ocean, city and mountains from within most of the condos in the complex. Marina Square Uptown Colombo is undoubtedly the best location to watch the future of Colombo City unfolding with the Port City Development taking shape over the next few decades. With the Port City close at hand and access to the Inner-city Elevated Expressway just a mere kilometre away, Marina Square is truly at the heart of tomorrow’s Colombo. Marina Square Uptown Colombo is designed with five individual towers to provide for optimal natural light and air circulation. It offers 1068 Condo units in 21 different layouts  with 1 to 4 Bedroom units to choose from, including some condos with your own private gardens. Each tower consist of 36 floors and the wide selection of condos is sure to meet the needs of any potential investor. Marina Square offers options for those looking for a city centre home with all the conveniences at hand, those looking for a city condo as a second home and those simply looking for a rewarding investment. Marina Square offers an affordable, value for money investment opportunity for an Urban Luxury lifestyle in the heart of tomorrow’s Colombo that you should not miss out on. Over 25% of the Condos have already been sold and the investment opportunity is currently offered to Sri Lankan and Sri Lankan based investors. The company plans to take this investment opportunity to overseas markets in the latter half of this year. The construction of the project commenced in 2018 and currently the project is at the final stages of completing pilling and finalising agreements with the main contractor. The project is expected to be completed by 2022. More information on the project can be obtained through the Hotline 076 305 0000 or by visiting www.marinasquare.lk

The post Marina Square making history at the heart of tomorrow’s Colombo appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

• Unlocking the potential of IoT: Beyond initial benefits such as speed and quality of experience, 84 percent of respondents feel that 5G networks will be transformative and have a lasting impact on the way their companies do business. Another 73 percent agree the IoT will be revolutionized by 5G networks and 68 percent feel it will be transformative to their customers.
• Monetizing new services: Eighty-percent expect 5G to generate new revenue streams for their business. Forty-one percent of the respondents would deploy new monetization solutions specifically for 5G services alongside existing systems, while thirty-four percent say they would replace their existing systems with a single, converged solution for all services. Just about one in five (22 percent) said they will utilize and extend existing monetization solutions with 5G.
• Experience and efficiencies: Eighty-four percent of respondents agree that 5G networks will be transformative and have a lasting impact on the way their companies do business. While business respondents are focused on the quality of experience improvements made possible by 5G, IT respondents care more about the network technologies and the internal efficiencies 5G may enable.
• Security: While excited about the potential of 5G, both business and IT respondents cited security as a top priority. 51% of respondents ranked security as their highest concern.

The post Oracle survey finds enterprises ready for benefits of 5G appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) struck Gold when it clinched the highest honour under the category ‘Not – to profit’ at the 54thAnnual Report Awards hosted by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, recently. Following this achievement SLIM was also conferred with a certificate of merit for its Annual Report submitted under the category of non-governmental organizations at the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). The annual report won kudos for its transparency, accountability and corporate governance methods. The Awards ceremony was held on 22nd January in Pune, India SAFA is a forum of professional accountancy bodies which is committed to positioning, maintaining and developing the accountancy profession in the SAARC region while ensuring its continued eminence in the world of accountancy in the public interest and towards the broad economic development of the region. Held annually since 1996, the SAFA BPA Award for the ‘Best Presented Annual Reports’ is considered the most prestigious accolade for financial reporting in the South Asian region. It also is a testament to SAFA’s recognition and reward for organizations in the region which have achieved excellence in presentation and disclosure of high quality, relevant, reliable and objective financial statements in accordance to the framework stipulated by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Pradeep Edward, President – SLIM and also the CEO of Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics stated: “We are delighted and humbled to have been acknowledged for our efforts and remain dedicated, as an organization, to stand out for trust and transparency. SLIM has always valued the vital importance of proper corporate governance to ensure fairness, openness and accountability. We will continually review our corporate governance policies and guidelines to ensure transparency in its practices and ensure the delivery of the highest ethical standards and quality information to its stakeholders. Also our reputation has been built on being a respected, responsible national body valuing the marketing fraternity.” Judging for the SAFA BPA awards involves the scrutiny of annual reports nominated by accounting bodies in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka which are appraised under different categories for their excellence accountability and transparency. Acknowledging the high standard maintained by SLIM, Sanath Senanayake – CEO/Executive Director – SLIM stated, “This recognition stands as a testament to SLIM’s commitment to transparency and accountability to its stakeholders that contributes to the long-term trust, success and sustainability of the company. Our corporate governance framework ensures transparency and accountability to the regulators, as well as to all our stakeholders including the public. Winning this award is an affirmation of maintaining consistency of the best practices in all these areas”. As the national body of Marketing in Sri Lanka, SLIM continues its effort towards enhancing and continuously developing marketing education in Sri Lanka and its commitment towards the profession by widening the horizons of present and future marketers in the country while ensuring excellence in education. SLIM is the National body for Marketing in Sri Lanka and has been promoting marketing excellence and elevating the status of marketing since 1970. It is a member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA), Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC). Internationally it is affiliated with the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF) as a member of the board of Management.

The post SLIM strikes Gold and SAARC merit award appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.

The Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) recently welcomed Class of 2023, the newest addition to the campus at an inauguration ceremony held within the university premises in Padukka. The event was attended by Dr. Suren Batagoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy. Prof. Lalith Samarakoon, Secretary-General & Chief Economist, National Economic Council of Sri Lanka, Mr. W.K.H. Wegapitiya, Chairman LAUGFS Holdings Limited, Prof. K.K.Y.W. Perera, Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Mr. Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Group Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC., and Eng. Ranjith G. Rubasinghe, Founder President/ CEO SLTC, along with other distinguished guests, faculty and the management, parents and well-wishers of the students and senior students. Welcoming students and their parents at the ceremony, Eng. Rubasinghe thanked them for taking the decision to join the SLTC in pursuit of an ambitious future. “I have no doubt that your choice is worthwhile and that at the end of four years I envision you to be the most sought after graduates by the industry and the academia alike”, he said. Eng. Rubasinghe said that while Sri Lanka has to compete with professionals of world standards, the SLTC, which is the fastest growing university in the country, will help to bridge the gap by elevating a new and young generation to shape the future of this nation. The SLTC which was initiated with the primary focus of fulfilling the national requirement of expanding the provision of qualitative higher educational opportunities and facilities which are on par with international universities, has further broadened the horizons for their undergraduates by offering a variety of programmes (Undergraduate and Graduate) and by creating affiliations with other eminent foreign universities. The curriculums have been curated by renowned academia and industry experts ensuring sound theoretical, practical and analytical knowledge. Guest of Honour at the event, Dr. Batagoda said that while education is a basic requirement, it is the time, effort and attitude one has to further themselves and better themselves in every sphere of their lives that will eventually make them stand out. “Don’t limit yourself to classroom study. Research, ask questions, widen your scope and horizons, and grab every opportunity you can get during the next four years of your lives here at the SLTC,” he stated. Prof Samarakoon and Mr. Wegapitiya also encouraged the students to sharpen their skills and get ready to face a future of great opportunity and make their parents proud and serve their country to the best of their ability. The SLTC was started in 2016 and the first batch of students will graduate next year. Over the past three years, the university has added several undergraduate degree programmes that are structured to fulfil the national requirement in the fields of engineering, technology and management. The SLTC is affiliated with world class universities and has several affordable payment structures and scholarship programmes to ensure every child has a chance to a better education. Fully owned by Sri Lanka Telecom, the campus offers a variety of four-year honours degree programmes for Engineering and Technology students, designed to provide sound theoretical, practical and analytical knowledge with the fundamentals of engineering and technology. SLTC recently launched a Business School offering multiple degree pathways, representing many disciplines including, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. The SLTC has added this vital industry requirement to its portfolio of degree programmes to prepare Sri Lanka’s next generation, giving careful consideration to the economic growth direction of the county and Upon a well thought through discussion process with industry leaders representing multiple spheres. Thus, SLTC Business School was given birth with a vision of fulfilling an evolving future demand in numerous professional spheres and management disciplines. For more information, refer the website www.sltc.lk Photo captions: Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe (left), Dr. Suren Batagoda and (below) Group Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. Mr. Kumarasinghe Sirisena addressing the inauguration ceremony

The post SLTC welcomes Class of 2023 for the 2019 Academic Year appeared first on Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.