The Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation in partnership with the National Mobile Services Provider Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel formally handed over the Upahara package along with the first SIM card as part of a national endeavour in bringing unparalleled economic benefits to the state sector and pensioners to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Under the initiative of taking forward President Mahinda Rajapakasa’s ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’ programme, the widely popular and revolutionary Upahara communication package was formally presented to Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources by Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs.
Speaking at the event Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs said, ” The Upahara package is a tribute from Mobitel to the state sector employees and pensioners. Under the guidance of the Mahinda Chinthana programme, this package is tailor made for the state sector that has over one million employees and over 400,000 pensioners. This initiative further empowers the state sector as it is the only package that offers free outgoing calls to fixed lines for the first time as well.”
Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources also spoke at the event, stating, “I am extremely grateful to Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel together with the State Trading Corporation for providing us with this cost effective measure, which will be very beneficial to the public sector. With the introduction of this innovative offer other operators are compelled to lower their tariff rates, which would have a positive impact where state sector employees will be able to save money, which can be used to purchase other items”.
Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Telecom and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Suren J Amarasekara CEO, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, and M A R D Jayatilake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources attended the event, among other distinguished guests.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, the National Mobile Services Provider, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom. In January 2004, the company launched its full-fledged 2.5G GSM network that is EDGE/GPRS enabled and designed to operate on dual band. In December 2007 the company launched its 3.5G HSPA network, which was the first Super 3.5G network in South Asia. Investments committed to date in its 3.5G/2.5G networks and service offering totals over US$ 300 mn and are set to increase its base stations to 2000 by the end the first quarter of 2009.
