News Release 19 April 2012 LBR LBO launch a unique online resource centre Vanguard Management Services Private Limited, the dynamic team behind Sri Lanka's influential Lanka Business Report (LBR) and Lanka Business Online (LBO), together with HSBC launched an online resource centre that allows readers to engage with prominent business leaders. The LBR LBO CEO online portal enables readers to reach over 50 senior corporate executives, academics and researchers who will serve as honorary resource personnel on a wide spectrum of topics ranging from finance and hospitality to aviation. Some of the well known personalities include Hemaka Amarasuriya (Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka), Nihal Fonseka (Director/CEO of DFCC Bank), Professor Rohan Samarajiva (Chair/CEO of LIRNEAsia), Professor Uditha Liyanage (Director, Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenepura) and Dr. Koshy Mathai (IMF Resident Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives). The multi-platform portfolio of LBR and LBO provides incisive and critical business and economic news and analysis for those who have interest in Sri Lankan business and the economy. Vanguard hopes, HYPERLINK "http://www.ceoonline.lk/"www.ceoonline.lk will widen peoples' knowledge and give them a platform to interact closely with decision makers. LBR and LBO are known for authoritative and independent content, said Lakshaman Bandaranayake, the Publisher of LBR and LBO. We are now pleased to extend the equity of LBR and LBO to yet another platform where people could immensely benefit from the knowledge and expertise of leading business executives and academics, Bandaranayake said. HSBC the principle sponsor of this interactive online platform, believes that it is vital to keep up with all new technological advancements as information sharing is imperative to the success of any business. Commenting on HSBC s association with LBR/LBO CEO Online, Nick Nicolaou CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives said, We are pleased to partner with LBR/LBO CEO Online with one of our propositions - HSBCAdvance, which targets a similar segment of customers. This information is issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited Registered Office and Head Office: Address (e.g.: 1 Queen s Road Central, Hong Kong) Web: (e.g.: www.hsbc.com.hk) Legal text (e.g.: Incorporated in the Hong Kong SAR with limited liability)
We trust this would be an ideal platform for customers to engage with leading business figures in sharing knowledge and best practices, as well as in making more informed business decisions for the future. Visitors could click HYPERLINK "http://www.ceoonline.lk/"www.ceoonline.lk to post their questions. Thereafter, senior editorial staff will moderate the queries and pass them on to panelists for responses, which would be made available for public viewing within a week. "Enhancing interactivity is a logical move for LBR/LBO, which has pioneered multi-channel delivery of information and knowledge to its audiences, said Samarajiva. The next challenge is ensuring that the specialists will give useful responses without being inundated. I am confident LBR/LBO will rise to it, said Samarajiva, who is also a long-time columnist for LBO. Vanguard, which also manages the popular English TV channel ETV, launched LBR as a weekly television programme in 1999. Each episode was packed with in depth news and analysis. The HYPERLINK "http://www.lbr.lk/"www.lbr.lk website allows viewers to engage with journalists and comment on stories. The print edition, LBR Monthly, has redefined print business journalism with its researchbased content and highly appealing reader-friendly layout/design. Launched in the year 2000, LBO is Sri Lanka s pioneering web based news service. It s known for critical analysis of business and economic affairs and trends. LBR and LBO jointly host much sought after thought leadership events; LBR LBO CEO Forum and CFO Forum. These invitee-only events provide a regular platform for senior corporate executives to engage in discussions and debates on pertinent economic and industry issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For media inquiries please contact Irosha Samarasinghe on 0112 448110 Note to editor: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is the founding and a principal member of the HSBC Group which serves around 89 million customers through four global businesses: Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. The HSBC Group's network covers 7,200 offices in 85 countries and territories in six geographical regions: Europe, Hong Kong, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Latin America. With assets of US$2,556bn at 31 December 2011, HSBC is one of the world s largest banking and financial services
organisations.