What is the difference between Dialog 4G and Mobitel 4G in Sri Lanka ?

Both Dialog and Mobitel head towards LTE 4G Technologies. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution comes from UMTS path. Both are currently in test phase of 4G deployment and commercial launch is still not confirmed.Since both use LTE as 4G Technology we can’t simply compare which one is better.Performance may depend on rollout design, equipment vendor, distance from tower, what handset user uses and user concentration in a particular area etc. Service model is still not announced to compare which package is better from Dialog and Mobitel.

LTE (3GPP Long Term Evolution)
LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the latest mobile access network technology categorised under the 4G networks. The major expectation on LTE is higher speed and mobility. LTE is already deployed in US and in some of the European counties. The initiative for LTE started in 2004 and the first release was 3GPP Release 8, released in March 2009.
LTE is supposed to offer 326 Mbps with 4×4 MIMO and 172 Mbps with 2×2 MIMO in 20 MHz spectrum. LTE supports both FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) and TDD (Time Division Multiplexing). The major advantage in LTE is high throughput with low latency. In reality LTE is offering 120 Mbps at the moment and the speed depends on the user’s closeness to the tower and the number of users in a particular cell area.

Etisalat Sri Lanka launches

Etisalat Sri Lanka (formerly Tigo) has announced the launch of a 3.5G W-CDMA/HSPA+ mobile network, incorporating dual carrier (DC) architecture which enables 42Mbps data speeds over HSPA+. The cellco also claimed that the network, which previously offered 2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE services, is now ready for further upgrading to Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G standard, based on an implementation of a converged IP-based 2G/3G/4G radio access network. To mark the launch, Etisalat demonstrated actual mobile data rates of 18Mbps-21Mbps, limited by available device capabilities, and announced that its mobile broadband coverage will soon ‘cover all districts and key cities in Sri Lanka with continuous and rapid expansion.’ At launch Etisalat is offering internet/data subscribers the Huawei S7 Android tablet, exclusive in the Sri Lankan market, bundled with a year’s subscription, and is also marketing Wi-Fi routers and online packages aimed at corporate and SME customers. Internet-based products will be available at all Etisalat main dealer and customer care outlets and on its ‘shop channel’.
As previously reported in CommsUpdate, in September 2010 French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent signed a ‘multi-million US dollar’ contract with the Sri Lankan mobile subsidiary of UAE-based Etisalat, to significantly boost its GSM/EDGE network capacity and coverage and build a 3.5G HSPA+ wireless all-IP broadband network. Alca-Lu is the sole supplier of an end-to-end solution, including the converged radio access network, a new all-IP mobile packet core network capable of supporting 2G, 3G and 4G, and a full end-to-end IP transport solution. In total, 480 GSM/EDGE base station sites and 515 HSPA+ sites were covered by the contract.

Ceylon Tea

The tea sector in Sri Lanka has always been a vital component of her economy. It is also the country's largest employer providing employment both directly and indirectly to over one million people. It also contributes a significant amount to Government revenue and to the gross domestic product.

Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, acclaimed as the best tea in the world has its inherent unique characteristics and reputation running through more than a century. The influence of climatic conditions of its plantation imparts to the product a variety of flavors and aromas, synonymous with quality.

Sri lanka as the 3rd biggest tea producing country globally, has a production share of 9% in the international sphere, and one of the world's leading exporters with a share of around 19% of the global demand. The total extent of land under tea cultivation has been assessed at approximately 187,309 hectares.

Sri Lanka produces tea throughout the year and the growing areas are mainly concentrated in the central highlands and southern inland areas of the island. They are broadly grouped under these headings according to their elevations, with high growns ranging from 1200 m upwards, medium growns covering between 600 m to 1200 m. and low growns from sea level up to 600 m.

High grown teas from Sri Lanka are reputed for their taste and aroma. The two types of seasonal tea produced in these areas Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya are much sought after by blenders in tea importing countries.

Uva teas from Eastern Highlands contain unique seasonal characters and are widely used in many quality blends particular in west Germany and Japan.

The medium grown teas provide a thick coloury variety which are popular in Australia, Europe, Japan and North America.

The teas produced in low grown areas are mainly popular in Western Asia, middle Eastern countries and CIS countries. Most factories in these areas produced what are known as leafy grade of tea where the tea leaves are well twisted and can grade into long particles.

Sri Lanka mainly produced orthodox teas. In the orthodox process of production, semi dried green shoots are ruptured by rolling achieved from a rotary movement. The rolling process ruptures and twists the leaves. When tea leaves are crushed an oxidation process begins, which is followed by firing and commonly known black tea is produced.

Sri Lanka also produces tea by unorthodox method, namely Cut Tear and Curl(C.T.C). Green tea, Instant tea, Bio tea, and flavored tea are also produced in Sri Lanka.

Education Guide Sri Lanka

The objective of publishing the ‘Education Guide Sri Lanka’ as a business venture is to provide all the available information on institutes, service providers and persons engaged in educational services. With years of experience in compiling information guides, we published the first edition of Education Guide in 2006.

The content of the Education Guide includes the following details:

• Information on Government Educational and Training Institutes including Universities.

• Information on Private Education and Training Institutes

• Information on selected Overseas Universities

• Provide the opportunity for Institutes, service providers and persons engaged in education and training services to promote themselves to the target groups by way of detailed listings and advertisements in Education Guide book and the web site..

Target Market

• Students who seek the opportunity for higher education other than National Universities.

• Students who wish to follow the private education stream from primary education onward.

• Students who get through the GCE O/L, and seek higher education in different disciplines.

• Students who wish to follow training courses in different disciplines.

• Employed personnel who wish to obtain higher/further qualifications.

Marketing Plan

• The publication is being sold through all major bookshops and existing distribution channels.

• Free Display Copies will be made available to:-

All National Schools in Sri Lanka
All Reputed International Schools in Western Province

• Sold at the Colombo International Book Fair in the month of September.

• Sold through online book stores

• Direct sales from the office

Circulation

• Over 4000 books are sold each year including over 700 books free distribution.

Other Publications

• ‘Hands-on-Colombo’ - One of a kind Consumer Information guide providing information of suppliers for goods & services available in Colombo and the suburbs. The 12th edition is being updated in view of publishing in May 2010.

• ‘Info - Travel Sri Lanka’ - comprehensive Travel Guide giving information to tourists both local and foreign on important places of interest, accommodation details, travel hints, road descriptions, linear road maps, etc.  The 6th edition is bein updated in view of publishing in September 2010.

• ‘Sri Lanka for Kids’ – was launched in the year December 2004, a Guide book for Kids and Parents. It gives information on what is available for children in the country, such as education, sports, entertainment, shopping etc

• ‘Motor Guide’ -  The 1st  edition was published in September 2008.

fishing industry in Sri Lanka

The fisheries sector plays a key role in Sri Lanka's social and economic life. Fish products are an important source of animal protein for the population and the sector contributes about 2 percent to GDP. Exports of fish and fishery products was 13 680 t and valued US$ 94.3 million) in 2004, while imports of fish products (mostly dried and canned) amounted to 67 284 t, valued at US$ 59.4 million. From an economic viewpoint, there is significant scope for increasing the level of contribution from the sector through increased output, exploiting the potential for value addition and import substitution.

The fisheries sector of Sri Lanka consists of three main subsectors, namely coastal; offshore and deep sea; and inland and aquaculture. These three subsectors employ around 250 000 active fishers and another 100 000 in support services. This workforce represents a population of some one million people.

On 26 December 2004, the fisheries sector was severely affected by tsunami tidal waves that hit two-thirds of the coastline of the island. It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of active fishers were affected and more than 75 percent of the fishing fleet was destroyed or damaged by the tsunami. In addition, a large number of small-scale fishing craft and fishing gear were destroyed. Of the 12 fishing harbours, 10 were severely damaged, including breakwaters, shore facilities, buildings, machinery and equipment. In addition, public and private utilities, such as ice plants, landing ports, markets and the homes of the fishing community were destroyed.

Gems of Sri Lanka Highlights

Sapphire is an aluminum oxide. Its colour varies from very light to dark blue to violetish-blue, bluish-green, yellow, slightly reddish-orange, brown, nearly opaque black, colourless, pink, violet and the pinkish-orange padparadscha (lotus flower).

Varieties
Coloured varieties, star sapphire, alexandrite-like sapphire.

Sources
Sri Lanka, Kashmir (India), Burma, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania, Kenya, Montana, Madagascar

Toughness
Excellent, except in laminated or fractured stones.

Precautions
Sapphires may fade if heated

Treatments
Sapphires can be x-rayed to intensify their colour. Natural sapphires undergo heat and diffusion treatments in Thailand. With the first method, sapphires with latent chemical components for good colour are "ripened" to a desirable colour through heating. In diffusion treatment, sapphires that lack the components for good colour are placed in a bath of colouring oxides that penetrate the outer layers of the stone. Treatment of blue stones is permanent.

History
According to an ancient Persian legend, the earth rested on a great sapphire whose reflection was seen in the sky. The stone also appears in the Promethean legend. Prometheus was chained to a rock by Zeus for having stolen fire from the gods. After being rescued by Hercules, a link of the chain remained on his finger, and attached to it was a piece of rock. Zeus agreed to grant Prometheus his freedom if he wore the link as a reminder of his sin. Later a ring set with a sapphire replaced the link and stone. Sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity and constancy. It was believed to protect the wearer against capture by an enemy, and to win the favour of princesses. It also protected against poison. It was said that if a poisonous snake were put in a vessel with a sapphire, the rays from the gem would kill it. The name sapphire originally comes from Sanskrit. It became sappheiros in Greek, meaning blue. Before the value of sapphire was known to them, villages in the Zanzkar mountains of Kashmir (India) used the gem as a flint to start fires.

Cuts & Uses
Faceted and en cabochon, usually mixed cut, beads, carved (poor quality). Synthetic sapphire is used in watches, precision instruments and electronic equipment.

Gems of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.

A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity, and durable enough to be enjoyed for generations. There are more than 30 popular gem varieties and many more rare collector gemstones. Some varieties also come in a range of colors.

The Gem industry in Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon, Serendib, etc..) has been in existence for over 2500 years. Some of the rarest of gem stones of exquisite beauty have taken pride of place, in the Crown jewels of Kings and Queens from time of Great Roamn Emperors.