Business
Frostaire celebrates 41 years as Sri Lanka’s leading air conditioning and refrigeration brand
Frostaire Industries (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka’s pioneer air conditioning and refrigeration solutions provider, celebrates 41 years of developing and introducing superior home and industry cooling systems to the country. To commemorate the occasion, the company will be offering free air conditioner servicing to all of its customers on any Frostaire appliance and system, with special gifts of gratitude for its long-standing clients.
Founded in 1980 as a refrigerator and air conditioner manufacturing and repair company which, over the years, was quick to adapt to local demand and international market trends, broadening its product line and diversifying its portfolio even before the need arose.
In 1990 the home-grown brand became the first to introduce retail ice to Sri Lanka under the name ‘Frosty Ice’. Frostaire also pioneered the local manufacture of cold rooms and freezer trucks, to help facilitate the efficient management of the country’s cold supply chain.
“2021 marks another monumental year for Frostaire,” said Mukthar Marikkar, Frostaire Managing Director. “Investing in our client and partner relationships, as well as our heritage of introducing state-of-the art cooling systems, continues to fuel our innovation and culture of continuous improvement.”
From single unit air-conditioners and refrigerators for the home, to commercial refrigerated warehousing, storage, and transport solutions -for perishable food, beverages, and medicines-, the Frostaire name has come to be recognized for excellence, as well as an efficient and reliable distributer of high-quality, contemporary cooling solutions, a company news release said.
“Additionally, its comprehensive product portfolio has resulted in a fast-expanding clientele, with several large-scale deployments by private sector organisations, government institutions, well-known food and retail chains, and individual industry professionals, and tens of thousands of units provided and installed island-wide.”
Among the many global names it has acquired to supplement its suite of products, Frostaire has also been awarded the status of sole agent and dealer of Thermo King truck and trailer refrigeration units sales and services in Sri Lanka, and has now established a well-equipped Thermo King Service Center in Welisara, made available to assist clients with their specific chiller and freezer truck service requirements. This is in addition to Frostaire’s one-of-a-kind in-house R&D lab, and one of the largest installed bases of air conditioning and specialized refrigeration appliances in the country, the release said.
“With customer experience always its highest priority, Frostaire is also committed to delivering superior after-sales customer care by harnessing four decades of industrial and technical expertise to give back to the consumer,” it added.
To avail Frostaire’s free A/C servicing anniversary offer, the company asked customers to contact 0718 958 958 to make an appointment, and a professional team will visit home or facility (following all COVID-19 safety and precautionary measures) to provide free-of-charge advisory and servicing of the air-conditioning or refrigeration units in question, the company said.
“Now, 41 years later, and with plans for future expansion, Frostaire can proudly say that its cooling solutions have been largely responsible for keeping Sri Lankans comfortable in their homes, productive at work, and their food cool and safe in kitchens, on trucks, and in stores,” the release cocluded.
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
The government doesn’t have any mechanism to recover the USD 40 billion that was siphoned out of the country illegally from 2008 to 2018 by Sri Lanka’s business elites, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya Dr. Kalpa Rajapaksha said.
“Most people think that the IMF loan is a victory for Sri Lanka without knowing its risk factors. These are exceptionally high because one of the main impacts would be for the banking sector whose liquidity is due to weaken on account of high tax impositions and certain economic reforms, Dr. Rajapaksha told The Island Financial Review.
Dr. Rajapaksha added: ‘The tax relief given during President Gotabaya Rajapaksha’s tenure triggered this issue, which cost government coffers more than Rs 450 billion. However, Sri Lanka has to carefully follow IMF recommendations taking its history into consideration. It is said that Greece and Ethiopia and several other countries absolutely failed by following IMF recommendations in the past.
‘We are in the dark as to the method of economic recovery because the government is attending to deeper, burning issues in the country, such as reduction of poverty and ending economic inequities.
‘The imposition of heavy taxes on people, especially professionals, via a wealth tax and a heritage tax by 2025 and the increasing of direct taxes, such as VAT, on low income classes, without taking into account the need for a wage hike, will iraise the poverty level and widen wealth inequalities.
‘Inflation at the global level is very high and strategies are required to increase exports and cut down the heavy import dependency of the economy. This is a prerequisite to address all economic woes.
‘The previous ruling party squandered and stole billions of dollars but the present government not having any plan to recover that money is a tragedy. Therefore, promoting neo- liberal principles is impossible under the current corruption scenario.
‘Further, the IMF has set the target of reducing the debt to GDP ratio to 0.7 per cent in 2023, along with their recommendations. Many people doubt the achievability of these aims.’
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
CSE trading got off to a positive start but later turned negative yesterday due to huge selling pressure. The reasons being investor worries over a domestic debt restructuring mechanism after having secured the IMF loan and the negative global scenario when it comes to the banking sector, market analysts said.
According to analysts, during the last week strategically important banks in the global economic system went through credit default swaps, especially Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and Credit Suisse Group AG. But another leading European Corporate Bank possibly facing a credit default swap, created some ripple effects for economies like Sri Lanka, analysts said.
The All- Share Price Index went down by 134.1 points and S and P SL20 declined by 51.6 points. Turnover stood at Rs 871 million with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in NDB, which crossed 1.2 million shares to the tune of Rs 51.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 43 and Aitken Spence 772,000 shares crossed for Rs 47.1 million, its shares traded at Rs 61.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, SLT Rs 82 million (717,000 shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 52.8 million (8.2 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 50.1 million (298,000 shares traded), Tokyo Cement (Non- Voting) Rs 36.5 million (388,000 shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 33.6 million (251,000 shares traded), ALC Cables Rs 33.3 million (406,000 shares traded) and Sunshine Holdings Rs 27.2 million (633,000 shares traded). During the day 45.4 million share volumes changed hands in 15000 transactions.
The market is generating revenue from SLT over news of it being divested; moreover, there has been interest for the hotel and tourism indexes, since tourist arrivals and earnings have been attractive, an analyst said.
It is said that Treasury bond yields opened steady on Monday, while the rupee opened weaker at spot market, dealers said.
A 01.07.2025 bond was quoted at 30.75/31.00 per cent on Monday, up from 30.90/31.20 per cent on Friday. A 15.09.2027 bond was quoted at 28.00/70 per cent, up from 28.00/50 per cent from Friday. The Sri Lanka rupee opened at 322/325 against the US dollar, weaker from 320/325 a day earlier.
Business
Holding ‘Raid Amazones’ for second consecutive year in SL, a rare honour for her – Head of Marketing Srilankan Airlines
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
More than 250 female French athletes arrived in Sri Lanka for the challenging ‘Raid Amazones’ adventure event that took place last week in Kandy. They arrived in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year, which was a big achievement for the country when it comes to the tourism sector, Head of Marketing SriLankan Airlines Saminda Perera said.
“For the first time in ‘Raid Amazones’ history they selected one country for two consecutive years, which could be considered a great honour for Sri Lanka. This would enable more French tourists to arrive in Sri Lanka in the future, Perera told the media recently during the event in Kandy. ‘Raid Amazones’ will hit the streets of the fabled hill capital, Kandy, with the participation of over 250 female athletes.
‘Raid Amazones’ is a well-known annual destination adventure event originating in France, which features female athletes competing their way through a range of challenges, such as, orienteering, mountain biking, canoeing, riding, running and archery.
“Sri Lanka was chosen over rival destinations by the event’s founders due to the unparalleled warmth of its people and support on the ground to pull off a successful event. Their decision is also due to SriLankan Airlines’ tireless marketing efforts to secure the popular trail on successive occasions for Sri Lanka in its hour of need for international tourism support, Perera said.
Saminda Perera
Tourism sources added: “During the 21st edition of the trail, the participants will be able to connect with a potpourri of natural and historical highlights as they trek through the Kandyan plateau in Central Sri Lanka.
“Their journey, though, would begin from the moment that they step onboard SriLankan Airlines to fly from Paris to Colombo, on an aircraft dedicated to ‘Raid Amazones 2023’.
“Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kandy, the iconic setting of ‘Raid Amazones 2023’, is renowned for two of the most recognizable cultural symbols that define Sri Lanka.
“SriLankan Airlines partnered Raid Amazones in 2022 soon after recommencing operations to Paris.
“SriLankan Airlines, together with Connaissance de Ceylan, the official ground- handling partner of the event, will go all out to ensure that the French group experiences the best in Sri Lankan hospitality.
“This event will especially help create more awareness of Sri Lanka as an adventure travel hotspot among French travellers and the rest of Europe, where ‘Raid Amazones’ is sought-after and attracts adventure-seekers.”
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