Community
National ICT Week and Infotel 2006
Sri Lanka Telecom Group, the nation's premier telecommunications solutions provider was the diamond sponsor for the National ICT Week and the INFOTEL 2006 exhibition and ICT Week 2006. INFOTEL is considered to be the most important information and communications event of the year. As the largest telecom organization in the country, SLT's state-of-the-art stall at the BMICH showcased next generation lifestyle in both the corporate and home environment demonstrating access to global connectivity, point of presence, domestic core network and access network as an advanced building block for next generation networks.
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Providing the public an opportunity for a hands-on experience with
SLT's range of products at Infotel. |
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SLT took this opportunity to engage in synchronising the story of a pioneering technology, strengthening economy and uplifting society. Some of the key technology demonstrations at the stall included NGN and its features involving IP voice and video telephony, fixed wireless convergence, IP networking services and broadband last mile access involving wire and wireless.
SLT demonstrated state-of-the-art IP based services such as IP-TV, Video on demand, IP telephony and extended features. High speed Internet using SLT Broadband 2+ and CDMA EVDO, was also demonstrated at the SLT stall. For business customers, SLT showcased services such as optical fibre based Metro Ethernet Services (Virtual Leased Line & VP LAN Service), Hosted PABX, Call Centre and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC).
10th South Asian Games - Empowering Sri Lankan Sports
The Company was honoured to be the Principal Sponsor of this event held in August 2006. SLT's sponsorship of Rs. 50 million is a confirmation of its commitment to develop and strengthen relationships through sports with the sportsmen and women in and around the region. The Games were the biggest multi-sporting event to take place in the country since the first South Asian Games in 1991.
SLT believes that this relationship of merging business and sport is not just about money. At the core of this partnership are complementary values and a uniqueness that drive each other to their absolute best. This was an exciting example of how sport
and business can work together and where joint interests can be realised through partnerships such as this. In addition, mutual benefits are created as each partner strives to be the best in their respective competitive environments.
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As a symbol of its support to sports in Sri Lanka, SLT presented a
cheque worth Rs. 50 million to
the National Olympic Committee
during the 2006 South Asian Games. |
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As principal sponsor, SLT contributed telecommunications and ICT services to help stage the Games. SLT technology was used by organisers and the media to record and collate pre-and post-games results from eight different venues in real-time which would then make it possible for journalists and other media to beam the results worldwide on a 24-hour basis.
Starting June 1, 2006 SLT began an islandwide awareness campaign, thereby fostering a nationwide commitment to making these Games a success. This is considered to be the largest campaign ever in the history of Sri Lankan sports. In addition, SLT website provided all the daily highlights and information of the Games as well as souvenirs that could be purchased on-line.
Being the principal sponsor, SLT brought its maximum potential as the technology leader to the Games. Thirteen (13) distributed gaming sites were connected through WiMAX technology and each site was Wi-Fi enabled/Wi-Fi Hotspots owing to the wireless technology backbone provided by SLT.
SLT's technology and service capability was the backbone of television transmissions to the world and to the nation. Sri Lankan Television Industry history was created during the 10th South Asian games as the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation ties up Sri Lankahistoric transmission run both Worldwide and Islandwide. This was the first time that a Sri Lankan Television station was engaged in a live telecast with the aid of a `Fibre Optic Cable Link'. During the 10th South Asian Games camera video signals captured were fed into specialised digital video transmission equipment set up at the Games site. These signals were then transmitted as digital signals via a fibre optic cable that links these specialised digital encoding equipment (at the Stadium) to decoding equipment based at the SLRC studios, from which SLRC carried out their special live telecast of the Games locally. SLT also facilitated the international live transmission with microwave links and a special Satellite Uplink to the INSAT satellite from the Padduka Satellite Earth Station. SLT's SDI (Synchronous Digital Interface) technology provided to SLRC for this telecast is the most advanced transmission technology currently available in the world. This technology (although the first of its kind to be used in Sri Lanka) is standard application technology used by major television networks in developed countries for live TV coverage of major global events.
Sport has played an important part in social and cultural role in Sri Lanka bringing together individuals and communities and crossing social boundaries and breaking down barriers. SLT's partnership will reinforce its commitment to the nation.
SME's at Serendib Sri Lanka Trade Exhibition, UK
Sri Lanka Telecom which has always been committed to take Sri Lanka's Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) to the world, sponsored ten entrepreneurs who came from all parts of the country and were leading names in their respective trades to attend the Serendib Sri Lanka Trade Exhibition in the UK. This event highlighted Sri Lankan handicrafts and the products showcased ranged from recycled hand-made products and jewellery to scented candles and handicrafts.
The ten entrepreneurs were handpicked by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and most of them have been provided with the necessary training and exposure to showcase their products at the Serendib Sri Lanka Trade Exhibition.
Through its state-of-the-art and cost effective communication solutions and services Sri Lanka Telecom is geared up to empower SME's to expand their businesses globally thus, opening up interactive dialogues with the world.
Assisting Sri Lankan Industry
Furthering its corporate philosophy, in a bid to support the local industry, SLT purchased 35 Micro MPV junior vans from Micro Car Ltd. This is the first time SLT purchased such motor vehicles. SLT uses these vehicles in our regional outlets to better facilitate our services to our customers. The outcome was as good as expected.
Education
Asia Foundation's `Books for Asia' Programme - Spreading the Wealth of Knowledge
Education and knowledge building are two areas close to the SLT heart. The Asia Foundation's `Books for Asia' programme has been in operation for several decades and was facing difficulty in rasing funds for distribution and tranportation.
Since the Foundation receives books free of charge from American publishers it is the resposiblity of the Foundation's local chapter to bring down books from the USA to Colombo and then to transport them to chosen recipients. By the end of 2006, the number of books distributed amounted to 304,790. SLT recognised the value of this progarmme for Sri Lanka and took a firm decision to partner the Asia Foundation, Colombo to revive its programme.
By signing an MoU with the Asia Foundation in 2003, SLT began to actively engage in the programme in 2004. The initial target was to bring the number of books distributed to 100,000 per year in total. Playing the role of a catalyst in `Spreading the wealth of knowledge' was SLT's broader vision for this programme. Between 2004 and end of 2006 the Foundation was able to distribute 304,790 books. 2006 saw the distribution of 104,790 books achieving its distribution target. Beneficiaries of this programme are chiefly universities, affiliated universities, teacher training colleges, primary and secondary schools, professional institutions and public libraries.
The Asia Foundation, in association with SLT, organises presentation ceremonies to distribute books to schools. Last year eight such presentations were arranged. A cluster of schools in a particular area are invited for each presentation ceremony. The Foundation, SLT and the Education Department jointly organise the ceremony where the schools are invited and the books are handed over. SLT's regional office staff get involved with the activities connected with the ceremony.
The Book Project has become even more meaningful after the introduction of the English medium in schools. With a dearth of books in English, both the teachers and the students will find these books which cover a wide range of subjects, most useful. Books given to libraries, professional and higher education institutions are being used by individuals of all ethnic groups, religions, income levels and social strata. The users range from primary school children to graduate students, professionals, librarians and educators in every field.
It is no doubt that SLT's partnership helped the Asia Foundation distribute 304,790 books worth Rs. 800 million from 2004 to 2006 across the country. Apart from actively being involved in providing logistical support to the Foundation in terms of distribution of books across the island, SLT is also the largest donor by far, to the project. On the other hand, according to the Asia Foundation, Colombo, SLT's sponsorship has helped stimulate others also to help the programme.
SLT-ACCA HighQ - Broadening the Horizon of Knowledge
SLT- ACCA HighQ, Sri Lanka's Premier Quiz Programme generates a lot of interest and excitement not only among the participants but also among the general public. The programme was conducted by Sri Lanka Telecom in association with ACCA. The quiz programme which is one of the few local TV programmes recommended for viewing by the whole family encompasses education, knowledge and entertainment.
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Recognising high-flyers: `High Q' an I.Q. programme jointly sponsored
by SLT and ACCA, awards the winner with a grand prize of Rs. 200,000/-. |
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The 62 students, participating in the Challenge Level of the quiz, have qualified to do so as the highest scorers of the initial written test which was offered to all eligible applicants. The winners of each round will automatically qualify for the Semi-Final Level. The quiz programme consists of 12 Challenge Level rounds, 2 Semi-Finals and the grand Final making a total of 15 programmes. The 12 students who qualify for the Semi-Final Level receive a National Savings Bank pass book with a deposit of Rs. 25,000 which is jointly gifted by Sri Lanka Telecom and ACCA. The runners-up of the Semi-Final also receive prize money of Rs. 25,000 while the winners of this round receive Rs. 50,000. The Finals would see the runner-up receiving Rs. 100,000 and the Champion receiving the Grand Prize Money of Rs. 200,000 as well as the SLT-ACCA HighQ Trophy.
The Quiz has been divided into 4 categories. The first category Window on the World: is based on what has been happening in our country and the world during the past few weeks. Frontiers of Knowledge: is where science, technology and engineering related topics are covered. The third category Heritage as is suggested by the name covers natural and cultural heritage and humanity's exploration and understanding of both, while the final category Human Endeavours: concentrates on a range of pursuits from performing arts and literature to commerce and sports. It is also an interesting mix of local and international topics. All questions were prepared in strict confidence with absolute fair play guaranteed.
Popularity of the programme and the vacuum it filled was indicated by the viewership ratings it received of SRL 6.5 on Rupavahini channel. This rating is considered a great achievement for an inaugural series and a progarmme of this nature.
Popularity of the programme and the vacuum it filled was indicated by the viewership ratings it received.
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