Veteran Athlete and Sri Lanka’s first woman Olympic Silver medalist Susanthika Jyasinghe is willing to take up the top seat in Sri Lanka Athletic Committee. The ‘Sprint Queen’ also stated that she is even hopes to compete for the top seat in National Olympic Committee.

“I’m ready to take up the top seats in both Sri Lankan Athletic Committee and National Olympic Committee to lift the Sri Lankan sports to a higher position. Unfortunately it is in bad status at the moment, I have possessed the highest qualifications for those posts in the country being the only women athlete to won Olympic and World Championship medals. I’m confident enough to work hard and become a champion in administrative position.”

This veteran sports star is the vice presidents of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association. She has also been elected to a sub- committee in the Asian Athletics Association in July 2013. Susanthika also works as an advisor for the President in sports.

Olympic Silver medalist, Silver and Bronze medalist at World Championship were the highest medal records of Susanthika who has announced her retirement from sports on February 2009 at the age 35. Susanthika’s retirement was in order to give birth to a son who was born on 31st March 2009.

The ‘Sprint Queen’ again hinted a possible return to competitive athletics in November 2010 saying; “Age is no barrier for performances and I would start training soon, with a bit of training I am sure I can easily clock 11.3 seconds in the 100 meters. If Merlene Ottey can run at 46, why can`t I do it?” However she did not return to sports but instead contested at the General Election 2010 from Kegalle District but was unable to win a seat.

Susanthika is married to Dhammika Nanadakumara who has been arrested by police and bailed out in 2011 April for assaulting her. This was following a complaint made by her to the Child and Women’s abuse unit of the Police. However despite those ups and downs in family life sources revealed that Susanthika is expecting her second child.

Here is your chance to express your opinion. Is Susanthika is suitable for this position ? Also you can comment down in the comment form to justify your selection.

Nirosha Perera is a well-known TV presenter and an actress who has first came to the field from Sirasa TV.Irosha Perera is her younger sister with whom she has presented the popular talk show “Iroshai Niroshai” some years back in Sirasa TV. Nirosha’s elder sister Nilushi Perera acted in a tele drama several years ago but now she is married and settled down. Presently Nirosha appears in Hiru TV with her latest talk show ‘Niro and the Stars’. Following is a translation of an interview she had recently with a week end newspaper.

How’s the feedback you get recently?
I’m getting good comments for ‘Niro & Stars’.

Any negative feedbacks ?
I’m presenting it in a manner to get appreciations.

You often appear in short dresses; don’t you think it’s indecent?
It’s in viewer’s eyes not in my dress.

Do you believe all the things you do acceptable to our culture?
Whatever I do, I do it here in Sri Lanka, I can’t satisfy all, everyone has the right to choose the programs he or she should watch because the remote controller is with them, but the funny thing is the people who blame me continue watching my programs without changing the channel.

Don’t you feel it’s high time to get married?
Age is not a barrier for marriage, but I’m not ready to get marry to satisfy others who asked about it. And if I want I will do it without making a big show.

Then you might do it as a secret marriage?
I don’t have a secret life.

Does that mean you don’t have a desire to get married or there is no one to get your hands?
I have all the happiness and peace in my small family with my mother and sisters and don’t feel like getting married at the moment.

Do you think a woman can live without getting married in this society?
Yes of course!  if she has a good income source and enough courage

What are ‘Nirosha’s’ qualities?
A simple, innocent, peaceful person without anger and hatred towards others and, one who understands the truth in this world. I eats well goes to bed early any will scarify anything to read books.

Then Nirosha is a religious person!
Yes I’m a devoted Buddhist and I believe in past sin and merit. Our life here is predetermined and we only have to continue it since our birth.

What’s the purpose of Nirosha’s life?
To help others and to make people happy.

You try to show that you are simple; Are you really a simple person ?
I believe in Eightfold way of things and do not have great expectations in my life.

Don’t you find your simplicity a disadvantage?
Not at all, I’m living the way I wants. If other’s considering it my stupidity, well I’m saying it’s my humanity.

Should a woman well-behaved?
How do you measure it? And why women only?

You have been sold time to time for different TV channels?
There should be a demand in order to be sold, so that means I have a good demand.

Do you exploit your field?
I respect my field and never exploit it.

Do others in the field ever try to abuse you?
I never let anyone abuse me and others may not like to receive an unforgettable lesson from me by trying to do so.

Do you go clubbing?
I normally go to sleep by eight or nine in the night, so no one invites me for clubbing.

Do you use drugs?
No I’m not and others do not use them in front of me.

She was the radical fiancée’ who has turned in to the tear drop in small screen, Nilmini Tennakoon is one of the most loved actress in field of Tele dramas. Once Nilmini was crowned as the ‘tear drop’ in small screen. Despite all the obstacles she has gone through in the past, Nilmini is now a courageous and matured woman who looks after her young daughter and mother.

You looks tired?
Yes, but I have to look after my daughter and mother, it’s not easy to face the challenge of living single.

How’s your latest TV show “Sith Giman Hala”?
Tell you the truth I really enjoy conducting that program, after all it is a great merit to help healing one’s sorrow even by a single word or two.

We still portray “Deepthi” from you.
Yes “Deepthi “was the major success of my career and I still wonder how people has embraced and remember that character even now.

We missed similar characters nowadays in the Tele dramas’, why is that?
That’s because there is a war among TV channels to become popular through mega tele dramas. One actor or actress is appear in three or four tele dramas in different TV channels and most of them are boring and meaningless. And I wonder how people catch up with all these tele dramas.

But you also participated in some of them?
True, in one or two. But I left aside after realizing those are meaningless and now I really wants to do a strong character. I want to attend it by heart.

You recently acted in “Girikula”?
That is one of favorite novels I have read. Author Shanthi Dissanyake has created the strong character of ‘ Dingiri Amma” and full credit must be given to the man behind the camera who has done an exceptional job. It’s one of the best and by heart character I have done.

You have brought excellence to the small screen, but appear less in silver screen?
Yes, I have done all most all the characters in tele dramas, but I got limited opportunities to display my ability in cinema because of the draw backs inherited to that field. It was Roy and Sumana who have introduced me to the cinema and I really grateful to them.

Do you act targeting awards?
Most of the tele dramas I have acted was awarded many a times and even if I appear less in cinema almost all of them were awarded or nominated for awards. My last film was Udayakantha’s ‘Le kiri kandulu’ for which I became the best actress in ‘Sarasaviya’ film awards. It’s sad to see that Udaya aiyya left the tele drama field because I really like to do a character under him once again.

Do you get enough money through acting to look after your dependents?
I have a Salon of my own and can managed as I satisfy with what I get.

You have broken your second marriage?
That marriage was done after a very short meeting. Nirosha Virajini quite rightly commented recently on our marriages that; “We have not broken our marriages purposely, unfortunately our mates did not understand our feelings, we too like to live a happy wedded life”. Even Samitha also commented that it was not our choice to step in to the same boat. Women’s’ destiny is strange, love is her whole world, unfortunately most of the men do not understand it.

You had a loveable past?
Madu…. The fiancé whom I loved most, and who became my husband and the beloved father of my daughter Swetha. I have tried my level best to protect our family but it was ruined by a thunder storm, but I still cherished the memories of the past , how Madu and I first met, how we fallen in love and how we have planned our marriage together.

Don’t you wish if Madu still with you and do you regret the decision you have made?
Yes I regret and wish million times if Madu is still with us. But now I have a clear vision of our lives here, it’s all some kind of illusion, we embraced things and people that happened to meet within the journey of life and then suffer a lot .I try to build my present life according to the Buddhist teaching. I’m a woman who expects more love and when I go to sleep now I feel the loneliness, only the warmth of my daughter is beside me today.

Don’t you meet Madu now?
Why not? We are not rivals, Madu attends every important occasion of Swetha, he may be married to someone else but he was my first love. When I met with that terrible accident, he never left me and did his best to save his first wife and the mother of his daughter. I still convey merits to Madu for not let me down when I was in trouble.

Once Dananjaya said you were one of the best actresses in Sri Lanka.
I still love him as a brother of mine, in fact it was me who encouraged him to be an actor, and I wish him all the best for his career.

Where is the ‘singer’ within you?
Ah, it’s still with me and I promised my fans that I will release a new song near future.

‘The Singing Elephant’ in the political arena, Dayasiri Jayasekara has become the 6th current Chief Minister of North Western Province with massive number of preferential votes. There may be several reasons for his record breaking victory, but there was a hidden force behind Dayasiri’s success in the election campaign.

It was Jayawanthi Jayasekara, the beloved wife of Dyasiri who has done a remarkable job being behind in the scene. Jayawanthi is a daughter of legendary Kala Guru Kalasoori Panibharatha. Her elder sister Upuli Panibharatha is married to world renowned dancing artist Channa Wijewardane. Following is a translation of an exclusive interview a newspaper had with Jayawanthi Jayasekara.

Photo: Dayasiri Jayasekara and Family

“Event though I was not to be seen on stage, I have visited every artistic family in the province and especially women. Since it was school holidays and kids being grown up a little I had time to work on to a plan of my own. I have visited even in most rural areas in the province as a simple woman, visiting each and every house, have a cup of tea with them or sharing the meal they have prepared. Those people were so dear to me that they have being touched with my simplicity and down to earth behavior, and that’s not all most of them have a respect towards my father, as you know Dr. Kalasoori Panibharatha is my father”

“Dayasiri’s sister was my driving force and the body guard who has accompanies me all the time like a mother. Their family has tremendous bond between the villagers of the area and it came in handy when it comes to canvassing for preferential votes. My sister Upuli, brother-in-law Channa Wijewardhana and students of their dancing classes also helped us a lot by visiting such classes and institutions in the North Western province to speak about our future plans to uplift the traditional art. We have decided to conduct seminars and work- shops in Kurunegala free of charge with the participation of Channa and Upuli”

Speaking about how she has first met Dayasiri;

“Dayasiri sung in a concert of my sister which was staged at Colombo campus while being an under graduate there. My sister has invited him to join us for our musical activities as she has saw Dayasiri’s talents in singing. After that he visited us several occasions but nothing special happened between us. Then I went ‘Shanthi Nikethana’ in India where I got my degree in ‘Manipur’ dancing. When returned home I have joined Tourism Board in order to get involved in the cultural centre to be formed there by late minister Dharmasiri Senanayake which was not a success. I met Dayasiri after long period when he came to our auditorium for press conferences as the Coordinating secretary to Minister G.L.Pieris.”

“Dayasiri was better known by my sister Upuli, and in fact it was she who has recommended Dayasiri as a decent and talented artist, my father also was very dear to him and finally when he proposed me at the Tourism Board I have no reasons for object. After two years of friendship our marriage took place in Galle Face Hotel, it was a charm, traditional function but everyone enjoyed it as it was graced by beautiful dancing and musical events.”

“We have two kids, Kaveen is the son and Gihansi is the daughter, and Dayasiri always look after their needs and encourage them more on their education. He still has the same condescending, artistic character that I recognized when I first met him.”

We are living in a country that cost of living is moving one way: Up, and despite all the gimmicks the authorities apply to show the drop in cost of living, one can not resist the pressure of high rising prices in commodities . An average person cannot afford the daily expenses he or she has to make with only by a monthly salary. If you have an extra source of income or a part time job, it definitely would be an advantage. Then on the other hand you cannot spend all your earnings on consumption; a considerable amount should be invested in a safer place for future needs. We at Lanka Help Magazine published several articles time to time on low risk Investment options in order to educate you and this is the latest of such an article.

Related articles:

HNB ‘Adhishtana Saving Accounts – Specially For Sri Lankans Working Abroad

Invest in Fixed Deposits for Higher Returns

Invest in Gold With a Sri Lankan Bank 

BOC Debenture Issue

The State run banking giant Bank of Ceylon (BOC) is going for Debenture Issue of Rs.8 Billion commencing from 21st October 2013 to enhance its Capital Adequacy ratio, single borrower limit and to minimize the Assets and Liability mismatches. These Debentures are with face value of LKR 100 each that will be issued under nine categories. The tenor (maturity period) of this debentures are 5 to 10 years with attractive interest rates. In the three State Banks BOC, Peoples’ Bank and NSB, the published interest rate for a deposit of 5 years is 12.25% which is lower than the interest rates quoted for these Debentures.

Salient Features of the Nine Debenture categories

There are nine Debenture Categories and here is a description of the features of each of them.

• Type A : 5 Year fixed interest rate of 13% (AER 13%) Interest paid annually.
• Type B : 5 Year fixed interest rate of 12.6% (AER 13%) Interest paid bi-annually.
• Type C : 5 Year floating interest paid bi-annually. Floating interest rate would be 100 basis points above the weighted average six months Treasury Bill rate prevail at the end of every six months.
• Type D : 8 Year fixed interest rate of 13.25% (AER 13.25%) Interest paid annually.
• Type E : 8 Year floating interest paid bi-annually. Floating interest rate would be 100basis points above the weighted average six months Treasury Bill rate prevail at the end of every six months.
• Type F : 9 Year fixed interest rate of 13.25% (AER 13.25%) Interest paid annually.
• Type G : 9 Year floating interest paid bi-annually. Floating interest rate would be 125basis points above the weighted average six months Treasury Bill rate prevail at the end of every six months.
• Type H : 10 Year fixed interest rate of 13.75% (AER 13.75%) Interest paid annually.
• Type I : 10 Year floating interest paid bi-annually. Floating interest rate would be 125basis points above the weighted average six months Treasury Bill rate prevail at the end of every six months.

Basis of Allotment

Type A B C Debentures – Tenor 5 Years – 50%
Type D E Debentures – Tenor 8 Years – 15%
Type F G Debentures – Tenor 9 Years – 15%
Type H I Debentures – Tenor 10 Years – 20%

Minimum Subscription

– LKR 10,000 or 100 Debenture is the minimum that you can invest.

Method of payment of interest

The interest will be paid by cheques, SLIPS or RTGS and you can select the desired method.

Benefits of Investing in Debentures

1. Attractive interest income throughout the investment period
2. Opportunity to realize capital gains on the fluctuations of interests in the financial markets.
3. You can exit any time from the investment
4. Can be used as a collateral (guarantee) to obtain credit facilities from Banks and financial institutions.
5. Tax benefits – Listed Debenture are exempted from income tax and withholding tax.

Risk factors associated with Debentures

As with any other investment there are associated risks in investing money in Debentures.
1. If an investor sells his debenture prematurely when the market interest rate is lower than the BOC Debenture interest rate he will incur a loss.
2. In the floating interest rates, if the 6 months T.Bill rate plus 100 and 125 basis points falls below the fixed rate of the Debenture the investor will get low income than the fixed income investor.

Please note that there are many risk factors involved in Debentures and we have noted here only the basics an average person would understand. The Fitch Ratings Lanka has issued the “ AA(lka)” rating for this debenture which can be interpreted as a low risk investment option.

The issues will be opened for subscription on October 21, 2013. Prospectus already delivered to the member firms and custodian banks so if you wish to invest please contact them for more details. You can also visit the Bank of Ceylon web site (www.boc.lk) where you can download all the necessary details (How to apply, Who can apply etc.) in PDF format.

We are happy to give you further clarification if you have any queries about this investment method. We would appreciates your comments and feedbacks.

Dancing is her passion as she inherited it from her legendary parents. One cannot take their eyes away even for a second when she performs; her body is so flexible that it has the buoyancy of a feather. Aseka Wijewardane is this talented young dancer. The much loved daughter of the parents who portray the grace of “Isurumuni Lovers” in the Sri Lankan dancing arena; Channa and Upuli Wijewardane. Aseka is the great combination of both ‘PaniBharatha’ and ‘Wijewardane’ dancing generation.

“The meaning of my name ‘Aseka’ is ‘one who has the knowledge or understanding in everything’. I have just begun my life and I will gain knowledge as I walk through my life.”
‘I have studied in Arts stream and preparing to enter to the University of Kelaniya for my degree in Arts.”

‘My parents never forced me into dancing, in fact I did not like dancing when I was a little girl, and I was on to drawing at that time. But I used to see dancing every day since my birth and it gradually develop my liking to dance. There is no intention what so ever of carry forward our dancing legacy or to gain popularity through dancing in my liking to dancing now.’

‘I normally get popularity because of my parents, but I took dancing not because of the mere popularity, I saw my father teach dancing and I came to understand that it’s not that simple to become a professional dancer as dancing has a deep spiritual meaning. When compared with my father’s knowledge I’ m just a newborn.’

‘We can express our country’s soul to the world through dancing, not only that it also express our rich tradition, culture and performing art to the world. Our own greeting “Ayubowan” itself has a deep meaning. The rhythm of our qualities has a unique value that cannot be found nowhere in rest of the world.’

Aseka is the dancer appear in “Nestamalt” advertisement and thinks it’s not bad to use any form of art to a creative production.

Speaking about her family life Aseka comments;
‘Some don’t like being the only child in the family but I adore it. I never felt lonely as there were many young use to be at our home practicing and all of them treated me as their own sister so I’m glad that I have uncountable brothers and sisters.’

‘Many admire my dancing style stating that it has an extraordinary buoyance. I consider it as a merit from my previous life. I have a great challenge not only from my fellow dancers but also with myself, nobody is perfect and there is much to learn. My father and mother are my favorite dancers but I admire Vindya Warakagoda a lot and I learnt a lot from her.’

‘I’m aged 21and  thinks there is plenty of time left to think about love and all, for the time being we practice a lot as we have concerts almost every day.’

Award-winning songstress Visharada Nanda Malini will be back again with a much-looked-forward-to unique solo musical concert ‘Gee Yathra’ on Saturday, November 2 at the refurbished BMICH at 7 pm. This will be the first musical programme to be held at the refurbished BMICH which was closed for four years.

“OSCA is working towards the welfare of our own music fraternity and it spends more than Rs.1.7 Million annually on such welfare programmes. The founder Mr. Dharmadasa is working hard since its inception in eleven years ago to uplift the lives of needy artistes. So I voluntarily agree to perform without any monitory gain for this worthy cause.” Said Nanda Malani

“This show will not only provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan music lovers to enjoy high quality music, but also to contribute towards the welfare of their favourite artistes who have entertained them for decades.”

The ‘Gee Yathra’ musical extravaganza is organized to raise funds for the Outstanding Song Creators Association (OSCA) which represents almost all artistes in the music stream including lyricists, singers, music directors and musicians. Founded by Jayantha Dharmadasa , OSCA has membership of more than 225 and is the largest organization works towards benefits of wider selection of music artistes. The funds raised will be used to implement Health and Life Insurance schemes and to host of other welfare needs of the artistes.

‘Gee Yathra’ scripted by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne
Music by Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe
Date ,Venue & Time Saturday, November 2 at the BMICH at 7 pm.
Tickets OSCA Office, Nawaloka Hospital Colombo 2
Sarasavi Book Shop Nugegoda, Sadeepa Book Shop Borella
Salaka – Senkada at Union Place
Contact for details 011-2305070

Here’s a good news if you wish to learn music from this songstress. ‘Nanda Malani Music Academy’ is now enrolling students for the year 2014. Nanda Malani Has been conducting music lessons for more than 28 years immensely serving the music industry. Visharda Deepika Priyadharshani, Asanka Priyamantha are few of her past students of this academy.

Those in the 8 to 12 and 12 to 15 age group can enroll for classes which will include voice training, singing and other basic exercises. Special classes are being conducted for the youth, targeting for the Bathkande music exams. To get more details write to the Secretary, Nanda Malani Sangeetha Asramaya, No 30, Vijayaba Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nugegoda before 30th November.

The year 2013 is the most memorable and adorable year for the talented female vocalist Uresha Ravihari. This young songstress has awarded twice within this year which is a remarkable achievement. The first award she has received this year was on February the 11th and it is the World’s best award a woman can achieve ; ‘the motherhood’. Uresha Ravihari is a proud mother of a baby boy.

The second award she has received was the prestigious BUNKA award she has received last Saturday at a graceful ceremony held at the Rupavahini Corporation. The Bunka Awards are presented annually by the Fund, which was established in 1993, on the initiative of the Japanese Solidarity Association and the Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan. For the past nineteen years, awards have been presented to mid-career individuals and organizations on the basis of their creative activities in culture and the arts, in order to encourage and promote individual and collective talent in these fields in Sri Lanka. Four other Sri Lankans who was awarded were Wasantha Amarakeerthi, Nayana Dharshani Perera, Priyankara Ratnayake and Shamuganathan Thibaharan.

Related Article – Uresha Ravihari’s Wedding Day – Photos

“As a singer and vocalist I always believe that music is universal language which can be used to heal, soothe and entertain people living in this world. It’s a great source of inspiration for any human being. This universal language has hidden therapeutically values that can be used to relieve pains and stress. I would like to emphasize the authorities concern to implement a mechanism to conduct music therapy for the benefit of those who suffer from pain and stress.”

‘I volunteer to contribute my voice as a ‘stress buster’ to the people of this whole world and ultimately bring peace of mind to them. “Music for peace” is my personal theme’ said Uresha.

Uresha is consider as one of the few successors for the legendary female play back singer Sujatha Attanayake and has sung for more than 83 films and 42 tele dramas. She came to the lime light of play back singing at the age of eight with the song ‘Unna eka gangawaka ran wan punchi maluwo’in one of her father’s films. The songstress has bagged many awards including the Presidential awards for the best female play back singer. She was most recently nominated at the second Derana Lux film awards for her hit song in ‘Kusa Paba’.

‘This is my 28th year in the industry and I have sung more than 400 songs, worked with all most all the reputed musicians and lyric writers. I think it is a remarkable achievement compared to other countries like India where there has a much developed industry.’

Uresha portrays herself as a much sought after singer in Sri Lankan music arena and so far has released 33 music albums including 8 of her own production. Sujatha Attanayake, Austin Munasinghe and Lionel Algama were the renowned music personalities under whom she has studied the intricacies of music. We at Lanka Help Magazine would like to congratulate Uresha for her tuneful career.

The Nenasa TV has come to another mile stone in distance learning methodology with the launch of two channels covering the national curricula of Grade 10 and Grade 11 on 6th November 2013. The “Nenasa – 2” Educational Television Channel was launched in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Tangalle Ruhunu Wijayaba National School.

Nenasa TV is currently beamed to 2,000 schools across the country, consisting of underprivileged schools in rural Sri Lanka and 1,000 ‘Mahindodaya’ schools. Under this new phase, Nenasa TV will broadcast a high quality edition of the national education curriculum for Ordinary Level (Grades 10 and 11) developed by Dharmavahini along with content produced and approved by the National Institute of Education under the direction of the Ministry of Education.

‘Nenasa’ TV was launched in the year 2009 under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ as a Distance Learning method focused on less privileged children in rural areas of the country. This digital satellite television-based Distance Learning Network architected by the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education and Dialog Axiata as a joint project. The state-of-the-art education program was developed to address the disparity of access to knowledge between urban and rural Sri Lanka through information communication technology. Lessons conducted in a recording studio at the National Institute of Education (NIE) were supplemented by the Learning Management System (LMS; Accessible to students from the login on to www.nenasa,lk site) through which the interactive element facilitate. Exclusive content broadcast via a dedicated channel on Dialog Satellite TV to schools connected to the network.

The main objective of the project was;

• Enabling access to high quality teaching resources, for rural students
• Assist in improving level of education in the country
• Promoting multi-sensory learning that is proven to be more effective
• Introducing rural students to modern technology and its possibilities

At the inception in 2009, Dialog Telekom provided 900 Televisions & 100 projectors with 1000 Dialog TV units free to selected schools. A Broadband data connection between NIE & the DTV studio and Salaries of 4 staff members for the initiative also funded by the company as well. The Learning Management System (LMS) available on this web site was created by the Dialog – University of Moratuwa Mobile Communications Research Laboratory. The Ministry of Education appoints the representatives from NIE for the Review Committee/ Advisory Board to approve content and maintain systems to gather feedback & carry out necessary evaluations of the progress of the Nenasa programme. The Ministry is responsible in co-ordinating with teachers or other parties in respect of content production and development. The NIE operates and maintains the Content Development Studio including management of the content to be used in the Nenasa programme. The deployment of adequate staff for the operation and management of the project also falls under NIE purview.

Nenasa is a gift from Dialog to the Ministry of Education as a responsible corporate citizen and aims to uplift the quality of educational content and access to knowledge in Sri Lanka. The programme also depics the success of harnessing the potential of technology in bridging geographic and socioeconomic divides within Sri Lanka.

The price of brand new or reconditioned vehicles is sky rocketing day by day and people are in search of ways to import vehicles with tax concessions to Sri Lanka. The permit holders of vehicles thrive as they have plenty of opportunities to sell their permits. Since the sale of vehicle permits legalized now,most of the permit holders put their permits on sale placing advertisements in public media. Earlier there was an option to “Importation of Motor Vehicle under the Gift Scheme from a close Family Member”, but that facility was suspended over miss use of the same. But Sri Lankans who have worked in a foreign country have an option to import the vehicle they have used there to Sri Lanka upon their come back to motherland. This scheme facilitates importation of a vehicle used by a Sri Lankan who has remitted foreign exchange to Sri Lanka and it is called “Importing of vehicles under the Foreign Exchange Earned Abroad” scheme.

Who are eligible to import their used vehicles to Sri Lanka?

1. A person who have regularly maintain NRFC or remittance account in recent two years.
2. A person who can prove the sufficient (more than twice of the CIF value of the vehicle)foreign earnings and remittance to Sri Lanka (Minimum of $ 50,000 USD) covering the period of employment abroad at least three years commencing from six months before the date of application .

If you have fulfilled the above the importation can be done under two categories;

Category I – Importation of Used Motor Vehicles between 2 to 5 years old.

Requirements:
I. The motor vehicle should be registered under the name of the applicant and used by him for a period of more than one year.
II. Motor vehicle should not be older than 05 years from the date of first registration.

Category II- Importation of Used Motor Vehicles between 05 to 10 Years Old.

Requirements:
I. The motor vehicle should be registered in the name of the applicant and used by him continuously for a period of more than three years.
II. Motor vehicle should not be older than 10 years from the date of first registration.

Special Conditions for Both Categories.

• Vehicle should be right hand driven.
• Licensee should present with him/her self with his/her passport at the time of clearance of the vehicle. Violation of this condition will result cancellation of license and confiscate the vehicle.
• Vehicle should be registered in the name of the licensee and cannot be transferred for 03 Years.

Importation of a vehicle under this scheme is permitted once in lifetime only.

Documents to be submitted along with the application

1. Photocopy of applicant’s Passport of pages showing Photograph, personnel details.
2. Validity period.
3. All pages including date of departure from Sri Lanka and date of arrival to Sri Lanka with immigration stamps.
4. Photocopy of valid visa proving that he/she has gone abroad for employment and completed one year/three years in that country.
5. A copy of work permit or letter of appointment including the date of appointment, post held and salary paid to the applicant. Fax number and E-mail address of the employer should be indicated in the employer’s letter. (If self-employed relevant documents should be submitted to prove the foreign earnings.)
6. Monthly bank statements (NRFC or remittance receipts) should be attached to prove the sufficient (more than twice of the CIF value of the vehicle) foreign earnings and remittance to Sri Lanka (Minimum of $ 50,000 USD) covering the period of employment abroad at least three years commencing from six months before the date of application.
7. The applicant should be regularly maintain NRFC or remittance account in recent Two years
8. A copy of the registration certificate of the vehicle owned and used by the applicant, certified by the embassy of the relevant country.
9. A valuation report of the vehicle from a recognize body of the relevant country [original document]
10. Two photographs showing front and back side of the vehicle.
11. Registration Certificate/ Cancellation of Registration (De-Registration) Certificate of The vehicle and the Pre-shipment inspection certificate from Japan Auto Appraisal Institute or Bureau Veritas should be submitted at the clearance. (Vehicles met with any type of accidents or damage are not permitted to import).
12. Declaration from the applicant stating that applicant will reside in Sri Lanka and the Vehicle is for his personal use.
13. The applicant may ready to submit any other relevant document when required for Department further clarifications

All documents /photocopies should be certified as the true copies by the applicant and Genuineness of the documents submitted will be verified with relevant agencies and if Forged documents are submitted the applicant shall be punishable by law.

Applicant required paying a license fee against CIF value of the vehicle. This is payable to the department by a bank draft.

• 2 – 5 years old vehicle – License fee 03% of CIF value.
• 5- 10 years old vehicle – License fee 06% of CIF value.

Applicant may send his/her application directly to Import Export Control Department by Registered post or through duly authorized person. Documents in languages other than English must be accompanied with certified English translation.

Please contact Department of Customs for other relevant duties applicable. Also, please note that all the above are only guidelines. Final decision will be taken by the
controller of Import and Export Control considering all documents submitted by the applicant. Contact details of the ‘The Department of Import & Export Control’ as follows; Tel 011-2326774 – web site : www.imexport.gov.lk

“Chathak” is a brand name which has revolutionized the all-time favorite dress of T-Shirt. Launched in July 2012, ‘Chathak’ has introduced innovative range of T-Shirts under five main categories namely; Physco Guys, Physco Girls, Lanka Style, Twin Hearts and Cute Kids. They have invite the young in very attractive and appealing manner by asking them ‘Come-on and start your journey and start to speak with your tees’. The response was remarkable as it created trend of its own, with various innovative and eye catching slogans including commonly used Sri Lankan words and Loving Arms – which express motivational and charity based phrases printed on variety of T-Shirts.‘Chathak’ has named their product as Attitude T-shirts to Explore Your Mind Sets. Attitude T-shirts has become the new fashion and trend now. A T-shirt with your thoughts expressed is more welcomed than the other T-Shirts.

‘Chathak’ yet again introduced an innovative range of T-Shirts under the brand name “Chathak Miracles”, whereby the T-shirt changes colour when exposed to sunlight. These UV coated solar powered T-shirts absorb the ultraviolet rays of the sun which then causes the T-shirt to change colour. The ‘Chathak Miracles’ label comprises a large variety of T-shirts to suit today’s trendy youth and is the first time in Sri Lanka that UV coated T-shirts have been introduced to the local clothing industry.

Chathak productions are exclusively available in Glitz, a leading fashion retail brand in Sri Lanka with five outlets from its inception and the new product ‘Chathak Miracles’ also released joint hands with Glitz. The new range was officially launched at Glitz Hyde Park Corner by Indian-Sri Lankan actress Puja Umashankar and award winning Sri Lankan actor, singer and model Roshan Ranawana.

The launch of this new T-shirt brand is not solely a business project but also a part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the two organizations. Glitz, together with Chathak will donate a percentage of its T-shirts sales to orphanages and less privileged children, on a monthly basis. Out of this total amount, 50% will be donated to the SOS Children’s Village and the balance 50% towards other orphanages and less privileged children across the island. Commenting on the project, Operations Manager of Glitz, A.M.M. Shafeek said, “We hope that this simple initiative will bring a smile to the faces of the less privileged children of our country. We invite all Sri Lankans to join hands with us and make this CSR program a resounding success.”

Keeping to its tagline ‘Speak with your tees’ Chathak’s mission is to offer a global branded product that makes people unique from others. No matter what mood you are in, Chathak helps you to reflect your mood with the right T-shirt and so to speak, to convey the same in a trendy way.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will ceremonially open 15th November 2013 at Colombo and most of the Heads of participating countries have already visited Sri Lanka at the moment. While all the Heads of Government scheduled to be accommodated at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo, a ‘Boutique Hotel’ with historical value is being arranged for a special distinguished delegate. Prince Charles, who will be representing the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), has decided to stay in at the Bandaranaike Mansion (Tintagel) at Rosmead Place, Colombo.

The Bandaranaike Mansion holds the World record for brought up three Prime Ministers and One Speaker of Parliament which cannot be found in any other country. Prince Charles definitely may have correctly studied the historical background of this world renowned mansion in choosing his stay at Colombo while other facts of being situated in a very safe and private location may preferred by his security personnel. The age old mansion of Bandaranaike generation was converted into a World Class Luxury boutique hotel in 2005.

Tintagel Castle, off the coast of Cornwall in southeast England, was the home of King Arthur, the name “Tintagel” was also given for the residence for Dr. Lucien de Zilwa which was completed in 1930. In the mid 1940’s de Zilwa was given a week to vacate the property by the British Military to house one hundred soldiers. The military occupation saw the house wrecked and de Zilwa sold Tintagel for Rs.160,000 to Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike for his son, Solomon West Ridgeway Bandaranaike who became Prime Minister in 1956. It is from this point in time that the house gained recognition as a structure of national importance. In 1959 S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was shot dead at the verandah of Tintagel. In 1960, his widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, became the world’s first female Prime Minister. Mrs. Bandaranaike resided at Tintagel right up until her demise in 2000. In 1983, their only son, Anura Bandaranaike became leader of the Opposition, Speaker of the House of Parliament in 2000. The younger daughter of S.W.R.D. and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga progressively became a Chief Minister, Prime Minister and then Sri Lanka’s first female President in 1994. The family home of the Bandaranaike’s was leased to Udayshanth Fernando by the family to become Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, a unique private hotel in 2005.

The Boutique Hotel concept came into industry to full fill the needs of traveler preferences that are unpredictable and keep changing every day. Boutique hotels have become popular because they offer an intimate and memorable experience for the holiday maker. The main characteristics of Boutique hotels are their size, service and individuality with which they could differentiate from other normal accommodation facilities. Individuality is the most prominent factor in the Boutique concept with many other features like unique location, architecture, artwork in lobbies, designed equipment in bathrooms, plus the service focuses on providing a unique experience with the staff providing exceptional levels of service tailored to satisfy the individual needs.

There are well over 100 properties in Sri Lanka claiming ‘Boutique’ status. With the current boom in tourism industry, Sri Lanka has quite an advantage in the Boutique concept for the future because of her diverse locations.

We have published an article about “Past and present wealthiest of Sri Lanka” couple of months ago, where we have listed the top 20 billionaires as per the Sri Lanka’s stock market. Recently the Forbes magazine have hinted the most likely four wealthiest Sri Lankans. The names are given in the alphabetical order as they couldn’t rank them due to most of their wealth is held in private assets. The four wealthiest Sri Lankans are namely; Dhammika Perera, Sohil & Rusi Captain, Harry Jayawardene and Hari & Mano Selvanathan. Although Forbes has not ranked them, Dhammika Perera is the name given by 99% of people who will answer the question of who’s the richest person in Sri Lanka. This man will enter to the world’s rich list within next couple of years and below you find the success story of this great achiever.

According to Dhammika it was his mother who was a school teacher who has given him the first lessons of cash management. She used to give him an allowance of Rs.500 a month at age 11, and for eight years he had to stretch that money to pay for drinks, food and school fees. The Young investor Dhammika’s first investment was putting money into a street hawker’s business in front of his uncle’s café and eventually rented slot machines and installed them inside the café. He managed to enter to the University of Moratuwa but left it in 1987 to took a three months of technical training in Taiwan, then returned home and started a business making slot machines under the name of ‘Tito Electronics’, instead of just renting them.

In 1992-93 he ventured into gaming by starting casinos. The ownership was him but the management was a different company. Dhammika’s working strategy is owning the business not operations, not running the business. He always stress this point that his interest lies only in owning the business not running it. “The professionals will run the business. When you take my business models only professionals can run the business. If there are any shortcomings in those who manage the business then I will step in and rectify it”.

In 1996 Dhamiika Perea entered to the Colombo Stock Exchange by investing Rs.300,000. He took three years to watch and learn how this system works. During that time he became well versed in how the stock market works and started purchasing stocks from the entire stock market, about 100-200 at once and to analyze whether the stocks could be sold or not and thereby able to gained knowledge. That is how he became the invisible driving force in CSE and the richest in term of CSE.

Dhammika Perera’s net worth is assumed to be around $550 million. His achievement of becoming the richest in the country is not merely a luck or inherited fortune. Dhammika developed a 20-year plan for his fledgling businesses to become the country’s leader in each of 12 sectors by 2019, with the help of a mentor at the age of 32 in 1999. Nadeem ul Haque, the senior resident representative of the International Monetary Fund in Sri Lanka was this mentor who encouraged him on how to behave, how aggressive to be. In the same year he started meditating and continued two years and stopped it as he felt that the experience was becoming too intense.

“It was through hard work not necessarily physical work but mentally where I was able to analyze and develop successful business models. From the beginning I worked only according to a mathematical structure or model. Through that I know the quickest and best path to take and as such make decisions quickly. At that moment I am 100% sure that my decisions are correct. When I input the required data into the business model and if it fits then I know that the decision is correct. Therefore it is not difficult to move from one place to another”.

As of today Dhammika succeeded becoming the leader in 9 of the sectors, building best-in-class companies in tourism, banking, apparel and other industries. His Royal Ceramics Lanka appeared in 2010 and last year on FORBES ASIA’s list of the best 200 listed Asia-Pacific companies with under $1 billion in annual sales. Today his empire boasts 23 listed companies–that’s 8% of all companies traded on the Colombo Stock Exchange–and dozens of private ones. His reach extends to Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, the U.K. and elsewhere, and those outfits employ some 62,000 people. He supplies Walmart in Canada, makes blue jeans for Levi’s and produces tea that’s shipped worldwide. He says his companies pay 5% of all corporate taxes in Sri Lanka, and his goal is to raise that number to 10% because “more taxes mean companies are getting] more business and a bigger market share.”

“What I can tell everyone is that if you have a life that is focused and if you are committed then anyone can achieve greatness. The country has reached that stage where there are opportunities for everyone”.

“I’m aged 77 now, two days younger to Sir Garfield Sobers, and most of the cricketers known to me commented that I’m in good shape than him” boasted the one man cheering squad of Sri Lanka, Percy Abeysekara. The young at heart, “Percy Uncle” as referred by the young (he is not a youngster any more) is as clamant as he used to be in the early days of his life and tougher than a person of his age. In spite of the frailties that have come with age, Percy looks almost unchanged after cheering for Sri Lanka for over 50 years and shouting for the country while carrying the National Flag for over 30 years.

“I went to Richmond College, Galle up to the 4th standard and then to St. Aloysius’ College, Galle up to the SSC Examination. Then I was admitted to Aquinas College, Colombo for HSC Examination. Vasudewa Nanayakkara, Tyron Fenando and Kumar Ponnambalam were my contemporaries. Kumar was the opening bowler of our school’s cricket team then.”

Percy’s lunacy for the game of cricket was so high that it ended up his education on a very crucial day.

“It was ‘Economic History paper’ of the HSC examination; I skipped the paper and rushed to see the famous C. I. Gunasekera whacking a century against Tamil Nadu in a Gopalan Trophy match at the Oval (P. Saravanamuttu Satdium)”

“And when my father got to know this he got me out of the school and put me on work at Associated Motorways in Kalutara. That was in 1961 and in 1962 I have joined ACL, a subsidiary of the AMW, where I still works, as its Public Relations Officer”.

“I was the first to captain the AMW cricket team and managed to snatch the Mercantile Services tournament trophy beating the Lake House team in 1968.”

“It was for ‘Bloom Field’ club that I have started cheering and it was me who has introduced Bandula Warnapura and Lalith Kaluperuma to the Bloom Field. I have imprisoned several occasions over various things I have done to cheer up our National Team facing defeat, those days I was not popular and no one knew it was me.”

“Once Sir Richard Hadley gave me his official tie as a souvenir, then Martin Crow gave me two trophies, one was at the end of Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan tri series tournament and the other was in a World Cup match. I asked Martin why he was so generous towards me and he replied it was for your diverting character and for your nationalism.”

Percy has two grandsons who were given names of legendary cricketing stars, the eldest is Garfield and the youngest is Sachin. Percy’s ambition was to see them as talented cricketers but none were on to cricket but are good rugger players and Percy’s friends make a joke of it.

Walimuni Simon Mendis Abeysekera, Percy’s father, was from Balapitiya, near Galle and Percy’s mother, Dolly Margeret de Zoysa Siriwardene, was a Headmistress for 38 years. Percy’s father Simon Mendis retired in 1950 as a school Principal after serving in eight schools in the Southern Province who died at age of 97. Percy has two brothers Susil, Cyril and Two sisters Padmini and Sirimathie. Padmini was a highly respected retired school teacher and one time English teacher of Aravinda de Silva, at D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo.

Many players have had a liking for this cheerleader. His knowledge of the game and its history is second to none and Percy comes up with certain anecdotes that stun you at times. No doubt that some of his comments have angered overseas players, but none of them have had a row with him for they know that Percy doesn’t mean any harm.

Following are some of those unforgettable comments by Percy the legend.
For Andy Flower during his tour to Sri Lanka in 2001
Hey Andy,
You are indeed handy,
When you come to Kandy,
I`ll give you brandy,
But you bring the shandy,
After brandy,
If you try to be chandi
And hit Murali out of Kandy,
I will make you nondi.

For David Boon (One time Australian opener)
David Boon,
Tasmanian Goon,
Come back soon,
Before noon. (Boon got out before lunch obliging to Percy’s request)

When the match fixing controversy embroiled so many leading players including his good friend Mohammad Azharuddin, the former Indian Captain, Percy frowned at the Indian dressing room during a warm up match and came up with this beauty.

Cricket is a game of gentlemen,
Invented by the English,
Improvised by the Aussies,
Mastered by the Sri Lankans,
And f—ed up by you bloody Indians

The number of Banks in operation in Sri Lanka amounting to twnty-four out of which nine Banks are Licensed Specialized Banks. Bank density (Number of Bank branches per 100,000 person) is around 11. With the rapid expansion in Bank branches it is estimated that the Bank density will exceed thirty by year 2015. According to a recent study carried out by the Central Bank, Sri Lanka’s low level of financial literacy has improved primarily due to developments in the country’s telecommunication and information technology infrastructure. Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Central Bank put forward a “Customer Charter of Licensed Banks” in which it outlined a ‘code of conduct’ for licensed banks, as well as the customers of these financial institutions, with the aim of providing “key standards for fair banking practices” in 2011. Having said it’s not rare to find customers victimized on numerous occasions due to lack of awareness about their rights in Banking. This article is to briefly outline the rights of the banking customers.

Right to Receive information about the banking Products/Services

1. The licensed banks should help the customers to understand the financial products/services offered by providing   adequate information about them, explaining their financial implications and assisting the customers to choose the appropriate banking products/services.
2. Brochure/leaflet about the products and services offered should be written in simple language.
3. Fees/charges, commission, interest etc., charged from customers should be clearly stated in uch brochures.
4. Customers should not be misled by the media and promotional material used by the Banks.
5. A periodic statement should be sent to customers either in printed form or electronic form opted by them regarding transactions and balances in their deposit or loan accounts.
6. Statements for credit cards should set out the minimum payment required and the total interest amount charged if only the required minimum payment is made and late payment fee if the minimum payment is not made.
7. The following information should be conspicuously displayed in the Head Offices and all branches and other banking outlets of the licensed banks.

• i. Current interest rates on all deposit and loan products
• ii. Buying and selling rates of foreign currencies
• iii. Credit rating of the bank with underlying specifications
• iv. The contact details of the Financial Ombudsman and Credit Counseling Centre
• v. Banking hours and Holiday notices
• vi. Any other relevant information

Right to know the ‘Terms & Conditions’ on Products/Services

This is the tricky part where most of the Financial Institutions thrive by misleading the customers as the “Terms & conditions” are printed in tiniest letters that cannot be read in naked eye. So be vigilant next time you banking and make sure your banker adhere to following;

1. The ‘Terms and Conditions’ associated with each product or service should be available in all three languages and should be clearly explained and a written confirmation should obtained from the customer that the details of the products or services and their terms and conditions were received, explained and understood;
2. The details of the bank’s general charges such as interest rates, fees and commissions, if any, required to be paid by the customer including the method of computing interest charges.
3. The course of recovery actions a bank may follow in the event of any default by the customer on his/her obligations and bank’s expenses that will be reimbursed from the customer.
4. The disclosure of customer information to a party legally to obtain such information.

Right to receive Compensation in the event of withdrawal/cancellation of products/services by the Bank

In the event a licensed bank seeks to withdraw/terminate a product or service already on contract, especially deposit products, customers have the right to receive a reasonable time with an exit compensation scheme disclosed in advance

Right to know the details of the agents appointed for customer services

This is to prevent customers from Harassing, abusive debt collection practices, Disclosing information to others, misleading by giving false information about products/services and getting signatures for any security documents outside the bank.

Right to resolve the complaints with transparency and effectively.

The Banks should implement a quick and effective resolution mechanism on disputes between customers and banks by rectifying disputes quickly, handling complaints within a short period, directing to take the complaints forward if the customer is still not satisfied and reversing any charges that applied due to a mistake.

Right to receive Special attention and Care

The customers such as elderly, disabled or customers with low financial literacy have the right to receive special attention to facilitate them to have a fair access to banking services.

If you have any question related to this topic, please leave a comment below. Also check out my other articles related to banking and finance.

We are in the dawn of a New Year and most of the people are getting ready to welcome the New Year while the others are busy with Christmas celebrations. December is a festive month no matter whether you are a Catholic or not, and it’s just not the New Year or Christmas that the month of December so special to us. It is the month we are getting our “BONUS”, the month we feel more generous on spending our hard earn money. Even the rest of our family members especially the kids are also waiting for this month to come in order to make their requests. It is true that the money received is not sufficient to fulfill all those requirements, but we must save a considerable portion of the money received for our future and to be taken in case of an emergency. We at Lanka Help Magazine published many articles on investment opportunities and this is an update of “Invest in Fixed Deposits for Higher Returns”.

Seylan Bank – Flexi Fixed Deposit

Unlike other traditional Fixed Deposits, Seylan Flexi FD gives you the freedom to decide the number of days for your own deposit. It’s so flexible and easy to handle. As the minimum deposit period is 31 days and maximum is 365 days you are free to deposit for short term investments.

The minimum deposit amount is Rs. 100,000In Interest Rates starts from 8.30% (31 – 60 Days) to 10.5%(331 Days to 365 Days). Instant Loan or Free Instant Credit Card with a lower special interest rate are entitle for investors. After the maturity of the Flexi FD, deposit will be rolled over for a period of 30 days, 3 months or 6 months as per your requirement.

As Seylan Bank has advertised “Let it be a moment of cash emergency, you want to start a business, you have sold your car, house or land and you are worried that money will vanish before you buy a new car, house or land or dreaming of a higher interest for your bonus money, then invest in Seylan Flexi FD”

Let me share my personnel experience; when I sold my inherited house in view of building a new house in a different location. As soon as I got the sales proceeds I divided it in to several potions and invest in fixed deposits with different maturity periods and chosen the option to receive monthly interest. It came in handy when I have to pay for the house rental (I have shifted to a house on rent till the construction of new house finish) monthly. Then I spent another month searching for a land and when I found it I withdrew a FD and settled it. Then when the construction begun I came to an agreement with the head of construction to settle the bills end of each months. For all those months I received monthly interest that I have used for my personnel monthly expenses and for other sundry expenses on construction.

Rates offered to Fixed Deposits by State Banks and other Commercial Banks

Here I will list down the highest interest paying State Bank and the private Commercial Bank. If you concern more on secure of your money, then you will have to choose one of the three State Banks. Here again you will get 100% Government guarantee for your money and interest earned for the deposits in National Savings Bank.

1. One Month FD  – Seylan Bank offers 8.5% and all the other Banks offer 8%
2. 3 Months FD      – State Banks offer 9.0%
3. 6 Months FD      – State Banks offer 9.25%
4. 12 Months (Maturity)    – State Banks offer 9.5% -  Seylan & Sampath Bank – 10.5%
5. 12 Months (Monthly)     – State Banks offer 8.75% -  Seylan Bank – 10%
6. 24 Months (Maturity)    – State Banks offer 10.0% -  Seylan Bank – 11.5%
7. 36 Months (Maturity)    – State Banks offer 10.5% -  Seylan Bank – 12%
8. 60 Months (Maturity)    – State Banks offer 11.75% -  Sampath Bank – 15.5%

Rates offered to Fixed Deposits by top rated Finance Companies

Here I have chosen three of the Finance companies who have the highest Credit Rating.

Summary

National Savings Bank has the highest published interest rates in the State Banks category. Sampath Bank offers the highest interest rate for 60 months both under Banks and Finance companies categories i.e. 15.5% which is very attractive. Seylan Bank has the highest rates for the fixed deposits with maturity periods of 12months and above. In the Finance Companies, it is LB Finance which offers the lucrative interest rates.

All the interest rates given above are current published rates as at 2^nd December 2013. We at Lanka Help Magazine has no intention of promoting any of the institutions mentioned above and this article is solely meant to educate our readers.

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has introduced a “whole -of – Government” service counter for the benefit of vehicle owners in Western Province, making it easy for vehicle owners to register their vehicles, obtain revenue licenses, buy insurance cover and carry out vehicle emission tests under one roof. The aim is to implement a one-stop shop concept for the convenient of vehicle owners through a computer network connecting the department and the provincial departments of motor traffic. The officers manning this counter use the e-revenue license system which is connected to data bases of both departments of motor traffic offices at Narahenpita and Maligawatta. Since the system is connected to 40 divisional secretariats in the western province, the vehicle owners can go to any of the secretariats and get the revenue license.

Vehicle owner with Internet and a mobile phone facility can go to Sri Lanka’s “Country Portal” web site or to the mobile portal to get e-revenue license. Although this e-revenue license facility was introduced in the year 2010, most of the vehicle owners in the Western Province are unaware of this great service. The both DTM and ICTA in a process to promote this facility and announces a 25% discount will be given for the vehicle owners in Western Province using this facility on 21st to 23rd December 2013.

I have used this service from the date of inception and recently renewed my revenue license for the 4th consecutive year. Following is a step by step description to getting your revenue license online.
Before you process your application online, please ensure that you are the registered owner of the vehicle, have a valid Insurance Certificate and Vehicle Emission Test Certificate from any of the supported companies listed below.

Insurance Companies:
Asian Alliance Insurance PLC, Amana Takaful PLC, AIA Insurance Lanka PLC, Ceylinco Insurance PLC, HNB Assurance PLC, Janashakthi Insurance PLC, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Union Assurance PLC, Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd, Continental Insurance Lanka Limited

Vehicle Emission Test Companies:
Clean Co Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, LAUGFS Eco Sri (Pvt) Ltd

Now let’s move step by step to get your revenue license online.
1. Log in to the www.srilanka.lk website (tri lingual) and register providing a valid email address and a password. (A copy of the temporary revenue license will be mailed to this address).
2.Then find the e-revenue license portlet and add it to your personalized portal.

• Click on “My Space” tab
• Click on Add Services link
• Click on “Government Services”
• From the expanded list of “Government Services” click on“e-Revenue License” link
• Then it will expand to show two available services. If you want to re-new the license click on “Revenue License” link
• The eRL portlet will be added to your personalized portal.

3.You can get the “First License” or “Renew License”. Click on “Renew License” button.
4. You need to give your vehicle no, previous revenue license no and chassis no of your vehicle and press OK.
5. If the vehicle owner’s name displayed is correct, click on “Confirm” button.
6. You should have a valid vehicle insurance policy and carried out the emission test and passed the test.
7. Select those companies from drop down lists and click on “Validate” button
8. If you get “Valid” results for both above, you can proceed to pay by clicking on “Pay” button
9. System will mention the amount you should pay (A convenience fee will be charged for using this service.) and ask whether you wish to continue. To proceed you should click on” Continue” button.
10. You will be connected to “Lanka Government Payment Services” to select the payment gateway. You can select any Visa, Master or Amex Credit Cards or eZCash mobile payment mechanism
11. Once the Payment is successful, the system will confirm it and give you a reference number for the transaction and the original license will be sent to the vehicle owner’s address by registered post.
12. You can print a receipt with a temporary license which will have all above information
13. If you want to check the status of your online renewal request next or following day you may log in and click “Check Status´ button.
14. Send a SMS to GovSMS – 1919 by using the code below to verify the validity of your vehicle revenue license. dmt rls

Help Desk
If you encounter a problem during your process you can get help from either site administrator or by calling 1919 Government Information Centre” which is open 14 hours x 7 days. I personally recommend getting help from site administrator as they are very helpful and response quickly. To get in touch with site administrator;

• Log in to the site.
• Click on the “Public Space” button in the top left hand corner of the site
• Click on “Forum”
• Then select the “e-revenue license portlet” category.
• Then click “Post new Thread” (just next to the search box appear in yellow color)
•  Post your problem briefly giving necessary information
•  Site admin will reply you within 24 hours (visit the same place to check whether you received a reply by site administrator)

So save your fuel and do it online and do not forget to share your experience in getting your first r-revenue license with us.

Rathna Lalani Jayakodi and Sampath Thennakoon are undoubtedly the most famous couple in the Sri Lankan stage drama. The duo has sacrificed more than half of their lives to enrich the Sri Lankan stage drama. Through their journey of nourishing the stage drama Rathna and Samapth have come to another valuable milestone of their career. The thirty years in stage and collaborated in over 20 stage dramas as husband and wife is this significant milestone which they are going to celebrate in grand style. Choosing seven of the dramas they have acted together “Abhinayana Sampath-Ratna Rangabhumika”; the stage drama festival will be staged commencing from 17th December to 23rd December at the New Town Hall Colombo 7.

The 80’s group – Sathjana Sahurda Sansadaya is the main organizer of this drama festival and the dramas scheduled to be staged are as follows;

1.  Suba Sandawak (1982) – 17th December
2.  Mayadevi (1985) – 18th December
3. Puthra Samagama (1985) – 19th December
4.  Guru Tharuwa (1996) – 20th December
5. Jagan Matha (2008) – 21st December
6.  Romaya Gini Gani 2(2011) – 22nd December
7. Thala Mala Pipilla (1988) – 23rd December

All dramas will start exactly at 6.45p.m. according to organizers and to Rathna and Sampath as working to a time should be given by example. The drama “Suba Sandawak” was originally staged 31 years ago, “Mayadevi” and “Puthra Samagama” were staged 28 years ago. The original cast of above dramas will be appearing on stage again recalling the sweet memories of the golden era of the stage drama history. Sampath Thennakoon has decided to publish a souvenir of academic value – a collection of articles by scholars in drama field, this souvenir could be used as a handbook for stage drama fans and also for university and school students who are learning stage drama as a subject.

Having started her career as a child singer in the SLBC “Lama Pitiya” accompanied by her elder sister Geetha Kanthi Jayakodi , Rathna’s talents sharpened with the presence of legendary characters like Ananda Sirisena, Agnes Sirisena, Mahinda Algama, Ashoka Tillekeratne and Piyadasa Ratnasinghe . Rathna inherited a unique voice which magnificently blends with Noorthi and stage drama songs. Professor Ediriweera Sarthchandra and Jayalath Manoratne are two of the most benefited stage drama directors with Rathna’s melodious voice. Working as a teacher in Royal College Colombo she has shared her experiences with the young and brought up many talented youth to the field.

Although Rathna and Sampath have sacrificed their lives on stage drama, finding a sponsor for their drama festival was a real challenge as some challenged them to show the rewards that will receive by sponsoring a drama festival, and some were concerned about the number of people who will get to see the drama as that is the only crowd they’ll be advertising to. So it was a willingness of Ratna and Sampath to jump in to trouble. It is the true picture of the real stage drama producer has to undergo in the present.

So if you are in love with stage dramas this will be a great opportunity to watch seven of the best stage dramas ever produced. Some of them were telecasted on TV bout you cannot get the same complete aesthetic feeling from it. We at Lanka Help Magazine take this opportunity to Wish Rathna and Sampath all the success for their future endeavors.

Soma Edirisinghe is one of the foremost donors in Sri Lanka and undoubtedly one of the wealthiest persons in Sri Lanka. As common to other wealthiest she is not inherited her present luxurious life. Born in 1939 in a family of nine her father Charles Perera was a small scale planter and mother was an ordinary house wife. Watareka Pallepathuwa in Salpiti Koralaya (shire) is the home town of lady Somalatha Perera ( her maiden name) and she has gone to three scools; Government school Meegoda, Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya and Samudradevi school in Nugegoda.

“I was a huge fan of Sri Lankan films when I was young ( I still have that liking for movies), and I used to visit then famous movie stars like Ananda Jayaratne, Leena de Silva, Senadheera Kuruppu, Herbet M Seneviratene. There were lots of fruits in our garden so I used to take them on my visits to movie stars; I still remember that Senadherra Kuruppu’s wife loved to eat ‘waraka’. “

“I was a bit mischievous character as a school child, so my father was nosy about me. And he was a spirited character and there were no chances of get involved in any love affairs. But we used to tease boys by waiving our hands being in the balcony, J.R.P.Sooriyapperuma was a prominent figure who used to waive us when drive passing our house.”

“Once few of my friends and I dressed up like gypsy women and begged money in Colombo, I don’t think girls nowadays won’t even think of doing such mischievous things.”

‘It was for my elder sister that my husband E.A.P.Edirisinghe first proposed for, as my father was admired him as an enthusiastic business man. And of course it was a once in a life time chance to get a proposal from some one of his caliber, so my father was keen to accept the proposal. But my sister was not that keen saying that he is not fair enough of for her, luckily for her their horoscopes mismatched. He has already entered in to the film industry then, so I was so disappointed about what has happened as I’m huge fan of films. Later he came to that sister’s weeding (she was married to a doctor at Kandy) where I was the bride’s mate’. My dream came true when he sent a proposal for me. My sister got married on April and I got married to Mr.Edirisinghe in same year December.”

“After marriage we settled in this house in Suleiman Terrace. Mr.Edirisinghe was also a tough, decent but righteous character like my father. He used to give precedence of becoming a self-driven person for both me and our children even though there were few house maids in our house. We used to take dinner together every day, and it was the time he used to narrate the every -day happenings both local and foreign to us, like Bandula Padmakumara doing the ‘Mul Pituwa’ in Swarnawahini.”

Mr.Edirisinghe died due to a heart attack before reaching age 50. The young widow has to face the life alone with three children. But young Soma doesn’t knew even to right a bill. Most of the family members and people predicted that she will sell all the business. It was the time Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha and Galabada Gnanissara advised the young widow to face the future challenges with courage.

‘”I will not sell any business, if you have any bring it to me” those are the words I said to people who had doubts about my ability to run the family business. I didn’t hesitate in taking decisions, as my children were all ways besides my decisions. So we started hotels, Television Network and many other businesses.”

“Time management is the secret of my present success, I get up 5.30a.m. even on weekends, I personally open all the letters addressed to me as I am the first know what it is about and personally check the phone calls received. Watching ‘Mul Pituwa’ in Swarnavahini and reading all the newspapers are the next things I used to do in the morning. I go to office after offering ‘Buddha Puja’ . We must be the guardians of our workers, there were no trade unions in our businesses because we have managed to inculcate the assurance of security in our workers mind and I absolutely does not accept backbite.

“Soma Edirisinghe started her charity work back in 1961 during the devastating flood that engulfed the North Central Province of the country. She with a group of popular personalities carried out relief operations helping those who had lost it all. Thus began an epic journey filled with numerous obstacles and hardships, yet lined with promise and hope. Sanhinda home for elders, Punarjeewa fund for heart operations, Janasarana and Suwanetha are few of the charity projects organized by her. The number of heart surgeries done under Punarjeewa project is 87 and thousands of poor are treated free of charge under Suwanetha project.

“I still love watching movies but hardly read books. Jeewaka, Nalaka and Asanga are my three sons and Deepa is my daughter, and I’m proud gran mother of twelve grandchildren. It was said to me that I only have three births left in this world, may be because I ‘m the reincarnation of the great donor Vishaka in Buddha time according to Buddhist monks. I believe in horoscope and I only give my horoscope to the special person of mine.”