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SLT within a Wider Social Landscape

From the basic fact that SLT’s products and services touch the lives of people all over Sri Lanka and indeed beyond our borders, it is also a fact that we are playing multiple roles across a range of activity in the wider community.

In a range of activity across a wide spectrum of society, the Company seeks to be a catalyst for economic and social prosperity in Sri Lanka. We contribute heavily towards the broad areas of social reform such as IT knowledge enhancement, education, career guidance, enhancing English language skills whilst also promoting nature conservation and the arts and culture of the Nation.

Here is an account of the role SLT plays in the ‘different’ lives of the Nation.

Disseminating Knowledge
SLT - Asia Foundation Book Project - 6th Consecutive Year

The year in review, 2008, marks the 6th consecutive year in which we’ve given life to our guiding concept for this project, ‘Spreading the Wealth of Knowledge’.

In a project which began in 2003, in partnership with the Asia Foundation, SLT has, each year, donated over 120,000 books to schools, universities, public libraries, professional institutions, technical colleges, religious institutions, Sarvodaya institutions and NGOs island-wide.

The highlight of our endeavours this year has been the donation of text books in Braille to the Institute for the Hearing and Sight Impaired (formerly known as the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind).

This is the first occasion that SLT has been able to help this institution and we believe we are the pioneer corporate entity to have distributed books in Braille.

‘Praja Shakthi’ is an initiative to provide the tools of learning and education to the plantation sector.

SLT donated 1,500 books to this worthy cause, under its ‘Spreading the Wealth of Knowledge’ initiative.

‘Praja Shakthi’ functions under the auspices of the Thondaman Foundation and has a network of over 30 centres across the country.

EDEX 2008

The EDEX Fair and Exhibition is a prime event in the educational calendar of Sri Lanka and was held for the
5th consecutive year in 2008, at the BMICH, Colombo.

SLT annually supports this event as its Theme Attraction Sponsor. The Company views EDEX as taking the lead to meet the ‘Skills Gap’ whilst SLT meets the ‘Information Gap’ on the ‘canvas’ of national education and skills.

Distance Learning

Our initiatives in this segment have been fully detailed in the ‘Group Review’ Chapter, under the heading - ‘Supporting ICT Initiatives’.

In summary, SLT offers a wide range of technical and infrastructural support to national, distance learning ventures such as the National Online Distance Education Service (NODES), SchoolNet, Nenasala Knowledge Centres and LEARN.


SLT donated 120,000 books under its ‘Spreading the Wealth of Knowledge’ initiative which took place for the 6th consecutive year		SLT supported The Aasia Foundation by donating text books in Braille to the Iinstitute for the Hearing and Sight Iimpaired

Through these projects and utilising its state-of-the-art IP-VPN based solutions, SLT puts ICT enabled learning tools within the reach of educational institutes such as schools, universities and village educational centres, all across Sri Lanka.

Supporting National Enterprise

SLT is the National telecom service provider and in that light we are always ready to lend our support to initiatives that present a national perspective on development.

SLT Powering e-Government

This subject has been extensively covered within our chapter on ‘Group Review’ under the segment on ‘Supporting ICT Initiatives’.

‘Lanka Government Network’ (LGN) is proliferating ICT across all public sector offices and HR bases.

SLT is the total communications solutions provider and communications infrastructure provider for the project.

Employment Generation

Through the establishment of our subsidiary SLT Manpower Solutions, the Company has established a dedicated HR solutions provider which initially provides SLT’s manpower requirements. Long-term plans will see SLT Manpower Solutions offer their expertise to external organisations.

From a National perspective, SLT is an employer of some size and our contribution to employment generation is significant.

Through another subsidiary, SLT Publications, we are now printing our entire requirement of Directories in Sri Lanka, where hitherto, part-printing took place overseas.

Earlier Directory part-printing was undertaken overseas but now through the new subsidiary SLT Publications (Pvt) Limited, our entire consignment of Directories is being printed locally. As a result more jobs opportunities would be created for local youth and valuable foreign currency spent on printing to be done overseas and the cost of importing paper and machinery inclusive of the applicable taxes would be saved, which in fact make a direct contribution to the national economy.

Further, the fast-growing subsidiaries such as Mobitel, SLT VisionCom, SLTSL, SLT Hong Kong Limited and Sky Network are contributing significantly in terms of employment generation. Hence, SLT Group provides nearly 10,000 direct employment within the Group of Companies and in addition to that a fairly large amount of indirect employment by outsourcing services such as cable laying, debt collection, authorised dealing (for bill payments, retailing products such as prepaid cards etc.), security services, janitorial services, couriering services and cafeteria services amongst others.

Such outsourcing not only yields benefits to the nation through the creation of more business opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, the creation of more jobs for Sri Lankans with the resulting empowerment and uplifting of the lives of more people in the country but it has also led SLT to contribute significantly to the nation's economy.


Our subsidiary SLT Publications, now undertakes printing the entire requirement of Telephone Directories in Sri Lanka

Our Technology - Empowering the Banking Sector

SLT‘s state-of-the-art technology powers the banking sector - state, private and global - enabling them to expand their banking and financial services to reach even the most far-flung rural areas of the country.

The benefits to their customers are many - they save on travel costs as more banking services are handled in situ, without the necessity of visiting Head Office/Main Branches.

Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition

SLT was the Principal Sponsor and total communications service provider for the Government’s Deyata Kirula Exhibition in 2008.

The Company’s digital lifestyle stall at the exhibition, powered by our broadband network and subsidiary Mobitel’s 3.5G mobile broadband network gave visitors a comprehensive preview of the ‘world to come’ in terms
of a convergence-enabled suite of futuristic products
and services.

SLT also provided broadband connectivity to more than 100 stalls at the BMICH allowing access to high speed internet, video and telephone services.

Deyata Kirula is a showcase of the country’s history and its forward march through the pages of time, into the future. It also enlightens the public regarding the development initiatives undertaken by the Government.


SLT was the principal sponsor and total communications service provider for the Deyata Kirula Exhibition 2008

Communications Service Provider to the 15th SAARC Summit

SLT provided comprehensive communications services at the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo this year, with services at several locations - the BMICH, the Bandaranaike International Airport and at several host hotels.

The services were state-of-the-art and catered well to the needs of all delegates.

Support for Foreign Employment Bureau

SLT has provided the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) with a state-of-the-art communications solution to enhance its activities in service to migrant workers.

The Company’s IP-VPN supported solution will carry broadband services providing premier voice and data transmission capabilities in a highly cost-effective package.

The resultant savings on revenue will allow the SLBFE to plough back more resources in service to migrant workers, thus upgrading their services and facilities.

CDMA Support for Sri Lanka Mahajana Development Foundation

In a landmark agreement, SLT has offered its support to the Sri Lanka Mahajana Development Foundation, a non-profit making NGO which seeks to uplift the living standards of the community at large, across a varied spectrum of activity.

Under the agreement, SLT will initially provide 50,000 CDMA telephone connections to facilitate the communication needs of the Foundation’s members, island-wide.

With a membership of 10,000 rural community leaders, 275 regional community leaders and 18 district co-ordinators working in the remotest areas of the country, SLT’s City Link CDMA option is the most practical communications solution that best meets the needs of the Foundation.

Empowering e-Channelling

Today, e-channelling facilities have proved to be a huge boon to the public, who now have easier access to the doctors and medical facilities of their choice, at the press of a button.

SLT stepped forward to support E-Channelling Limited, Sri Lanka’s pioneer e-commerce technology deploying institution, through the offer of a total data communication solution plus a co-location telecom solution.

The IP-VPN based solution coupled with a data hosting service from SLT allows E-Channelling Limited to link its Head Office and all its centres to a centralised online information system.

Sponsorship Specials

SLT entered into several strategically selected sponsorships that supported key initiatives of both public and private sectors.

Empowering the National HR Conference 2008

SLT was the strategic partner of the National Human Resources Conference organised by the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) in 2008.

‘People Driven Business’ was the theme of the Conference and highlighted the vital importance that is attached to the field of HR as it strives to provide the HR resources necessary to build the ‘work force of tomorrow’ for national enterprise.

The Company identifies with the dynamic change the HR sector is undergoing, as it reflects much of the evolution that has taken, and is taking place in SLT.

Platinum Sponsorship of National IT Conference 2008

Being an area intrinsically part of the communications industry, it was only logical that SLT stepped in as Platinum Sponsor of the 26th National Information Technology Conference that was held in August 2008 in Colombo.

Organised by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), the conference had as its theme the idea of ‘e-Inclusion for a Knowledge Economy’.

SLT is proud of its own role as a flag bearer of the IT revolution in the country, as we set about building a
world-class communications infrastructure for the country.

We are seeing the phenomenal expansion of the communications industry leading to convergence with the IT industry. It is here that organisations like CSSL play a vital role in leading operators, academics and vendors in the communications and IT industries to work together towards the common goal of creating a society replete with digital democracy.

Supporting 8th Annual Conference of CIM

The Company once again came forward as a sponsor of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Sri Lanka Region’s 8th Annual Conference held in Colombo during the year 2008.

This is the sixth consecutive year of SLT’s sponsorship of CIM’s Conference and reinforces the Company’s commitment in uplifting standards in key areas of discipline and education.

From SLT’s point of view, the burgeoning ICT sector is changing the way information is sought and imparted in every imaginable area. We feel ICT builds a solid bridge between brands and customers.


SLT stepped in as Platinum Sponsor of the 26th National Information Technology Conference 2008		SLT was the sponsor of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Sri Lanka Rregion’s 8th Annual Conference 2008

Partnering the British Council for the IYFE Awards 2008

The International Young Fashion Entrepreneur (IYFE) Award 2008 has been introduced by the British Council, Colombo as a means to celebrate the important role creative young entrepreneurs play in the world of fashion.

SLT had no hesitation in coming in as project partner as we acknowledge the doors such an event can open for young, talented Sri Lankan designers and entrepreneurs in the international fashion world. The event is also an important meeting ground for local and international talent.

Supporting Broadcast Sri Lanka

The Company was the Principal Sponsor of Broadcast Sri Lanka - a Multimedia and Infotainment Technology Exhibition held at the BMICH in 2008.

The objective of this exhibition was to update professionals in the broadcasting industry, consumers and the general public on the modern, innovative technology and equipment that the evolution of the industry has spawned, in the international arena.

The relevance of this event for SLT is obvious - the phenomenal evolution of the communications industry into a ‘com-media’ industry, blending communications and media delivered from a single platform, has brought the word ‘broadcast’ within our own vocabulary - witness IP-TV and other such products and services.

SLT - Platinum Sponsor of CIMA’s World Conference 2008

CIMA is a world recognised body and the custodian of one of the world’s most respected Accounting qualifications.

SLT can identify with its world standards - importantly we want to do what we can to promote such educational opportunities to Sri Lankans, helping them to attain world standards of professionalism and satisfying lifestyles in their personal domain.


SLT was the Platinum Sponsor of CIMAa’s World Conference 2008

Supporting the Sri Lankan Contingent to the Beijing Olympics

National empowerment and upgrading sporting standards in the country are just two of the factors that bring SLT on board year after year, to support key sporting initiatives of the Nation.

Within this initiative, we were especially honoured to be able to sponsor Sri Lanka’s Paraolympics contingent to the Beijing Games.This is a reaffirmation of the Company’s commitment to contribute to the development and enhancement of standards of the differently-abled sportsmen and women of our country.

As Official Sponsor, the SLT support package, valued at Rs.10 million, also provides track suits for the entire team.

Support for Thilini Jayasinghe - Sri Lanka’s first-ever Badminton Player at the Olympics

SLT was particularly happy to extend sponsorship of Sri Lanka’s No. 1 Women’s Badminton player, Thilini Jayasinghe, as she made history as Sri Lanka’s first-ever women’s badminton player to compete at the Olympics.

We could identify with Thilini’s drive and determination that has brought her to this pinnacle of her career.

Support for Sri Lankan sport has never been far from the reach of our sponsorship.

SLT and National Athletics

The Company teamed up with the National Athletics Association of Sri Lanka to sponsor both the Women’s Athletics Championship 2008 and the Senior National Athletics Championship 2008.

Supporting both these events as their Principal Sponsor is an avowal of SLT’s deep commitment to uplifting sports whilst strengthening and building relationships through such events which prepare our young athletes to compete in arenas far beyond our own shores.

SLT Powers Inter-Provincial Twenty/20 Cricket

SLT was the title sponsor of the first-ever National Inter-Provincial Twenty/20 Cricket Tournament held during 2008. Six teams named - Kandurata, Ruhuna, Wayamba, Basnahira North, Basnahira South and a Schools Invitation XI were pitted against each other, with the team Wayamba emerging ultimate champions.

This was an important initiative in the country’s bid to raise the standard of provincial cricket and is in keeping with SLT’s own ethos of developing and strengthening relationships through sports and being a responsible ‘social enabler’ for all Sri Lankans.


The Company happily extended their sponsorship to Thilini Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka’s No. 1 Women’s Badminton player who was the country’s first-ever women’s badminton player to compete at the Olympics		SLT was the title sponsor of the first-ever National Inter-Provincial Twenty/20 Cricket Tournament held in 2008

Our Internal Soccer Tournament

February 16th 2008 saw 50 teams drawn from various departments and regions of SLT’s business enterprise, meet and compete at the Company’s Seven-a-Side Soccer Tournament.

It was a keenly contested event, which epitomised the Company’s desire that teamwork and relationships be strengthened across the Company.

SLT - Overall Badminton Champs at Inter-Operators Tournament 2008

The Company’s Men's and Women’s shuttlers combined to put SLT on top at this tournament.

The tournament was held for the third successive year and is organised by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

This is just one of the sporting events that dot the Company calendar and targeted as it is at the industry, it is a great opportunity to build healthy relationships through sports.

Sponsoring Ballet - Macbeth - an Oriental Adaptation

Ravibandu Vidyapathi is one of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished dancers and percussionists and when he staged an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in ballet form, with the Ravibandu-Samanthi Dance Ensemble, SLT was on hand to lend its support as sponsor of the event.

The uniqueness of the concept, plus its occurrence in the domain of our country’s rich culture, were key aspects of consideration for SLT, in extending sponsorship.