Tag: April-May 20

Samsung Galaxy S20 series sets a new standard with industry first Space Zoom Technology, 8K video shooting and 108MP Camera

Samsung Sri Lanka unveiled its stunning addition to the flagship Galaxy line up – the Galaxy S20 Ultra, S20+ and S20. The new range of devices offers compelling features which will re-define the smartphone experience and change the way we capture our world. Ardent Samsung fans who wish to be the first in Sri Lanka to own this amazing next generation device can now pre-order the Galaxy S20, S20+ & S20 Ultra between 28th February and 12th March 2020 and get exciting offers!

Changing How We Capture

Now, more than ever, we capture our lives and tell our stories through our smartphones—and that is why the camera is the single-most important feature for consumers purchasing a new smartphone. Designed for the way we live, the Galaxy S20 introduces an entirely new camera system—powered by AI and with our biggest image sensor yet—to bring out the best in every image and every moment with;

  • Details in Stunning Clarity: With a larger image sensor available on the Galaxy S20 series, camera resolution is significantly increased. S20 Ultra has a 108MP camera whilst S20 and S20+ have a 64MP camera. Another benefit is that the larger sensors take in more light, so you get rich image quality even in low light situations. The S20 Ultra takes things a step further with the option to shift dynamically between a high resolution 108MP mode and a 12MP mode, thanks to nona-binning technology which combines nine pixels into one at the sensor level.
  • Groundbreaking Zoom Capability: With the Galaxy S20’s Space Zoom technology that uses a combination of Hybrid Optic Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom, which includes AI-powered digital zoom, even when you are far away you can zoom in close. Use up to 30X zoom on the Galaxy S20 and S20+, or step-up to the revolutionary folded lenses on the S20 Ultra, which uses AI powered, multi-image processing to reduce quality loss at high zoom levels so that users can experience Super Resolution Zoom up to 100X with a clearer view ever than before.
  • Single Take, Multiple Possibilities: Single Take lets you stay in the moment, while you capture the moment. Thanks to its AI camera technologies, the Galaxy S20 can capture a number of photos and videos, such as Live focus, cropped, Ultra Wide and more that captures your moment the best.
  • Pro-Grade Filming Capability: The Galaxy S20 offers stunning 8K video shooting, so users can capture their world in true-to-life color and quality. When you are done shooting, stream your video to a Samsung QLED 8K and enjoy its best-in-class viewing experience or grab a still from an 8K video and turn it into a high-res photo.

Commenting on the launch, the Managing Director of Samsung Sri Lanka, Kevin You said, “We are proud to have established a legacy of leadership as the number 1 smartphone brand in Sri Lanka in terms of market share.  Samsung is dedicated to provide our users with new and exciting ways to capture the world as they see it using our leading edge technology. Our latest flagship Galaxy S20 series pushes the boundaries of innovation that Galaxy fans can eagerly look forward to.”

The Galaxy S20 series can be pre-ordered at Damro, Singer, Singhagiri, Softlogic Retail and island-wide authorized dealers of Softlogic Mobile Distribution and John Keells Office Automation which can be easily identified by the Samsung logo placed outside the shop and through online portals; Daraz.lk, ClicknShop, MySoftlogic.lk and Network Partners Dialog and Mobitel.

SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS &PEPPER AND BRITISH PUB OPEN AT OGF

Adding a new dimension to Sri Lanka’s F&B industry, full service hospitality provider Gills Hospitality introduces &Pepper Seafood Lounge Bar and British Pub & Fish N’ Chips at One Galle Face Mall. 

Facing the tropical expanse of Galle Face Green, &Pepper’s ‘The Fish Boat’ fresh seafood market adds  quality, flavour and affordability into an array of fresh seafood including Ceylon Lagoon Crabs, Lobster, Mussels, Oyster, Clams and Prawn.  

Themed on a cozy London Pub style, British Pub & Fish N’ Chips on the rooftop sunset terrace of the Mall brilliantly combines London’s pub culture with Sri Lanka’s exotic sunsets and seascapes.

Gills Hospitality, which is a subsidiary of “Gills” Brand, operates Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs & Bars, and Pizzerias in Sri Lanka, Maldives and India.  Partners, food specialist G G Roshan De Soyza and hospitality marketer and influencer Suvi Wijayaratna, both veterans in their fields, believe strongly that Sri Lanka’s restaurant circuit must continue to increase its scope given the multiple facets it embraces from within this island’s surfeit of exotic and unique cuisine.

“That’s why at &Pepper, we showcase the best catch of Sri Lankan seafood. We prepare Ceylon lagoon crab in diverse dishes from Jaffna or Negombo curry crab, to Thai chili crab, Ceylon chili garlic crab, black pepper crab or even wood oven baked crab.” says De Soyza.  “But that’s not all.  Our Ceylon Spice infused Cocktail & Wine Bar offers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages inspired by Sri Lankan spices herbs and tropical fruits.” Wijayaratna adds. With a base of Sri Lankan fruit and spices, &Pepper’s signature cocktails include MyCeylon, Serendib, LoveExotica, Tropical Hint, Herbal Toddy, DevilledArrack, ColomboQueen and LoviCeylon. Wood oven Seafood Pizza, Sri Lankan delights along with wood oven baked roast Paan are some of the specialties at &Pepper.  

British Pub, with a live band every night, caters to a diverse customer, from a combo lunch for those at office, to happy hour with beer, cocktails and shared platters and full bar and dinner menus.  Signature dishes include British Fish and Chips and Sri Lankan specialty Kochchi sausage platter one of their own produce specialties.  Complementing the London bar theme is an expansive array of London Gins, Single Malt Whiskeys and European Beers. De Soysa and Wijayaratna also explain that fresh and organic farm spices direct from local farmers branded, ‘Ceylon Spice Masters’ are used in all menus and drinks conceptualized for these restaurants.  “By sourcing direct from our local farmers we engage our farming communities, their sustainably while also taking Ceylon spices to the world, through our Ceylon Spice Masters value added spices available with a Sri Lankan recipe book.”

“Dream of Transformation” Sysco LABS celebrates its biggest year yet

To celebrate another transformative year for the team, Sysco LABS hosted its annual year end party at Water’s Edge Colombo. The event brought together more than 450 employees for a night of celebration and camaraderie in the spirit of transformation; recognizing the evolution the company has gone through and their roadmap to transform the foodservice industry.

The Sysco LABS Karting Team: Winner at the “Endurance Challenge” 2019 – Angelo Senaratne, Ganindu Lakshan, Padmaka Wijayagoonawardena, Krishane Perera, Shiyanka De Zylva & Rasika Karunatilake, Patron -Ministry of Fun
The Sysco LABS Table Tennis Team: Champions in the “D” Division at the MTTA Inter-club Knockout Tournament 2019 – Tharindu Munasinghe, Abhiman Ranaweera & Rasika Karunatilake, Patron -Ministry of Fun
The Sysco LABS Toastmasters Club: Named President’s distinguished club for the year 2018/19 – Ashan Maduranga, Kiruthiga Balendran, Kaushalya De Silva, Sithija Thewa Hettige, Ridmi Jayasena & Rasika Karunatilake, Patron -Ministry of Fun
Udara Wijeratne receiving his award for being placed third in the Mercantile Athletic Championship
The winner of the inter-tribe trophy for 2019: Lomu – Rasika Karunatilake, Patron -Ministry of Fun, Mirunaaliny S Iyer, President- Ministry of Fun, Upeka Sirinuwan, Secretary – Ministry of Fun & Wishwa Hettige, Tribe Chief – Lomu
Julius Mitchell performing at the event
Michael Lu & Kushani Kalpage
Janith Gunasekara, Gavi Perera, Rangana Peiris, Kalana Dias & Nilupa Kiringoda
Sysco LABS hosted its annual Year End Party titled: “A Dream of Transformation” at Water’s Edge recently

India’s GoAir expands its reach in South Asia – introduces new direct flights from Colombo to Delhi and Bengaluru

  • For Colombo-Delhi-Colombo flights, the introductory return fares start from LKR 35,512
  • For Colombo-Bengaluru-Colombo flights, the introductory return fares start from LKR 24,900
  • Colombo is GoAir’s 1st international destination launch in 2020

Colombo, 26 February 2020: In continuation of its expansion in South Asia, GoAir – Asia’s most trusted, punctual and fastest growing airline – has announced its new direct flights from Colombo to Delhi and Colombo to Bengaluru. GoAir’s maiden flights to the capital city of Sri Lanka will commence from 20th March 2020. The airline has introduced these two new routes with attractive return fares starting at LKR 35,512 for Colombo-Delhi-Colombo flights and LKR 24,900 for Colombo-Bengaluru-Colombo flights. 


Delhi and Bengaluru offer direct connectivity to the popular pilgrimage – ‘The Buddhist Circuit’ that includes places such as Bodhgaya, Vaishali, Rajgir in Bihar and Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. GoAir has direct flights to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Patna (Bihar) from Delhi and Bengaluru. 


Speaking on the new flight announcement, Mr. Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir, said: “Our entry into Sri Lanka is in line with the growth strategy that we adopted since 2018 for international markets. GoAir has placed a firm order of 144 A320neo aircraft and we will be receiving one aircraft every month on average for the next 7-8 years. GoAir has been rated amongst the top 10 most punctual airlines in Asia by Cirium and we have earned four-out-of-four star ratings from 1.4 million passengers in the US-based APEX survey. The passengers rated GoAir as the best overall in-flight experience, cabin service, seat comfort, cleanliness, and food & beverages. Customers from Colombo will now experience the same superlative service and comfort when they fly GoAir.  I would like to thank the Government of Sri Lanka, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, the officials of Bandaranaike International Airport, and last but not least our GSA partner Aitken Spence for the strong support that we have received in Sri Lanka. 


Dr. Rohan Fernando, Director and Head of Business Development and Plantations, Aitken Spence Plc said “Royal Spence a fully owned subsidiary of Aitken Spence is extremely pleased to be associated with this airline partnership of GoAir marking Sri Lanka as its 10th international destination. Aitken Spence has been in the business of representing Airlines for over 40 years with representations in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh. As you may know, Aitken Spence has built its business foundation on partnerships when its founding partners began business 150 years ago. Today, the company is one of the leading, most financially stable and diversified conglomerates in Sri Lanka operating in the sectors such as Hotels, Travel, Maritime Services, Logistic Solutions and Power Generation in Sri Lanka. The Company has significant interests in Plantations, Insurance, Financial Services, IT, Printing and Garments. We are confident that this partnership will grow to serve the local market and serve the growing demand for India as a destination.”

GoAir is the aviation foray of India’s 283-year-old Wadia Group that comprises leading brands including 156-year-old Bombay Burmah, 140-year-old Bombay Dyeing, 101-year-old Britannia Ltd., 65-year-old National Peroxide Limited, the decade old Bombay Realty and many others. GoAir currently operates 300+ daily flights and the airline has carried 80 million passengers since its inception in 2005. 


GoAir flies to 36 destinations that include 27 domestic destinations namely Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kannur, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar and Varanasi, as well as 9 international destinations namely Phuket, Male, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuwait, Dammam and Colombo. 


GoAir’s daily flight (except Wednesday) G8 39 will depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 10:35 hours (local time) and will reach Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo at 14:10 hours (local time). The return flight G8 40 will depart from Colombo at 15:10 hrs (local time) on all days (except Wednesday) and arrive in Delhi at 19:00 hours (local time).


Sri Lankan travelers can explore Delhi’s famous attractions such as India Gate, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Red Fort etc as well as can make a spiritual & religious tour to Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, and Iskcon Temple. They can also make an excursion to nearby destinations such as Agra and the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 

GoAir’s flight G8 47 will depart from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport at 20:05 hours (local time) on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and at 20:20 hours (local time) on Saturday and will reach Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo at 21:55 hours (local time). The return flight G8 48 will depart from Colombo at 23:00 hrs (local time) on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and arrive in Bengaluru at 00:30 hours (local time).

Bengaluru offers a great nightlife and Sri Lankan tourists can also explore 19th-century Bangalore Palace and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. They can also plan a quick 2-3 days getaway to nearby tourist destinations such as Coorg, Ooty, Mysore, Yelagiri Hills, Nandi Hills etc. 

The sales window is already open and tickets can be booked on www.goair.in, GoAir mobile app, GoAir airport counters, and through the local GSA Royal Spence Aviation reachable on 0112308308.