Business
Huawei launched new devices available now for pre-order in Sri Lanka
Huawei, a global innovative smartphone manufacturer unveiled Huawei Nova 8i along with many other innovative products at an exclusive launch event held recently, adding yet another feature-packed device to the Nova line of smartphones that offer more value for a convenient price. The event was held at Hilton Colombo under the patronage of representatives of the Huawei Management Team along with Media Outlets.
Commenting on the newly launched smartphone Huawei Country Manager Chris Cai, said, “We are delighted to launch this smartphone to the Sri Lankan market. We firmly believe that it will be warmly embraced by our Huawei customer base due to its many novel features. Huawei Nova 8i is the latest feature-packed device in the Nova series and this elegantly designed smartphone is made to be beautiful in the user’s hand, becoming the best friend of our valued consumers. It accompanies and empowers them to enjoy a richer, more fulfilled life with its intelligence, unparalleled battery life, and the powerful camera performance.”
Huawei Nova 8i inherits all of the premium aesthetics and dynamic colours of the Nova series, bringing an outstanding visual experience and superior grip feel. The refined NCVM craftsmanship produces a magnificent display of colour and shadow, while the 4D curvature delivers precision-engineered rounded edges, for an ultra-smooth touch.
The highly anticipated features that define this device in the Nova series are the 6.67- inch Huawei edgeless display, 8GB RAM + 128 GB ROM, the AI Quad Camera setup which features a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera to capture all the best moments in vivid detail. Discover a bigger perspective with the 120° ultra-wide-angle camera, where a mountain range, a magnificent building, or a large group photo – all can be stunningly captured in just one shot. Huawei Nova 8i captures gorgeous night scenes anytime, thanks to the built-in noise-reducing algorithm, therefore the views previously hidden in darkness can now be seen in all their glory.
The 4300mAh large battery interacts with power-saving AI algorithms offering power that lasts throughout a day and the 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge option, which is tested to charge up to 60% in just 17 minutes while fully charge in 38 minutes, brings more convenience to the everyday users who are otherwise forced to charge their phones regularly for a long period.
With a total of 7 built-in antennas and a 180-Hz touch sampling rate, the Huawei Nova 8i ensures an ultra-smooth gaming experience with a strong signal – whether played horizontally or vertically. Plus, the Do Not Disturb mode makes sure that the gaming is uninterrupted even when there are incoming calls or messages. An innovative motion prediction engine works with cutting-edge GPU Turbo technology to enhance game fluidity and power efficiency, especially for high FPS gaming, helping one stay ahead of the curve and the competition.
It also has access to Huawei AppGallery which brings a host of unique features and safety in app downloads, and storing personal data and information.
Alongside the new Huawei Nova 8i, Huawei introduces an all-new line of products such as the Huawei Watch GT 3, and the Huawei MateBook D 15. The Huawei Watch GT 3 is a true masterpiece, with an elegant 42 mm dial that catches the light on the 3D curved glass, giving a soft, water-like glow. It comes with durable battery life, wireless charging, Bluetooth calling, personal AI running coach, 100+ workout modes, accurate heart-rate monitoring, route-back navigation, all-day SpO2 monitoring, Huawei App Galery, and the Huawei Assistant. Huawei MateBook D 15 has a 15.6 inch beautiful IPS FullView screen featuring an incredible 87% screen-to-body ratio and narrow bezels which have been reduced to just 5.3 mm. Designed with portability in mind, with a sleek metallic body laptop that weighs just 1.53kg and has a thickness of 16.9mm, it comes with a 65W USB-C charger, charging your laptop battery to 53% in just 30 minutes and it supports fast charging and data transfer for your phone. The power button on this has a built-in fingerprint reader, so you can power on and log in safely with one press, it has a TÜV Rheinland certified display, powered by AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor, fitted with a PCle SSD and packed with 16GB in DDR4 RAM.
Business
SriLankan Airlines Toastmasters raise a toast to 22 years of excellence
The SriLankan Airlines Toastmasters Club, the second oldest corporate club in Sri Lanka, recently raised a toast to a well-travelled legacy and its equally promising future at its 22nd Annual Officer Installation Ceremony, held at the SriLankan Aviation College in Katunayake.
The event was attended by the Chief Guest and former Head of Human Resources at SriLankan Airlines, Sunil Dissanayake, who founded the Club in 2002, along with divisional representatives of Toastmasters: Ganga Fernando, District Director of District 82; Niroshan Nadarajah, Program Quality Director of District 82; Shabry Shamoon, Division Director of Area H, District 82; and Nimshi Palihawadana, Area Director of Area H4. Other attendees included members of the Senior Management Team of SriLankan Airlines, as well as presidents and members of neighbouring Toastmasters clubs, along with current members of the airline’s club.
The newly installed executive committee of the SriLankan Airlines Toastmasters Club has set its sights on the Golden Gavel, the most prestigious award in Toastmasters, as its next goal. The new committee members are: Kapila Chandra, Club President; Olarika Neerodha, Vice President of Education; Pubudu Wijerathne, Vice President of Membership; Vimukthi Dissanayake, Vice President of Public Relations; Nisanka Senarathne, Secretary; Dilshan Peiris, Treasurer; and Dakshitha Fernando, Sergeant-at-Arms. With a clear vision for the future, the SriLankan Airlines Toastmasters Club is eager to present its next chapters of success in the years ahead.
Business
Government gets substantial debt relief from local bond exchange
Courtesy of more than two years of tough negotiations
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Sri Lanka has repaid defaulted local bonds with floating rate rupee bonds maturing between March 2023 and September 2043, as part of its restructuring of the defaulted international sovereign bonds (ISBs).
The treasury bonds denominated in LKR were settled on 20.12.2024 which is widely seen as substantial debt relief to the government as well as a boon to the banking sector as it accounts for the majority of Sri-Lanka based sovereign bondholders.
In the process, Sri Lanka has issued 8 tranches of bonds of 19.46 billion rupees to local bondholders totaling 155.7 billion rupees.
The local bondholders, mainly banks that have seen bad loans hurting their capital, do not face a principal reduction in the process of this settlement. As a result, the banks’ capital structure will be strengthened by this move.
Accordingly, International Sovereign Bonds for which valid offers were accepted under the local bonds option by the country were converted into eight new variable coupons running up to 18 years.
The bonds will be paid a coupon 50 basis points above the Central Bank’s standing lending facility rate.
The SLFR rate used will be the six-month historical average calculated 30 days before the interest payment date.
The Invitation Memorandum for the exchange of International Sovereign Bonds of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka dated 25 November 2024 was published by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
A subsequent announcement of the results of the consent solicitation for the exchange was published on 16 December 2024 and was settled on 20 December 2024.
The local bond option denominated in Sri Lankan rupees and its wide acceptance by the local ISB holders is viewed as a favorable development for the banking sector as well as the macroeconomic stability, recovery and growth initiatives of the country.
It is expected that with the new capital reserves, the commercial banks of Sri Lanka will be progressive enough to support the economy by lending to small and medium business owners without hesitation just as when they lend to established businesses relatively large sums of money.
Sri Lanka has reached this favourable turning point after more than two years of tough negotiations.
Sri Lanka completed the local-currency portion of its domestic debt optimisation in September 2023, following the exchange of treasury bills and provisional advances held by Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s into new treasury bonds and bills.
Business
Dr. Tharmalingam Tharesanan honoured at Int’l Human Rights Day celebrations in India
Dr. Tharmalingam Tharesanan, Chairman of TMH Group of Companies, was honoured as a guest of honour and guest speaker at the International Human Rights Day celebration held on 15 December 2024 at the Telangana Saraswata Parishad in Hyderabad, India.
He was also presented with the Human Rights Crusaders Award for his outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights. The event was organised by the International Commission of Culture and Diplomatic Relations (ICCDR) and the United Human Rights Federation to recognise individuals and organisations advocating human rights.
Dr. Tharesanan emphasised the important role of businesses in advancing human rights through ethical practices, inclusive growth, and corporate social responsibility. He explained how corporations could act as powerful agents in promoting human dignity and equality on a global scale. Dr. Tharesanan is recognised as a visionary CEO, known for achieving transformational growth and profitability in multinational corporations. He is the executive chairman and founder of the Mother Care International Global Foundation in Sri Lanka and holds leadership roles in multiple companies.
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