In an exemplary display of product and market command Mobitel bagged four awards, two gold awards and two silver awards, at its first entry to the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards. At the recent SLIM Awards ceremony held at Waters Edge, Mobitel was awarded gold for the Innovative Brand of the Year, and Mobitel’s UPAHARA product claimed gold as the Best New Entrant of the Year. The company receivedSilver awards in the categories of Service Brand of the Year and Turnaround Brand of the Year. No gold awards were made in the category of Turnaround Brand of the Year this year and Mobitel’s SMART claimed the only Silver on offer in the category.

SLIM Brand Excellence Awards, which celebrates brand excellence at national level, annually recognises and rewards the motivation, dedication, and hard work of great marketers in making brand champions. This year for the first time Mobitel entered the foray and claimed not less than four gold and silver awards in lead categories, creating in the process a lasting footprint in the Sri Lanka marketing landscape.

Commenting on the awards, Mobitel’s Chairperson Ms Leisha De Silva Chandrasena said, "We are not surprised by these awards but are humbled and motivated to serve our customers better in the future. As a company we constantly make a conscious effort to understand our customers and prospect and innovate our offering to ensure that our customers receive best value and convenience. These awards therefore are a true reflection of our success in serving and delighting our customers and would surely form a source of inspiration towards our efforts of building a knowledge rich society. I congratulate SLIM for its important role in promoting brand excellence and in raising the overall status of marketing in Sri Lanka, and thank the panel of judges of the awards for their professionalism and good judgement".

Mobitel won Silver for the Service Brand of the Year that was selected from among many local and international Intangible Service Brandspresent in the local market and representing a range of industries including banking, insurance, telecom, entertainment, education, leisure, investment, retailing, real estate, travel and transport etc.

As Innovative Brand of the Year, a gold award was presented to Mobitel for demonstrating outstanding innovation in terms of new product development/introduction, packaging, service methods, promotional methods, distribution methods etc.

Mobitel’s award winning UPAHARA product won yet another award, this time Gold at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awardsas the Best New Entrant of the Year for achieving the feat of the most successful brand from among those introduced to the market within the last two years - 2007 and 2008.