|
TSG Lanka, newest company to enter telecom field by Chittaranjan de Silva
TSG Lanka Ltd (TSGL), the latest company to enter Sri Lanka’s telecommunications field, which launched its operations on Thursday during a ceremony at Galle, said its mission is to provide a variety of innovative telecom services through a network of public access phones.TSG Lanka is a joint venture company between the US telecommunications company, TSG Network Services and IWS Holdings.
The first call using TSG Lanka Prepaid card to launch the company’s operations, was made by Deputy Minister Telecommunications, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa from the Light House Hotel in Galle to Telecommunications Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, who was attending Parliament sessions in Colombo.
Minister Samaraweera, responding to his deputy’s call to speak words of encouragement to TSGL officials gathered at the opening ceremony, said that the government welcomed TSGL and added that "high priority" has been given to develop the telecom and IT sectors in Sri Lanka.
President and CEO, TSG Network Services, Derek Marsh told a press conference that TSG and its partners plan to invest US$ 60 million to build the most advanced and capable telecommunications network in Sri Lanka.
He explained that TSGL’s business is similar to that of the card phone companies such as Lanka Pay Phones, Super Card or Metrocard, but provided more advanced facilities to customers.
TSGL’s telephones are being issued to retail shops and other places where the public could take phone calls by purchasing TSGL’s prepaid calling cards, officials said.
They said that TSGL’s card holders could use this card and obtain calls from SLT, Suntel or Lanka Bell phones as well.
In such instances, the phone card will be debited while the owner of the phone will not be charged, they explained.
"Customers could obtain national and international calls and importantly, they could also receive calls through a voice mail service with the the aid of a TSGL phone card" Mr.Marsh said.
He further said by the end of this year, TSGL will offer a premium phone card called "TSG Community", which will give anyone their own direct dial telephone number, where voice mail messages can be left and retrieved.
These phone cards will be available at retail shops and 2000 other locations in denominations of Rs.100/-, Rs.200/-, Rs.500/-, and Rs.1000/- and other values also, TSGL officials said.
According to them, TSGL will not be selling telephones to the Sri Lankan public and will not be in competition with the existing fixed telephone operators such as Sri Lanka Telecom, Suntel and Lanka Bell.
Instead, TSGL’s entry into the country will increase the telecom-traffic here and also provide an opportunity for those in the rural areas access to telephones, an official said.
The TSGL prepaid card could also be used to send fax messages, he said.
"We intend to make TSG Lanka a driving force for social and economic development in Sri Lanka," Mr.Marsh said.
He said that TSGL hoped to provide its services to the rural masses in the Southern, Central and other provinces, where many do not have access to telephones.
While admitting that the rural folk would have to be educated on how to make use of TSGL’s facilities, he said that the company hoped to educate the public through awareness campaigns and leaflets issued at retail shops.
The directors of TSG Lanka who attended the Press Briefing include, I. W. Senanayake, Bob Anderson, Derek Marsh (President & CEO), Asoka de Z. Gunesekera and Neville Smith.
Ceylon Brewery calls for a beer-friendly national alcohol policy
In view of Government plans to finalise a National Alcohol Policy, the Ceylon Breweries Ltd., (CBL) has called for a realistic and beer-friendly policy which it believes would effectively help eradicate a thriving but highly harmful illicit liquor industry and also boost the country’s socio-economic growth.
CBL has endeavoured to express its views since the beer industry representations had not been sought in the formulation process of the national policy.
The goal of the proposed national alcohol policy is to "improve the health and well being of all Sri Lankans, increase-productivity and alleviate poverty by achieving a sustained reduction in consumption of alcohol and a reduction and eventual elimination of alcohol related harm."
Whilst welcoming a national policy in principle, CBL said that it also agrees with the key objective and would extend support towards implementing all rational and practical measures.
However, it emphasised that rather than excessively targeting beer, the National Alcohol Policy should ideally focus on the deep-rooted and fast spreading human calamity and other adverse socio-economic implications of illicit liquor in Sri Lanka.
This view is being expressed due to a host of factors. CBL said that if the country were to achieve a sustained reduction in consumption of alcohol, policy makers must shift consumers from hard to soft liquor and this is best achieved by expanding the soft alcohol industry at the expense of illicit liquor. "Thus the primary target of the proposed alcohol national policy must be illicit liquor," it added.
Nevertheless CBL said that the environment at present was not soft-liquor-friendly. It noted that due to lack of a coherent national alcohol policy, an obsolete regulatory mechanism, excessive excise duties and a highly restricted wholesale and retail licensing and distribution system, beer, which is universally classified as "soft liquor" remains the most expensive alcoholic beverage in Sri Lanka.
CBL maintained that moderate alcohol consumption causes no harm to either the consumer or to the society. "It is a fact that harm is caused only in the event of either alcohol abuse or addiction and those are due to an excessive intake of pure alcohol. Therefore, the risk of abuse or alcoholism through soft liquor in this case beer, is significantly less than with hard liquor.," CBL pointed out.
Furthermore, it added that research has proved that beer consumed in moderation has no ill effects since it contains non-alcoholic nutrient supplements such as carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, organic acids, phenolic compounds and hop bitter substances.
The popular misconception that beer drinking leads to addiction to hard liquor was also dispelled by the company. "If this were true, the worldwide consumption of hard liquor would be greater than that of soft alcohol," it said pointing out that market statistics prove this to be otherwise; with worldwide market share of soft alcohol exceeding 90%. "In Sri Lanka the share of soft alcohol is only 6% and only around 2,000 licensed outlets sell beer in the country and penetration to rural and remote areas is less. Therefore, the theory of initiation to alcohol through beer does not hold good," CBL added.
The company also said that there is no evidence to prove the popular perception that attractive advertising influences people, particularly the younger generation, to consume more alcohol. On the contrary as per research, parents appear to be the greatest influence on whether and how much young people consume alcohol.
Commenting further on illicit liquor, CBL said that it accounts for a highly dangerous proportion of around 64% alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka due to a host of factors such as being cheaper in price due to the fact that it is illegal and bears no Government taxes or levies, and easy accessibility and availability. The revenue loss alone, by the Government, due to illicit liquor is estimated at over Rs. 8 billion," CBL said.
It was pointed out that beer, on the other hand, despite being a soft liquor is beyond the common man’s reach unfortunately due to misinformed and misguided policy and inappropriate excise duties. Despite these unfavourable conditions, negative perceptions and accounting for only 36% of the liquor consumption, the legitimate alcohol industry contributes over Rs. 10 billion to the State revenue, the company added.
CBL is of the opinion that beer and hard liquor consumption, as an integral part of modern-day society, is now well accepted. However it recognises that excessive consumption is harmful and its abuse and resultant harmful effects must be prevented.
"Thus to achieve an acceptable balance, Sri Lanka like most other countries, should use legislation to promote soft alcohol consumption in moderation rather than effecting measures to encourage the illicit liquor trade and force the adults and the nation to suffer from its vicious cycle," CBL pointed out.
"As done in other countries, the Government should wisely manipulate three variables - price, availability and publicity, to shape the structure of the alcohol market.," it added.
Bearing in mind the core need of eliminating illicit alcohol and prevention of alcohol abuse and addiction CBL has made several specific "win-win", realistic and socially responsible recommendations.
They, in a broader sense, include: making soft alcohol affordable vis-a-vis hard liquor, both illicit and legal; de-regulation of the sale of soft liquor; introducing appropriate legislation to prevent alcohol abuse; educating the public on the hazards of excessive alcohol consumption; exempting soft alcohol from the advertising ban and encourage adoption of a voluntary code of ethics by the beer industry and revision and updating existing legislation.
It said that implementation of the recommendation under the auspicious of a National Alcohol Policy discussed and agreed upon by both the policy makers in the Government and the private sector, will be key to eradicating the social menace of illicit liquor, discourage excessive alcohol consumption and reduce if not eliminate social effects from alcohol abuse.
Furthermore, it will provide greater revenue from the legitimate industries, a more healthier and productive workforce and a contended and enriched nation, CBL added.
One-day workshop on ‘Managing Stress’
A one day workshop on "Managing Stress" will be held on 21st July at Hotel Intercontinental, Colombo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. organised by the Career Consultants & Developers.
The Work Environment today is fraught with stress & strain for the Executives. This Workshop will help you to address the causes & provide the techniques to manage Stress & Time.
The main objectives of the workshop are to enable the participants to: Use Stress in a positive manner to get the most out of himself/ herself. To be proactive and develop the internal locus of control; Manage his/her time to avoid crisis stressful situations; Use time for high leverage activities.
‘This workshop is designed for the Managers of all ranks in the Government Private & NGO’s sectors, Entrepreneures, Lectures/Teachers of Colleges/Universities and senior citizens.
EDP for potential & existing entrepreneurs
The Southern Development Authority (SDA) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Business Development Centre (SLBDC) is conducting an Entrepreneurship Development Programme for potential and existing entrepreneurs at the Institute of Management Development and Training (Southern Province), Wakwella in the Galle district. There were 21 participants.
The programme is divided into 2 modules conducted over a period of 6 days. The first module was conducted from July 1-4, 2000 while the second module is scheduled to commence on July 16. Participants have been advised to collect production and marketing information during the intervening period to prepare the business plans at the second module.
The objective of this programme is to develop the knowledge and skills required to become a successful entrepreneur.
In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, the District Director of the SDA requested SLBDC to launch a programme on business counselling to facilitate entrepreneurs to sort out problem areas.
Mr. Somapala Gunadheera, Chairman Southern Development Authority made a surprise inspection of the Training Programme and addressed the participants.
