DIMO powers Jaffna International Trade Fair 2014

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Jaffna International Trade Fair 2014 was held at the Durayappah Stadium Grounds, Jaffna recently. Held for the fifth consecutive year, DIMO partnered the event as the Main Sponsor, as they have done from the inception. The opening ceremony was held at the Jaffna Public Library on the 17th under the patronage of Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Douglas Devananda, Consul General of India in Jaffna V. Mahalingam, Mayor of Jaffna Yogeswaray Patgunarajah and Yarlpanam Chamber of Commerce Chairman K. Poornachandran, while many other key government officials took part in the opening ceremony. DIMO was represented by Group-CEO Gahanath Pandithage at the opening ceremony while Director Channa Weerawardena, Director Suresh Gooneratne, Chief Operating Officer Vijitha Bandara and several other Senior Managers participated at the exhibition as well. DIMO had the largest outdoor stall and indoor stall at the exhibition. The outdoor stall displayed the TATA Commercial Vehicle Range, TATA Passenger Vehicle Range, selected Mercedes-Benz Vehicles and Mahindra Tractors. A special vehicle key handing over ceremony was organised at the TATA Commercial Vehicles Stall where several recipients received their keys to brand new TATA vehicles from Devananda. The TATA Commercial and Passenger Vehicle range display included the latest models including the TATA Prima, TATA Ultra and the 2014 TATA Nano. Mercedes-Benz displayed a Pre-owned Car, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van and the Mercedes-Benz Motor Home at the exhibition. Cut outs and displays were also arranged by TATA Genuine Parts and TATA Commercial Service at the outdoor stall. Swayam Waram The indoor stall was organised under the theme ‘Swayam Waram’ – which means selecting the best partner for future endeavours. The indoor stall had displays from Bosch and SKIL Power Tools, WD-40, fischer fixing solutions, Bosch Service, Adhisathkara, Bosch Automotive Components, Michelin Kumho MRF Tyres, Osram and DIMO GLS bulb, Original Equipment Components, KSB Pumps, Material Handling Equipment, and DIMO Automobile Training School. A press conference was arranged earlier with the regional (Jaffna) Media representatives on 15 January 2014, to promote the event. Ravinesh Senaratne represented DIMO at the press conference. DIMO will be opening its newest fully fledged branch and workshop at Jaffna within the next few months. DIMO was the first automobile company to move into post-war Jaffna and the first to open an Automobile Training School in Jaffna. DIMO currently has more than 35 branches and showrooms island-wide, enabling customers to experience world-class products and solutions at their doorstep. DIMO was recently recognised as the Best Corporate Citizen in Sri Lanka for 2013 during the Annual Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2013 organised by the Chamber of Commerce. DIMO was also well acknowledged at the Annual Report Awards organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (SL), winning awards representing many significant categories. The highlight among the four awards won, was the award received as a Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Integrated Reporting. DIMO was the pioneer in Sri Lanka in Integrated Reporting. DIMO was also recognised as the Best in Sri Lanka for Corporate Governance Disclosure, as the Best in Sri Lanka for Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting and won a Gold for Diversified Holdings (Groups up to five Subsidiaries). At the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards, apart from being recognised as the Best Corporate Citizen in Sri Lanka, DIMO also walked away with awards for Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2013 (Category of Ten Best Corporate Citizens), Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2013 (Sector Award Winner of Social Sustainability), Best Sustainability Project Awards 2013 (Automobile Training School Project), Certificate of Merit for the ‘Lassana Hetak’ Project and Certificate of Merit for the Turtle Conservation Project. Furthermore DIMO is an ISO 14001: 2004 and ISO 9001:2000 certified company.