JAT Holdings Sri Lanka’s premier organisation in the furnishing and finishing industry with an impressive portfolio of products stepped in as a sponsor of the National Sales Congress (NASCO) 2016 awards which was held recently at the Water’s Edge.

The NASCO awards, organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) is a premier event dedicated to recognising and honouring the efforts and performances of sales personnel. NASCO serves as a platform which enables companies to identify their best performing sales personnel and individuals so that they may be promoted and raised to higher ranks within their career.

“JAT Holdings is proud to have been a sponsor of the NASCO 2016 awards, which epitomises the efforts and hard work of individuals in the sales field. JAT’s commitment to the awards also highlights the fact that the Company is devoted to promoting and ensuring that individuals not only get the due recognition but are also encouraged to pursue bigger career feats”, said Aelian Gunawardene, Managing Director of JAT Holdings.

JAT Holdings also bagged two awards at the NASCO 2016 awards. JAT’s star sales performer Darshana Danesha took home the Silver award under the Sales Supervisor category while Suneth Liyanage took home a Bronze in the Front-Liner category.

The awards were presented within fifteen diverse business sectors where territorial managers, sales executives / sales supervisors and front-liners were recognised under each business sector. The period under review for entries was the 31 December 2015 31 March 2016.

JAT goes on record as having transformed the wood coatings industry in Sri Lanka and South Asia in 2000 by introducing water-based solutions, thus creating an entirely new segment in the category which it continues to dominate with 75% market share. With 38% revenue growth and 57% net profit growth in 2015/16, the recent re-branding affirms JATs vision of the unprecedented opportunities which lie ahead.

The awards won by the sales team at the NASCO awards night held re-affirms the company’s commitment towards building a committed and talented sales staff.

PHOTO 01 – Mr. Richard Gunawardena (Director – JAT Engineering) presenting awards to winners.

Darshana Danesha receiving Silver Award of the Sales Supervisor category.

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has been named Air Cargo Carrier of the Year at the 20th edition of the Global Freight Awards ceremony held in London. The award was accepted by David Taylor, Emirates Cargo Sales Manager – Key Accounts in front of an audience of more than 500 guests from the global transport and freight community at a gala dinner held in London at the Lancaster London Hotel on 3 November.

The Global Freight Awards, supported by the 164 year old freight publication Lloyd’s Loading list, is held annually to recognise and reward innovative ideas and achievements that have set a benchmark for excellence in the freight industry. Emirates SkyCargo was awarded the much coveted Air cargo Carrier of the Year title for 2016 at the end of a two stage voting process open to readers of Lloyd’s Loading List. Overseen by the editorial team of the publication to ensure transparency and independence, the award represents the voice of the industry and that of Emirates SkyCargo’s customers.

Emirates SkyCargo is the largest international airline cargo operator with a fleet of over 250 wide bodied aircraft, including 15 dedicated freighters- 13 Boeing 777-Fs and two B747-400ERFs. The carrier connects cargo customers in 154 destinations across 82 countries in six continents through its hub in Dubai. A global facilitator of trade and commerce, Emirates SkyCargo operates dedicated freighter services to over 50 global destinations in addition to offering cargo capacity on board its passenger flights. Most recently, the carrier launched a weekly freighter service from Oslo to Dubai to facilitate the increasing exports of fresh sea food from the Scandinavian country to the rest of the world.

The Air Cargo Carrier of the year accolade is an immense achievement for Emirates SkyCargo. The carrier has constantly strived to create new benchmarks in the air freight industry by offering customers excellence in service delivery through state of the art infrastructure and innovative products. Leading the industry, Emirates SkyCargo launched Emirates SkyPharma- a purpose built facility for handling temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments earlier this year. Emirates SkyCargo’s facilities for transporting pharmaceuticals through its hubs in Dubai are not only state of the art but also certified as complying to the highest industry standards (EU GDP Guidelines) by Bureau Veritas, Germany.

Emirates SkyCargo has been at the forefront of the air cargo industry receiving a number of industry recognitions this year including the award for Overall Carrier of the Year at the Payload Asia Awards held in Hong Kong, the ‘Best Air Cargo Carrier- Middle East’ at the 2016 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards held in Shanghai, the ‘Best Cargo Airline Middle East 2016’ at the World Air Cargo Awards in London and the ‘Diamond Award’ at the Air Cargo Excellence Awards 2016 in Berlin.

Huawei, Sri Lanka’s fastest growing smartphone brand, had increased its market share to over 30% in Q3 according to the market research and user experience research experts GfK report. Huawei is currently ranked at number two in the smartphone market segment in Sri Lanka.

Upbeat about the achievement Huawei Sri Lanka Country Head Device, Henry Liu said, “In August of this year, Huawei reached a market share of 28%. By the end of Q3, this figure had gone up to 30%. We are positive and confident that we have the capacity and reach to achieve the number one mark in the near future.” Liu also acknowledged that Huawei, as a brand, highly believes in the strategy of adopting a stringent focus and investment into their Research and Development.

Huawei offers a range of products in Sri Lanka from entry – level range, mid-range and high-range, of which, Huawei Y3II 4G, Y5II 4G, Y6II 4G from the entry – level range, Huawei GR5, GR5 Mini, P9 Lite from the mid-range are popular with the locals. The Huawei Mate 8 and P9 are among highest selling high-end sub brands in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans embrace these products as smartphones increasingly are becoming an essential part of their lifestyles. In June this year, Huawei launched its flagship smartphone the innovative P9, and its first shipment was sold out within a week of the launch topping sales records for the local office.

This year, Huawei has been noted to having aggressively embraced well-timed expansion measures. Huawei customers and potential patrons can access Huawei Experience Centres that are at strategic locations in key parts of the country. Not just through channels such as the Experience Centres but now, Huawei Brand Shops can be located at major locations and towns islandwide. By the end of 2016, Huawei will unveil another Experience Centre in Kandy.
Through advanced technology, innovation and collaboration, Huawei will continue to deliver leading technology products to its customers. The ongoing integration between future direction of consumer devices and partners’ advanced technology will result in new, cutting edge products and amazing user experience.

Huawei continues on the route of providing value-driven and innovative products and services. Huawei is ranked 47th among the World’s Top 100 Most Valuable Brands in 2016 According to Brand Finance. Huawei recently jumped to Number 72 on Interbrand’s Best Global Brands adding another feather to its cap.

Ms. Gagan Singh, Chairperson – Jones Lang LaSalle Sri Lanka

While Sri Lanka has been witnessing a noticeable growth in per capita income over the past couple of years, its retail industry still remains underpenetrated. However, this is set to change as the sector is about to witness a phase of enormous growth. Currently, the size of the Sri Lankan retail market is estimated to range between USD 25-30 billion and it is expected to deliver early double-digit growth in the short term.

Moreover, the per capita income in Sri Lanka now stands at USD 3,912, which is one of the highest among South-Asian economies. The increase in per capita income has naturally led to a higher disposable income in the hands of eager consumers. Therefore, consumer spending is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 17% during this period.

The current demand for organised retail space exceeds supply by more than 200% and the retail real estate industry realises the necessity for Sri Lanka to have shopping malls that match international standards. Colombo city has less than 10 good malls but even they fall below international standards. Currently, the grade-A retail stock in Colombo CBD stands 0.4 million sq ft with less than 5% vacancy.

As newer international and luxury brands look to enter Colombo in the current scenario, lack of quality retail space in malls, would push them to consider the prominent high streets too. Many top-tier retailers are looking for space in new sub-markets. This would open up more retail corridors within the city in the next few years.
The prominent high streets have successfully been able to draw healthy levels of footfalls and keep the brand churns lower. Selected categories such as apparel, fashion accessories, retail banking, and quick service restaurants have been increasing their footprints. Established retail corridors include those mainly in the CBD areas – Colombo 1, Galle Road, Duplication Road, and Colombo 4 with certain parts of Colombo 7.

On account of shortage of good quality high street options, existing fashion brands and those intending to enter Sri Lanka are looking forward to the upcoming mixed-use developments and malls. Not only do things look good for physical retail in the country but also for online retail. Unlike other countries where e-commerce slowly developed as a third retailing option after their high streets and malls had matured, Sri Lanka is already seeing the emergence of online retail even as its high streets and malls remain in a nascent stage.

While the current penetration of internet is less than 30%, it is growing at a faster rate. Also, mobile penetration is at 107% and therefore, browsing via mobiles is higher. Notably, 2.5 million users in Sri Lanka access the internet via mobile phones, according to the Stat Counter (one of the largest web analytic providers).
The convenience and variety offered at the click of a few buttons is what makes e-commerce attractive to many of these internet users. The majority of purchases made online are electronic items, followed by other specialised products such as home appliances, phones, etc. as consumers do not have to ‘touch and feel’ them.

Overall, given the relative infancy of these three retail platforms in the country, there is a big potential to grow further without the risk of cannibalisation of one by the other. More mixed-use developments would help in development of retail. The lack of shopping-cum-entertainment centres in the commercial capital is expected to be bridged by newer malls that are built following international standards.

On October 31 e-Swabhimani held their annual Gala event in which they recognised Sri Lanka’s most innovative digital products and content in the past year. During the event, both of Creative Solutions’ nominated products snatched the prizes in their respective categories.

GiftSmart: Business and Commerce Category Winner : GiftSmart.lk, the online platform that strives to revolutionise gifting in Sri Lanka, was named a winner of its category Business and Commerce. GiftSmart.lk’s innovative approach to the tradition of gifting allows users to acquire a personalised gift for their loved-one in a time and energy efficient manner.

“The software was indeed a novel concept, which provided convenience and variety in giving gifts,” wrote the e-Swhabimani jurors.

By visiting the GiftSmart.lk platform, users can create a personalised gift card – the GiftSmart Card – in just a few clicks and assign it a value of their choice, which makes this gift both unique and budget-friendly.

Users can also choose to print and gift their GiftSmart Card on their own, or request the GiftSmart Team to print and deliver it to their recipient’s doorstep with an optional addition of cakes and flowers.

When they receive a GiftSmart Card, the recipient can redeem its value by visiting the GiftSmart.lk platform and selecting multiple gift vouchers of their choice. Therefore, the recipient not only receives the freedom to choose the gifts they truly want, but they also receive a personalised souvenir to cherish. As such, GiftSmart.lk guarantees both gift giver and recipient satisfaction.

LayUp: Learning and Science Category Merit Award Winner : LayUp, the learning driven social platform, turns the outdated and dysfunctional enterprise learning model on its head.

The traditional classroom way of delivering training as well as most existing learning management systems (LMS) take a top-down approach to corporate training. The idea behind this approach is that content should be pushed from top-level management down the corporate hierarchy.

But a top-down approach often neglects factors such as visual and content appeal, and user engagement and motivation, leading to poor adoption rates of LMS platforms.

LayUp disrupts the status quo by focusing on user engagement. The platform was designed to entice the 21st century workforce, using concepts familiar to a younger audience, such as gamification and social media, to drive engagement and create an environment of communal learning.

“LayUp has created a learning system which places the learner at the center of his/her own learning whilst making the process simple, fun, interactive and engaging” wrote the e-Swabhimani jurors.
The platform is completely white label, allowing companies to retain and perpetuate their corporate identity among their workforce.

“A key differentiator in the product is that it is well aligned with the objectives of the organization as well as its culture thus creating higher levels of brand affinity amongst users,” concluded the e-Swabhimani jurors.
In the past year LayUp has won multiple awards and become the go-to training platform of some of the leading domestic and international organisations including HNB, MAS and Pagero headquartered in Sweden.

Creative Solutions is a pioneer and leader in Sri Lanka’s software industry. In addition to providing R&D services to a growing list of international software vendors, the company invests in its own product portfolio and has released several award-winning software products.

PIC 1 – Chief Architect Sheran Corera receives the e-Swabhimani award for LayUp

Prageeth Rodrigo, member of GiftSmart Team, receives the e-Swabhimani award for GiftSmart

Apple, The worlds most preferred brand, unveiled their latest iPhone in Sri Lanka today, 11 November 2016. The iPhone 7 and 7 plus dramatically improve the most important aspects of iPhone in ways you’ll notice every day. They feature entirely new camera systems, including two cameras on iPhone 7 Plus with optical and digital zoom, the fastest performance with the A10 Fusion chip, the best battery life ever in iPhone, stereo speakers for immersive sound, a brighter, more colourful Retina HD display, splash and water resistance, and iOS 10. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — they’re the best iPhones yet.

Futureworld Lanka, One & Only Premium Service Provider and Authorized Reseller for Apple Products in Sri Lanka, presented the much-awaited “marvel” to its customers at an elegant product launch at their key stores in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna.

“The launch was a resounding success, with all customers being ecstatic over the features offered by the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus” commented Head of Sales for Futureworld Sri Lank, Ramesh de Silva.

Incorporated in 2009, Futureworld Lanka is the First and only Apple Premium Service Provider in Sri Lanka, delivering a total Apple Solution to the customers with a full range of Apple computers, iPods, accessories, end-user trainings on Apple products and technical support.

Backed by the Singapore based Thakral Group and its flagship company in Sri Lanka, Trident Corporation (Pvt.) Limited. Futureworld has broad based its operations to the corporate, retail, education and government sectors of the local IT industry over the past few years. Thakral Group is a conglomerate, with operations in 35
countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and manpower strength of over 12,000 employees.

Futureworld is Thakral Group’s own brand exclusively distributing the Apple brand and 1st opened for business in Vietnam in 2007. The company has since expanded their operations to reach out to 9 more countries in Asia creating its own footprint in the regions where the group’s companies are operating.

Launches public awareness campaign themed ‘Eye am healthy’

November 11, 2016: In line with the World Diabetes day theme for 2016, ‘Eyes on Diabetes’ Durdans Hospital revealed the launch of the public awareness campaign themed ‘Eye am healthy’, to raise awareness on Diabetic Retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). Releasing an announcement to media, the Hospital revealed that the campaign invites the general public to develop recipes for eye health and share them in Durdans Hospital Social Media platforms while encouraging them to take Diabetic Retinopathy Screening.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a serious condition which affects the eyes of people with diabetes and could potentially result in blindness. This condition affects millions around the globe and is widely regarded as a form of preventable blindness by experts from WHO and other international agencies. With early screening and treatment, Diabetic Retinopathy can be detected and treated appropriately, thus preventing loss of vision.

“With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy is emerging as a leading cause of avoidable blindness among the working age population in Sri Lanka. In the past, type 2 diabetes used to be prevalent among those in advanced age category of above 45 years old and those who are mostly obese. However in the recent years, the younger generation has also been affected by the disease due to lifestyle changes, lack of exercise and other contributing factors,” said Dr. Prasad Katulanda, visiting Consultant Endocrinologist/Diabetologist at Durdans Hospital.

“The vast majority, almost 95 per cent of DR (Diabetic Retinopathy) cases can be prevented by early detection and treatment. However, since Diabetic Retinopathy is generally asymptomatic in its early stages, it is vital that every person with diabetes has an annual eye check-up, during which he or she are screened for potential diabetes-related consequences.” he added.

Durdans Hospital hopes to be a contributing entity in the battle against addressing the lack of awareness regarding Diabetic Retinopathy. Durdans Hospital offers screening services to persons diagnosed with diabetes at its Eye Care Unit which remains open throughout the week while Diabetic Retinopathy screening is available from 8 30am to 4 00pm

Dr Prasad Katulanda, Visiting Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist at Durdans Hospital

Post tax profits grew by 29% to Rs 674 Mn

HNB Grameen a dynamic and fast growing finance company who pioneered microfinance in Sri Lanka reported a remarkable performance during the first half of 2016. For the period under review, the Company’s pre-tax profits grew by 26.64% to Rupees 1,080Mn from Rupees 852Mn. The post-tax profits increased by 28.6% to Rupees 674Mn from Rupees 524Mn in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Net Interest income grew by 27.16% to Rupees 1.7 Bn from Rupees 1.3Bn in the previous 6 months while revenue grew by 33.3% to Rupees 2.7 Bn from Rupees 2 Bn in the similar period last year. The Company’s loans and advances grew by 50% to Rupees 11.9Bn from Rupees 7.9Bn. HNB Grameen’s NPA ratio increased marginally to 1.12%. This increase was due to the highly competitive market environment, slowing economy, an exponential growth experience in credit.

While commenting on the mid-year performance of its financial year, Mr Jonathan Alles, Chairman of HNB Grameen and Managing Director/CEO of Hatton National Bank PLC had this to say. “We are pleased to announce the completion of a successful first half for HNB Grameen, which has been in the forefront of micro finance in the Country touching the lives of many rural Sri Lankans. During the last twelve months we have grown our loan book by 50% providing financing needs to many thereby helping them improve their livelihood. The Company’s strategic plan upto 2020 is being currently deliberated giving emphasis to the ability of the micro finance industry to provide inclusive finance and enhance the lives of rural population. HNB Grameen is well positioned to invest in technology and people to further enhance our leadership position in the industry.”

HNB Grameen throughout its tenure of operation has generated a robust growth in its financial performance. The Company’s deposit base grew by 36.19% to Rupees 11.8 Bn crossing the Rupees 10 Bn mark in the period of review, while savings deposits increased by 53.39% to Rupees 1.9 Bn from Rupees 1.2 Bn in the similar period affirming the trust amongst our depositors. During the year the Company repositioned the Yalu Savings with the introduction of attractive gift schemes to inculcate and encourage the savings habits of the young generations.

The Managing Director /CEO of HNB Grameen, Mr. Chaminda Prabhath stated, “I am happy with the steady progress the company has made in terms of profits and revenue. This was possible due to some of the strategic initiatives taken during the previous year such as a new core banking system which improved the operational efficiencies of the company and the diversification of the product range coupled with the strong HNB brand supported the company in posting a healthy financial performance. The year 2016 has already shown great promise towards achieving our vision, I am confident my team will drive the company towards greater success”.

The Company has identified and understood that the biggest strength lies in its people. HNB Grameen ensures that staff is adequately trained in order to optimize levels of customer service. The company recognizes that its success depends on the continued support of its workforce, their commitment, hard work and loyalty.

During the period under review, HNB Grameen has enhanced its focus on the SME sector, personal loans and leasing. Leasing which was the new addition to the Company’s portfolio has achieved momentous growth during the last six-month period. Leveraging on the widespread ATM network of its Parent Company HNB, HNB Grameen launched its ATM Card to provide improved access and convenience to its 300,000 plus customer base.

Although a profit making organization, HNB Grameen continues to direct its key focus on the upliftment and well-being of local communities to be the trusted partner especially within the rural areas of the country. The Company provides training for customers on financial management to enhance their knowledge in achieving sustainable growth in their businesses. The Company’s long term vision is to “create visible change in the people we serve” which will have a positive effect in the national economy.

The financial year 2016/17 is a year of consolidation. HNB Grameen intends to enhance the quality of its loan portfolio whilst managing its NPL’s with the support of better MIS and field staff in effective recovery mechanism. One of the key challenges for the company is the increase in cost of funds and hence aggressive strategies are in place to build the low cost fund base. We will continue to increase our product range to cater to our existing and new clients. HNB Grameen’s ability to leverage on the synergies of its Parent, HNB is a positive for the former’s operations, a means to grow its product portfolio further and enhance its value proposition as the leading and preferred finance solution provider.

JKCS’ award-winning hotel software Zhara HS, recently entered into a strategic alliance with RateGain – a leader in Hospitality and Travel Technology Solutions worldwide. Together, they have created the ultimate “one-stop-shop” masterpiece software for a hotel. It covers all activities of a hotel from receiving a booking to the time the guest checks out, while creating multiple channels to generate more revenue.

JKCS Zhara team and RateGain announced the partnership on the 15th of November at a joint press conference held at Ozo Colombo. Many of Zhara’s Sri Lankan hotel customers were present at the event. Mr. Kunwardeep Singh, (Manager, Customer Success) and Ankur Yadav (Manager Sales – Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, China, Taiwan) represented RateGain while the Zhara team was headed by Changa Gunawardane (CFO of IT Group at JKH), Uthpala Kumara (AVP, Head of Products at JKCS) and Xenos Wahid (Head of Sales Hospitality Solutions at JKCS).

Expressing his views at the occasion, Mr. Tanmaya Das, (CFO, RateGain) Said “We are very pleased to announce this partnership. RateGain and John Keells Computer Services are joining hands to bring forward the right strategic partnership to revolutionize the hospitality industry. Both partners together will bring the complete hotel management system in a single box and offer unmatched value to hotels.”

Uthpala from JKCS added “it is a great step for Zhara and we are thrilled to be able to provide our clients with a 360 degree solution as a result of this partnership. We strongly believe that now is the time the industry must radically transform. The focus must be on digitization and monitizing every service opportunity. In order to do this, it is vital for them to be equipped with the right intel and tools to take care of operations and revenue optimization. This is exactly what our alliance is all about – easier operations and better cash flow”.

Zhara’s hotel process automation prowess coupled with RatGain’s expertise in hotel revenue management will now deliver the full spectrum of accomodation service providers in reducing cost, enhancing revenue and ensuring smooth and efficient operations. Better yet, with up-to-date business intelligence and reporting, this platform will be the utlimate game changer for hotels trying to capture the growing tourist arrivals regionwide.
Many leading local hospitality brands are in the pipeline for subscription to the new offering by JKCS and RateGain starting this November.

About RateGain : Founded in 2004, RateGain is a leading provider of cloud-based product and service around the function of Rate Intelligence, Price Optimization, Seamless Electronic Distribution and Brand Engagement to the world’s leading Hotels and Online Travel Agents. With continued innovation and excellence in customer focus, we are proud to serve over 12,000 clients and numerous industry partners. Our customers are global and so are we, with offices in 10 countries across all major continents, supported by over 500 passionate professionals and seasoned industry experts. Through world-class solutions, RateGain helps its industry leading customers beat their competition and make more revenue every day.

About JKCS : In 1998 JKCS was incorporated as the software subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate – John Keells Group. During the past decade the company has specialized in providing services to the aviation industry. JKCS has earned its wings by engineering core systems for some of the world’s biggest airlines. The customer portfolio includes Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, SAS, Air Arabia, Kingfisher Airlines and Sri Lankan. The systems offered by JKCS cover several aviation domains such as commercial, flight operations, ground handling, crew management, engineering and safety. The company operates offices in Sri Lanka and UAE and over the past 15 years, JKCS and its subsidiaries have served customers across 40 countries in 6 continents. Contact JKCS – +94 11 230 0770, info@jkcsworld.com or www.jkcsworld.com.

About John Keells Holdings (JKH) : JKH is Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate on the Colombo Stock Exchange. From the largest inventory of hotel rooms in Sri Lanka, owning a large private-sector-owned transportation business in the country and providing port and marine fuel services to IT solutions, manufacturing of food and beverages, running a chain of supermarkets, tea broking, stock broking, banking and real estate, JKH has made its presence felt in virtually every major sphere of the economy. (www.keells.com)

Caption – From L to R are Kunwardeep Singh, (RateGain’s Manager, Customer Success), Ankur Yadav (RateGain’s Manager Sales – Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, China, Taiwan), Changa Gunawardane (CFO of IT Group at JKH), Uthpala Kumara (AVP, Head of Products at JKCS) and Xenos Wahid (Head of Sales Hospitality Solutions at JKCS).

Nation Lanka Finance has continued to sustain its strategic turnaround and performance in the first half of the financial year ending 30th September 2016. Despite having to overcome challenging macro and micro economic conditions and several impairments that were carried over from the previous year, the company delivered a profit before tax of Rs.162 million in the period under preview, and is well poised to deliver a strong operational financial performance in H2 of 2015/2016.

Maintaining its financial position in H1 of 2015/2016, the company recorded a gross interest income of Rs. 1.023 billion and a nett interest income of Rs. 613 million in the period under review. The company’s total assets remained relatively unchanged and were valued at Rs. 7.99 billion in H1 of 2015/2016.

Total comprehensive income was recorded at Rs. 101 million and net assets were noted at Rs. 747 million. The total product portfolio stood at Rs. 5.6 billion with business loans and micro-finance loans being noted as the biggest contributors to the overall portfolio. The business loan portfolio stood at Rs. 3.05 billion, (55% of the total portfolio), whilst the micro-finance portfolio reached Rs. 2.09 billion, (38% of the total portfolio).

Considerable growth was noted in the pawning portfolio, which stood at Rs. 259 million in the period under review. Given the results that the company has achieved in H1 of 2015/2016, Nation Lanka Finance remains well on track towards achieving its year-end financial targets.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Jayantha Perera – CEO, Nation Lanka Finance stated the following: “I would like to take this opportunity to commend all of our team members for their efforts. Thanks to their enthusiasm and dedication we were able to sustain our progression despite various challenges. This year, we managed to consolidate many key areas of our service offering and during the period under review, we focused heavily on our customers’ needs and looked into their financial requirements in greater detail. Going forward from January 2017, we shall continue to focus on customer care whilst concentrating on delivering strong product performances across our portfolio. In the short-term, we will be introducing a new product in the third financial quarter of 2015/2016, and in the long-term we are preparing to roll-out a new five-year plan in January 2017 that will enable us to drive business growth and deliver further on our promise of shareholder wealth maximization. In order to raise additional funding for our ongoing business expansion, we are preparing for a subordinated debenture issue which will be launched to raise additional funding, which will be utilised in 2017.”

Addressing some of the challenges of 2016, Perera advised that the necessary measures were put in place to address key concerns throughout the year. A rise in interest rates curtailed private sector lending, hence, the company tried to increase borrowing costs and was prudent in regards to lending. However, steps were taken to ensure that the entire burden did not fall on customers. The effects of Brexit also had various economic implications in Asia and the global market, creating a sense of uncertainty. The company was however pleased to note a positive shift in economic development in key regions across the country.

In the period under review, Nation Lanka Finance also focused its efforts on building brand awareness by increasing the visibility of all branches throughout its network. This was done to ensure that the company would be able to draw attention to the Nation Lanka Finance brand and reach target segments as well as new and existing customers in high potential areas. The company also reiterated its commitment to good governance and compliance and has put further measures in place to ensure that all operations are conducted with transparency and in seamless alignment with all guidelines that are stipulated by key regulatory authorities.

Photo Caption – Jayantha Dharmadasa, Chairman of Nation Lanka Finance PLC & Jayantha Perera, Executive Director & CEO of Nation Lanka Finance PLC

The Kollupitiya, Sri Lanka chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) recently hosted a public and private sector-organised Diversity and Inclusion Career Day, wherein over 50 job interviews were carried out, which were mainly for persons with disabilities.

Featuring over 100 participants, the public and private sector-organised Diversity and Inclusion Career Day was endorsed by the government of Sri Lanka, and organisations like the Employees Federation of Ceylon, Enable Lanka and IDIRIYA, with Hemas, Toyota Lanka, MAS Active, HNB, Barista, Pizza Hut, Sri Lanka Insurance, MDF Consultants, World University Service of Canada (WUSC), Forte, The Traveller Global Private Limited, YAMU and McQuire Rens Global, amongst many others, conducting walk-in job interviews. Other partners for the event included Rotaract Club of ACBT, Emerging Media, Learn TV, Young Biologists Association, Kosala Dullewa Foundation, alfa MarTech, thenextbigthink and CPR.

Also noteworthy, Suranga Nanayakkara, an Assistant Professor of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, was on hand to showcase a number of exciting product prototypes that could help persons with disabilities in the workplace, such as “Finger Reader”, which works entirely on sensors to help a visually impaired persons “listen” to the words they drag their fingers along, and “Stick Ear”, a portable ear that aids the hearing impaired by lighting up different colors that are attuned to specific sounds.

Additionally, there were a number of well-attended “Experience Corners” like “Blindfold Simulation”, where participants donned blindfolds and attempts to perform simple, everyday tasks, as well as the “Basics of Sign Language”. The latter, conducted by a professional in the field, taught people the simple “signs”, and related words and/or letters, used by people with hearing impairments. These experiences attempted to simulate the effects of more common disabilities, giving participants and representatives of public and private sector organisations insights into what it means to be visually and/or hearing impaired.

Ceylinco Life’s 2015 Annual Report has won two important accolades at the prestigious ARC Awards presented by MerComm Inc. in New York, affirming the life insurance leader’s prowess in financial disclosure.

The company won the Silver award for ‘Financial Data’ in the ‘Insurance – Life & Health’ segment of the awards, as well ‘Honors’ in the same segment in the ‘Traditional Annual Report’ category at the awards ceremony at the Plaza Hotel.

Themed ‘Know Your Life Insurer,’ Ceylinco Life’s 2015 Annual Report was its first since the segregation of Life and General Insurance into separate business entities under Section 53 of the Regulation of Insurance Industry (Amendment) Act No 3 of 2011, which came into effect last year.

The 218-page Carbon Neutral Annual report was produced using GRI G4 sustainability reporting guidelines, the Smart Integrated Reporting MethodologyTM, the International Integrated Reporting Framework and guidelines of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka).

“The Annual Report is the most important communications tool of a company, and stands for the company’s commitment to transparency in its communications with shareholders,” Ceylinco Life’s Managing Director/CEO Mr R. Renganathan said. “We are delighted to receive these awards from a credible international organisation that has scrutinised Annual Reports from around the world before selecting winners.”

Dr Vijith Kannangara, Chairman of Smart Media The Annual Report Company said: “This maiden annual report of Ceylinco Life sets a refreshing new standard in the Insurance category in Sri Lanka. It focuses on the important facts without diluting them in a surfeit of disparate information.”

The 2016 MerComm awards competition drew entries from 60 countries. The ARC Awards competition is unique in that each Annual Report is judged against itself, based on its success in communicating its company’s story. Judging is based not on corporate profitability or production, but on the values of creativity, clarity, effectiveness, and excellence as symbolised by the ARC Awards.

Some of the elements considered in the judging of the Annual Reports included cover design, president’s letter, interior design, clarity of written text, presentation of corporate information, expression of financial data, and how well the spirit of the organisation is communicated. Annual reports scoring in the top 30 per cent were awarded Honors, Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates of outstanding achievement.

The award presenter MerComm Inc. is the world’s only independent awards organisation dedicated to defining the standards of excellence in the communications fields and to recognise the individuals whose work has made an outstanding contribution to their organisations, corporations or clients. The MerComm Awards programmes have achieved world-wide recognition for their integrity and fairness in their judging procedures.

Adjudged Sri Lanka’s Best Life Insurer in 2016 for the third consecutive year by World Finance, Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies. The company is acknowledged as the benchmark for innovation in the local insurance industry for its work in product research and development, customer service, professional development and corporate social responsibility.

Photo caption: Ceylinco Life Directors Palitha Jayawardena (left) and Ranga Abeynayake with the ARC Awards won for the company’s 2015 Annual Report

As the demand for condominium living increases in the modern metropolis that is the city of Colombo and beyond, potential homeowners are becoming increasingly discerning on the quality and value for money of the property they intend to call home. It is therefore imperative for real estate companies to go above and beyond in developing a product that caters to the ever evolving needs and conveniences of the modern homeowner. In a market overflowing with real estate development companies, it is also a constant battle to stay a step ahead of the rest.

Enter Invoke (Pvt) Ltd, a group of passionate, experienced and accomplished Property Development, Design and Marketing Specialists known for their innovative, and result oriented professionalism in the industry. Invoke’s passion from its inception is to offer the finest, most contemporary living spaces to the Sri Lankan market. Providing an end-to-end solution from feasibility and concept development to the marketing and sale of the product, the company’s projects have become icons in the city.

Invoke specializes in empowering developers to maximize success whilst mitigating risks by working with them from the early stages of a project concept development  in order to ensure their product, pricing, location and marketing strategies are in sync with their intended target market. To this end they offer a complete range of professional services from sourcing locations, feasibility assessments, and target market oriented condominium designs, brand building strategies and exercises, 3D images and walkthroughs, turn-key marketing and sales solutions, coordinating and facilitating the required legal process, follow-up and fund collection, and client relationship management.

The Invoke portfolio currently includes projects such as Signature Twelve, Signature Seven and Avenue 9. Signature Twelve the pioneer project was sold out to a pleasantly surprised clientele purely on the merit of the quality of the product. The project was sold fully complete with top of the range fixtures and amenities to personify the finesse and luxury clients aspire to surround themselves with. These projects also featured many industry firsts in Sri Lanka such as solar electricity for each apartment including the common areas along with an electric car charging port for every dedicated double height car parking slot, a fully equipped German-made Hacker Pantry in the specifications facilitating the ease of sales.

Projects on the cards include a condominium project in Colombo 7 with an expected investment of over 2 billion rupees. Discussions are also underway to launch an iconic project of over 500 units in Rajagiriya with a renowned foreign developer.

Huzaik Ismeth an experienced brand builder and strategist who has launched multiple Real Estate and Hospitality brands in the country, Jeevan Amarasingham a 10 year veteran in the real estate industry in Sri Lanka and former CEO of a premier real estate development firm, and Rikaz Imtiaz with 5 years experience in sales and marketing of real estate and former COO of a renowned property development firm, make up the backbone of Invoke. The company is also in negotiations to hire a design and engineering head for the company with over 30 years of experience predominantly in the Middle East and the USA.

For more information on Invoke’s current projects please call on 0112 076776 or visit their website www.invoke.lk

Microsoft together with Sarvodaya-Fusion broadened its computer science project to Katana, Anuradhapura, Tissamaharama and Monaragala over the last two month. The project initiated to educate 5,000 youth from rural areas commenced in Kurunegala on the 17th September 2016 and has helped bridge the gap for youth to have local and international career opportunities.

The need for students to be proficient in IT skills is ever increasing. If we are to keep up with the digital transformation taking place the world over, it is imperative that our youth are equipped with the knowledge of how to utilize ICT in day-to-day tasks, learn coding skills and are up to date with developments in computer science. Hence, it is important to take Computer Science programs to more areas in the country, and expose the youth to skills and knowledge that can truly make a difference in their lives and their level of employability. It is heartening to see more female participation in the programs being conducted at present, and both Microsoft and Sarvodaya- Fusion hope that this trend will continue as they take the program to other parts of the island, including Ratnapura, Kandy, Badulla and Jaffna.

tabZ by DPJ Holdings one of the authorized Apple Resellers in Colombo , re-launched its store in Liberty Plaza recently, making it the largest Apple Store in Sri Lanka. The all-new tabZ store located on the 1st floor of Liberty Plaza, Colombo will now offer the full range of Apple products inclusive of the entire iPhones, iPads, MacBooks , iMacs and Apple TV range, along with all the accessories that you will need to compliment your purchase.
The country’s largest Apple store is now fully equipped to cater to its loyal Apple-fans with un-parallel customer service through their well-trained and friendly in-store staff who are committed to offer both before and after-sales technical support. With the achievement of the Apple authorized Enterprise Reseller status, tabZ now has a dedicated corporate team that operates separately to serve all their corporate clients offering personalized services to all the clients they serve. tabZ is also located on the lower ground floor of Unity Plaza and in addition to this, showrooms out of Colombo are also envisaged, especially in key cities such as Jaffna, Galle and Kandy.

All Apple products at tabZ are TRCSL approved and sold with a genuine Apple warranty. tabZ also guarantees the best price across its product range, extending the affordability of Apple merchandises to a greater share of the middle and lower middle class individuals of our country.

Explaining his vision for Apple in Sri Lanka, Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna, the outspoken Chairman/CEO of DPJ Holdings, the holding company for tabZ said, “Apple products no longer cater only to high profile CEOs and top management executives. It is now an affordable device that a middle class family could use and experience the productivity and day-to-day ease it brings to our lives. From effectively managing your work, to sharing information with your friends, to using it as a source of entertainment, Apple is now a lifestyle brand that you can use from the start of your day to its end.”

“Technology such as this releases barriers and expands our horizons. Using brands such as Apple allows people to see things from a different perspective and innovate. We firmly believe that the time is right for Apple in Sri Lanka. Prices are coming down and people’s disposable income is quite high. Along with this, we will introduce many novel repayment schemes to make Apple a brand that everyone can afford,” he further elaborated.

The increased affordability of Apple in Sri Lanka is also expected to bring about several opportunities for Sri Lankans to develop and prosper. For instance, local musicians can use iTunes to sell their music, local developers can create apps which are introduced to the App Store while budding film makers can refine their talents using video editing apps. All that is required is the right technology, the right back-end support and a little bit of hype on the limitless possibilities.

Schools, universities and other educational institutions can also use these products as a learning tool. Given the manner in which prices are reducing, it will soon be possible for each classroom to be equipped with tablets. In an attempt to make this a reality, tabZ has already started working with banks and other lending institutions to assist schools.

Established in 1999, DPJ Holdings- the holding company for tabZ, is one of the leading groups of companies in Sri Lanka, spreading its wings over seven diversified industries such as barcode automation/solutions, labels, time and attendance, convenience shopping, leisure, pharmaceuticals and smart phone and tablet pcs

Barely a month following its introduction in Sri Lanka, Daraz.lk has announced the rollout of the biggest sale of the year. The Daraz Black Friday promotional event is a flagship event for Daraz globally, and the company has announced that it will become a key annual event for all online shoppers in Sri Lanka.

Traditionally Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It has come to be regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and most major retailers open very early and offer promotional sales. Today Black Friday promotions happen all around the world in countries such as Canada, UK, Mexico, India, France Australia, Germany, South Africa, Ireland, Denmark, Lebanon and Nigeria. Thanks to Daraz.lk, Sri Lanka will be added to the list as well.

With discounts up to 70% on genuine products, Daraz.lk offers an online shopping experience of a lifetime! A wide array of products will be available ranging from fashionable clothes and accessories, health and beauty products, electronics and household items. Daraz will be featuring brands such as United Colors of Benetton, Timberland, Huawei, Canon, Acer, Skullcandy, Apple, Samsung, Asus etc. The four-day sale will take place from the 25th to the 28th of November this year. Country Manager, Saurabh Chauhan, is excited to be bringing this massive shopping phenomenon to Sri Lanka and urged everyone to be a part of this event. “We are pleased to be the first ones to bring Black Friday to Sri Lanka with a huge assortment of brands and discounts upto 70%! My team has worked very hard to ensure that we onboard a gamut of vendors onto our platform to deliver the lowest prices in Sri Lanka. Just as an example, iPhone 7 is retailing exclusively for Rs. 98,999 during Daraz Black Friday for all our shoppers. We are also very pleased to have Hutch as the platinum partner for Daraz Black Friday this year and hope to deliver a great experience to our buyers”

The latest one-stop online shopping destination in Sri Lanka, Daraz.lk is globally known for its wide range of quality products, amazing prices, free returns policy and for providing customers with a hassle-free shopping experience. The company also operates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, bringing together leading vendors across all general merchandise and fashion categories to deliver the best online shopping experience!

Munchee named both Local and CSR Brand of the Year

Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) triumphed at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2016, held at the BMICH, on 08 November 2016, walking away with 8 awards in total, making it the only company to win a clutch as many as 8 awards at this year’s ceremony. CBL’s flagship brand, Munchee, was bestowed with 2 Gold awards as ‘CSR Brand of the Year’ and ‘Local Brand of the Year’. Munchee won a further 2 Silver Awards for ‘Product Brand of the Year’ and ‘Innovative Brand of the Year’, while the newly-launched Munchee Ringo bagged a Bronze award for ‘Best New Entrant Brand’.

CBL’s chocolate brand, Ritzbury, received 3 Silver awards for ‘Local Brand of the Year’, ‘Product Brand of the Year’ and ‘Innovative Brand of the Year’, the last two won jointly with Munchee. Overall, CBL was the company that won the highest number of awards this year. CBL has won a record 13 awards at a previous edition of the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards.

CBL’s winning portfolio at the 2016 SLIM Brand Excellence Awards included: Munchee winning Product Brand of the Year – Silver; Local Brand of the Year – Gold; CSR Brand of the Year – Gold; Innovative Brand of the Year – Silver. Whilst Ritzbury won The Product of the Year – Silver; Innovative Brand of the Year – Silver; Local Brand of the Year – Silver and Best New Entrant Brand of the Year – Bronze for Munchee Ringo.

Commenting on the company’s stellar performance at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2016 Nandana Wickramage – Group Director/Head of Marketing & Sales, Ceylon Biscuits Limited said “We are proud and delighted to earn the distinction of being the only company to win the highest number of awards at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards this year. Our flagship brand Munchee has repeatedly demonstrated its superiority as a local brand and we remain committed to sustaining this leadership position for what is the country’s foremost brand. We salute our consumers, traders, distributors and other stakeholders for their continued support and patronage that enables us to reach this mark of excellence. This achievement reflects our commitment to our customers and their preference of our products. Of particular significance to us is the fact that Munchee’s CSR programmes have been heralded as the best in the country. The brand focuses on the sustainable pillars of Education, Arts and Culture, Sports, Disaster Response and Uplifting the Community. Projects to prevent school dropouts, workshops for pre-school children and parents, teacher training programmes and edutainment programmes to promote education are ongoing. We believe that our brand excellence emanates from our sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices and corporate stewardship best practices.”

The ‘Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana’ is an initiative focused on community development activities. However, its contribution by way of providing much needed infrastructure facilities for education stands tall amongst others. The initiative thus far encompasses the building of drinking water systems, construction of school buildings and libraries, donation of computer labs and provision of electricity to schools, construction of mini bridges as well as community centres and community health centres. Around 100 projects carried out thus far have directly benefitted over 100,000 Sri Lankans in needy areas.

The Munchee Shishyadara project brings many benefits to school children and prevents against dropping out of school. Discussions are held with the key figures involved in the child’s life; the school principal and government officers in the area, and the child is put back in school and provided with financial support to continue his or her studies. Many children have been supported through this initiative

Another noteworthy initiative of the company is supporting Sri Lanka’s national sport through the National Volleyball Championship at the national level to promote the sport. The ‘CSR Brand of the Year’ was awarded based on Munchee’s contribution towards the well-being and sustainability of the community.

The SLIM Brand Excellence Awards Ceremony is organized annually by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), to recognize the excellence of brands’ performance in all aspects and their achievement in withstanding prevailing challenges in the marketplace.

Photo Caption: The Jubilant CBL Team

Somewhere in the Beaujolais region of France, an intelligent fox is busy packing his bags to make a trip to a sunny island in the Indian Ocean. After picking the perfect Gamay grapes, and letting them ferment for just a few weeks, Monsieur Fox will be carrying with him a barrel of the finest “Beaujolais Nouveau” to tempt the taste buds of the islanders.

Sri Lanka’s culinary hub Waters Edge presents “Beaujolais Nouveau”, a celebration of fine French Beaujolais on Saturday 26^th November 2016 from 4.30 pm onwards.

Speaking on the festival to be held in Sri Lanka, Director Marketing at Waters Edge Nirekshe Perera notes, “Today the Beaujolais Nouveau festival is a grand celebration all over the world. Waters Edge is once again pioneering the event in Sri Lanka and hopes to emulate the celebrations that take place especially in France to ensure that we have a truly French experience. In keeping with the Waters Edge tradition of doing things differently, Monsieur Fox will send the all-important barrel of Beaujolais Nouveau via helicopter courtesy of SimplyFly. The hotel will also be pulling out all stops in terms of dishing out the very best in French cuisine at affordable prices. We are also very excited to unveil our version of a French iconic monument at the festival.”

The festival which will be open to the public and will also feature entertainment acts such as Slipping Chairs and French Connextion who will serenade the crowds with classical French music while they enjoy the mouth-watering French pastries, crêpes, soufflés, and macaroons. Mod’Art will also showcase a special fashion show of French inspired designs.

Beaujolais is the brainchild of General Manager at Waters Edge Rohan Fernandopulle who was also instrumental in introducing the Oktoberfest to Sri Lanka, which has grown in popularity exponentially over the years. “We hope that Sri Lanka will be open to experience and enjoy different cuisines and cultures from across the world that Waters Edge hopes to bring. As the culinary hub of Sri Lanka we want our patrons to be spoilt for choice and this French festival is another step in our journey of bringing cuisines from the four corners of the world to our very own shores”, he said.

The event which is being held for the first time in Sri Lanka in such a grand scale is in partnership with HSBC Advance and Signature Credit Cards, Iconic Galaxy, Response Marketing (Creative Partner), Emerging Media (Outdoor Advertising Partner), Lite FM (Radio Partner), Mod’Art (Fashion Partner), Aeventive (Décor Partner), Jeeva Entertainment (Sounds and Lighting Solutions Partner), and Capture Eye (Official Photographer). The worldwide celebration of the end of the harvest is also being held in in association with Alliance Française DE COLOMBO and the French Embassy in Sri Lanka. The entrance free event will be a culmination of all things French with food stalls, music and entertainment, and traditional French games for the entire family. The Sri Lanka France Business council will also hold a special raffle draw with fabulous prices to be won.

For more information please contact Waters Edge on 0112 863863 or visit the event’s Facebook page or www.facebook.com/WatersEdgeSL

By G.K.S. Ekanayake- Retired Leasing Consultant

The transportation sector has been under the watchful eyes of many in the recent past because of the undue pressure imposed on 1/3 of the country’s population who make a living through anything and everything related to the Three-wheeler industry.

In their recently proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2016-2017, the government of Sri Lanka has now caused many controversies and difficulties among the country’s political elites as well as the ordinary vehicle buyers etc. due to the increase in the ‘Loan To Value’ Ratio (LTV) of Three-wheelers from 30% to 75% which is a clear indication that the government is discouraging the purchase of it. In this regard, it has caused a major hit to the most common and visible Informal Public Transport (IPT) modes as which is an integral part of the transport sector in the country.

The Three-wheeler which was previously purchased at approximately Rs.6, 50,000.00 included a very affordable leasing facility of 70% where the buyer only had to pay a sum of Rs.2, 00,000.00 at the time of purchase. Taking a complete opposite leap in making this transaction unattainable, the lease will now be offered at a very low rate of 25% along with a 15% increase in Excise Duty and a carbon tax which includes the existing emission test fee; resulting in an unbearable cost of more than Rs.5, 00,000.00 to be borne by future customers.

The three wheeler which is also known as the common man’s mode of transport, will now be a big threat to self-employed individuals, retails businesses and many families who seek a livelihood through this humble contraption due to its affordability and efficiency. The once convenient and cost effective mode of transportation, will also directly affect its operators and all its dependents such logistic service providers, spare part and other dealers as well as its direct employees of its operating companies which is a huge part of the country’s Economy.

Despite all these facts, the current government has chosen to turn a blind eye towards this situation as Sri Lanka’s new budget proposal recently revealed that the Government will encourage other options in place of Three-wheelers.

Owning a Three-wheeler or motor cycle which is by default the first choice of any middle and lower middle class individual, is now made impossible due to its exorbitant price increase and its considerable impact in the vehicle leasing sector which is a ‘lose-lose’ situation to both parties.

Although this remains as the perception of the current government, it is by no means beneficial to the common man in the short or the long run. Is the government willing to see through the eyes of a common man?

Fairway Holdings continued their partnership with Soul Sounds, Sri Lanka’s award winning Premier all women choir.

Directed by well-known pianist and musician, Soundarie David Rodrigo, Soul Sounds is ranked with some of the most renowned choirs in the world. Soul Sounds have enthralled many an audience both in Sri Lanka and abroad with their ability to reach out to the soul with their passionate music. This premier female ensemble, were the first choir in the country to venture into the world of international choral music, and have been truly musical ambassadors to Sri Lanka.  Their first win as a choir was at the Llangollen International Musical Eistedfodd in Wales back in 2004, where they were first runners up in the Youth Choir Category. Since then there has been no turning back and they have won many awards at the World Choir Games held in China and Austria.

To date, they have traveled and performed in India, China, Australia, Kuwait, Austria, France, the USA, Malaysia and South Africa.

Each successive performance of this choir has been an improvement on the earlier and the choral harmony and music transcends boundaries and continues to take up the challenge of venturing into different genres of music. For these girls, singing is soul searching. Their goal is to constantly better their standards, while reaching out internationally to appeal to their growing fan base, with the aim of showcasing Sri Lankan talent to the world.

Fairway Holdings has a fine track record of sponsoring artistic & musical events that have the salutary effect of spreading wholesome societal values and appreciation of the arts and culture. This partnership between Fairway Holdings and Soul Sounds is a long-term commitment to support and empower this choir to make greater forays in the musical art.