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United Tractor and Equipment (Pvt) Limited (UTE) celebrated 75 years of industry excellence on March 22, 2022, continuously delivering the highest quality engineering solutions and unmatched service support for Sri Lanka. Helping to Build the Nation, UTE has been a trusted partner for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka, infallible through its various ups and downs as an independent nation.
Commenting on the milestone reached by the company founded by his Great Grandfather, W. D. Fernando, Chairman of United Tractor & Equipment (Private) Limited, Prasan Fernando said: “As a company with a 75-year-old history, UTE represents the resilience of the nation that reaches 75 years since independence, navigating many setbacks with Sri Lanka and achieving a multitude of victories. Over the years, we have established market leadership across numerous industries we serve. More importantly, we have forged partnerships with many other world leading brands, and currently host an impressive portfolio of international market leaders. We continue to stand by our customers, enjoying deep seated relationships with them, living true to our mission; ‘The Journey Continues…Long After the Sale.”
Founded by W. D. Fernando in 1947, whose main purpose was handling the Sales and After Sales Service of the Caterpillar (CAT®) Tractor Company in Ceylon, UTE is an intergenerational powerhouse that continues to prioritise relationships in its corporate culture. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, UTE is still family-owned and places relationships at the heart of its business culture. The majority of the firm’s customers and contractors have been doing business with the company for a long time, and they have consistently contributed to the company’s goal of collaborating to create a world-class customer experience.
“As a prominent construction firm in Sri Lanka, it is critical for us to select the finest engineering solutions from a well-established company that also provides comprehensive solutions and exceptional after-sales service. So far, our experience with UTE has been excellent, and we have received service beyond our expectations. The team has been very simple to deal with and coordinate with, throughout work and emergency situations. NEM chooses UTE CAT because of their 75-year established track record in the industry and the degree of after-sales care they provide for the machines we now possess. Our best wishes to UTE on their anniversary, and we hope to maintain our enduring relationship.”, said the Chairman/Managing Director of NEM Constructions, Raja Nanayakkara.
UTE has a long-standing collaboration with Caterpillar and is now recognized as one of the oldest CAT® dealers in South Asia, as well as the first Sri Lankan firm to import heavy construction machines. Focusing on operational excellence and living up to its purpose with their top-notch customer service, the company is the lone Sri Lankan candidate in the Superbrands® ‘General Machinery’ category, providing the finest quality engineering solutions and unrivalled service support for over seven decades, positing it as the only firm that can supply the broadest assortment of single brand machinery.
UTE represents world class brands in its portfolio including Caterpillar, JLG, Dexion, Flexi, BT, Raymond, Cigweld, SEM – a Caterpillar brand, UTP Welding, Enerpac, ESAB, FS Curtis, CIGWELD, Bohler Welding, Hytsu, Fuji Electric, Caterpillar Lubricants, DID Chains and others. It provides Construction & Earth moving equipment, Diesel Power Generators, Warehouse and Material Handling, Welding, Air Compressor, Energy, Solar, MEP, Filtration, Equipment Rental and Pre-owned Equipment Solutions to the market with extensive product support and Remote Monitoring with customer centric IOT solutions.
The UTE Parts Store/PCC (Parts.Cat.Com) is the fastest, easiest and most reliable website to find and order over 1.4 million genuine CAT® parts online. Orders can be placed 24/7 with the mobile-friendly interface and the parts will be shipped to any location in the island or can be picked up from any of UTE’s branches.
The company is home to the Island’s most experienced and largest team of Customer Support personnel and Caterpillar trained technicians in the industry. Serving customers throughout the island, the company has branches in Panchikawatta, Matara, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Kilinochchi adding to its strength.
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Sampath Bank PLC announced that its connection to UnionPay International (UPI) is now complete and that the Sampath Bank Payment Gateway powered by UnionPay 3DS 2.0 is open for business. Having thus strengthened its strategic commercial partnership with Paycorp International (Private) Limited (Paycorp International), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancstac (Bancstac), this latest development provides Sampath Bank customers with an unprecedented level of security when they process and accept online payments from American Express, Diners Club and Discover Network Cardmembers through Paycorp International’s Internet Payment Gateway (IPG).
Developed by EMVCo–jointly owned by American Express, Visa, Mastercard and other major global payment solution enterprises–3D Secure 2.0 (3DS 2.0) technology provides a higher level of security with biometric authentication, eliminating the need for static passwords. The 3DS 2.0 protocol lets Sampath Bank customers make authenticated mobile, in-app and digital wallet transactions with ironclad security.
Sampath Bank’s commercial customers can already accept Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay International online payments through the Sampath Payment Gateway. What this new development means is that Sri Lankan merchants, vendors and other commercial enterprises can transact business while protected by the same enhanced security infrastructure as their counterparts in the financial capitals of the world.
Previously, businesses in Sri Lanka had to cobble together various payment gateways and technologies to process online payments for different groups of issuer networks. The strategic partnership between Sampath Bank and Paycorp International significantly simplified online payment transactions for businesses and government agencies across the island, giving a substantial boost to digital commerce in the country. This strategic partnership supports Sampath Bank’s continued efforts to accelerate the pace of acceptance, adoption and integration of innovative digital payment solutions in line with the Government and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s efforts to implement new technologies to streamline the payments and settlements infrastructure.
This new payment technology enables secure payment processing, payment gateway and payment aggregator services with direct connectivity to UPI, becoming the backbone of the bank’s transactional infrastructure while protecting businesses and consumers from fraud.
Darshin Pathinayake – Assistant General Manager, Card Center, Sampath Bank PLC, said: “We at Sampath Bank have always been committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to transform Sri Lanka’s financial services landscape by deploying innovative solutions that add more value to the nation. We help Sri Lankan businesses take their first steps in the world of digital commerce and empower our commercial customers with the tools to compete globally on an equal footing. Our longstanding partnership with Paycorp International has paid rich dividends. We are delighted to take this partnership to the next level, all the better to enhance our customers’ payment acceptance capabilities. Sampath Bank business and government customers can now seamlessly accept payments from six of the world’s major issuers, a capability that will fuel sales and business growth. We invite businesses of all types and sizes to turbocharge the payments processes on their e-commerce portals.”
Evan Lau – Director, Bancstac, said: “We are very pleased to integrate 3DS 2.0 functionality into the Sampath Bank Payment Gateway and to provide the bank’s customers with an additional layer of security. We are committed to modernizing Sri Lanka’s digital payment economy by making it easier for merchants, the government and the community to make transactions that are fast, safe and friction-free.”
Sri Lanka is in the grip of a collapsing economy causing immense suffering to its people.
Acute food, medicine and fuel shortages are crippling the day-to-day lives of the people giving way to despair and frustration and driving them to the streets to express their dissent against a government that has failed them. This crumbling economy if not salvaged with strategic thinking and wholesome planning for the future, will eventually bring the country and its people down to their knees. As in all crises, women are the worst affected with multiple roles they play on a daily basis, compelled to deal with long queues for gas, fuel and essential food items. Seven deaths in fuel queues (08/04) and the first death owing to lack of medicine have been reported.
Daily-wage earners and those dependent on micro, small and medium enterprises and other vulnerable, marginalized communities who live on the edge of acute poverty owing to their ethnic, religious, caste, gender and sexual orientation, are the worst affected by this ever-deepening crisis.
Most of these communities are still suffering from the effects of the trauma and tragedy of a conflict and war of over thirty years, the tsunami, Easter bombings and the Covid-19 pandemic.
These vulnerable communities are once again compelled to face another crisis.
Women shoulder numerous burdens – having to earn an income, unpaid care work as well as dealing with the struggles of their children who are already facing challenges in their education, deprived of the pleasures and joys of childhood. All these take their toll on women, their health and their mental wellbeing. The frustrations and fears faced by the families often get translated into acts of violence against women and children and inadequate support services which do not offer lasting solutions to women survivors of violence, almost always push women back to situations of recurrent violence in the home.
Let us keep in mind that this country is overwhelmingly dependent on women’s labour – through the plantation, garment and migrant labour sectors. Let us also keep in mind that women’s labour has been and continues to be exploited through their unpaid care work, lack of welfare facilities and redress mechanisms for rights violations including in their work environment.
Women’s spaces, freedom and aspirations have been curtailed through unfair social and economic practices. Women who contribute to the wealth of this country have the right to demand that their voices be heard.
We demand accountability from those who have been the cause of this plight of our country. We demand a healthy economic and political vision for our country which includes adequate investment in health, education and care services that would improve human productivity and the overall wellbeing of the people of Sri Lanka and urge reduced spending on defense.
We need solutions and interventions that take into account the pressing concerns of women, working people and the marginalised communities of our country, who make the majority of this country.
1. Nominate women and men who have no allegations of corruption, hold a vision and a love for their country, to seats of authority. Appoint a minister of finance who has the relevant expertise in the field. Call for the immediate resignation of all political figures who have failed our country.
2. As an urgent measure, expedite the establishment of the National Commission of Women as proposed in the Sri Lanka Women’s Charter.
3. Strengthen the Samurdhi and Cooperative systems and increase budget allocations to these institutions to enable non-discriminatory distribution of essential ration items to all households.
4. Ensure immediate food security through:
a. imposing strict price controls on goods especially essential food items, kerosene and gas.
b. providing urgent support and subsidies to the farmer and fisher communities.
c. providing nutrition packages for pregnant and lactating mothers as per budget 2022, ensuring school midday meals programme and household level relief for children.
5. Take immediate State action to restore the smooth functioning of the Health sector with adequate supply of medicines, essential medical equipment, health products and reproductive health services throughout the country.
6. Set up urgent support schemes with efficient officers who are not corrupt who would offer their services without prejudice and discrimination and address issues of starvation, homelessness, destitution and all forms of violence against women. Ensure timely responses and a people centered approach at all times.
7. Utilize public revenue to set in motion social security programmes that would ease the present crisis.
8. Ensure equal representation of capable women who are themselves affected, in advisory boards, committees and in all planning measures that address the current crisis.
9. Above all – refrain from using state violence, threats and manipulations on peaceful protests and people’s spaces and urge all politicians to desist from inciting communal violence.
We urge all citizens’ collectives – women’s collectives, trade unions, student movements, religious institutions cooperatives, farmer & fisher collectives, NGOs, all professional bodies and progressive political movements to join us in our call for urgent action in addressing this nationwide humanitarian emergency that if left unattended will destroy our country and our future generations.
Leading pharmacy, beauty, and healthcare chain, Healthguard, is expanding its best-in-class portfolio of wellness offerings with an exclusive partnership with Australia’s No.1 multivitamin brand, Swisse.
The Australian Government in Sri Lanka helped facilitate this partnership between one of Sri Lanka’s top wellness chains and the premium Australian health, wellness, and beauty brand.
The partnership was launched today in the presence of David Holly, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Vish Govindasamy, Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings – Sunshine Healthcare, and Infiyaz Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Healthguard Pharmacies, along with senior executives from Swisse, Austrade, Global Victoria, and the Healthguard chain.
An Australian-born brand, Swisse is now available in 11 markets globally and has a strong reputation for its premium wellness products covering vitamins, supplements, and skincare categories. The Swisse product portfolio consists of the high quality, nutrient-rich products, backed by science and Australian world-class manufacturing standards. The brand’s flagship range, Swisse Ultivite Multivitamins, are unique in that they were the first products targeted to gender and specific age ranges globally. Swisse is the No.1 multivitamin brand in Australia, and its multivitamin products contain more than 53 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and herbs…
“Health and wellness have always been the core focus for Healthguard, and since the pandemic, we have seen priorities begin to shift bringing wellbeing even more to the forefront of our lives. Our partnership with a world class Australian brand such as Swisse spells a credible, superior collaboration showcasing Sunshine Healthcare’s commitment to fulfilling the growing health and wellness needs of Sri Lankans with only the highest quality products,” Vish Govindasamy, Group Managing Director Sunshine Holdings said.
Akash Bedi, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for Swisse’s parent company, H&H Group, said: “Swisse focuses on the Power of Nature, Science, and Innovation – we choose the most nutrient-rich ingredients worldwide, and use advanced formulations based on scientific and traditional evidence to ensure our products are high-quality, safe and effective. We are extremely excited to partner with Healthguard to support Sri Lankan consumers in their aspirations to lead healthier and happier lives – particularly the younger generation who are striving for success in our competitive and fast-paced world.”
Further commenting on the exclusive partnership, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Holly stated “I am delighted that Sri Lankan’s can now access these high quality health and wellness products from Swisse. Collaboration with a trusted, far -reaching health retail chain such as Healthguard will further strengthen Sri Lanka’s connections with Australia’s world-renowned wellness industry.”
This landmark partnership with a world-class brand such as Swisse further fortifies the reputation and capacity of Sri Lanka’s leading health and beauty retailer, Healthguard, to cater to the rapidly surging demand for wellness products in the country.
With the new addition, Healthguard looks to create greater value and increase consumer choice significantly through its newest, premium wellness offerings. The Swisse Ultivite Multivitamins range, along with other best sellers such as Swisse Liver Detox, Collagen Glow, Hair Skin Nails and Magnesium, will be available at all 13 Healthguard outlets across the Western Province.
Infiyaz Ali, Chief Executive Officer – Healthguard Pharmacies added: “With the increasingly fast-paced lifestyle of today, many miss out on the daily vitamin and mineral intake necessary for performance, muscle growth and overall wellbeing. This is where Swisse comes in. The Swisse Ultivite Multivitamin range is formulated to cater to different ages, genders and lifestyles, and helps to support everyday health and wellness. Simply put, a multivitamin a day can go a long way in supporting our daily diet. As a brand passionate about wellness, Healthguard will continue to support Sri Lanka’s enhancing interest in preventative healthcare lifestyle choices,”
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