Mobitel’s Upahara package, the most successful ever

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The Mobitel Upahara package is the most successful mobile package ever to be launched in Sri Lanka, CEO, SLT Mobitel, Suren Amarasekera said.

Speaking at the launch of Upahara mobitel package to employees of Lake House he said within a period of one month they were able to attract over 100, 000 customers.

“This is an unique achievement for Mobitel and for the industry,” he said. Amarasekera said they targeted Government servants through this Upahara package who were virtually ignored by other operators.

“There were no packages targeting this community of over one million,” he said.

Chairperson, SLT Mobitel, Leisha Chandrasena said the Upahara package is a tribute from Mobitel to state sector employees.

She said this is the only package that offers free outgoing calls to fixed lines. Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said this package is tailor-made for the state sector that had over one million employees and over 400,000 pensioners.

He said with the high cost of living, people were agitating for salary hikes. “However if we were to increase Rs. 5,000 it would cost the Government over Rs. 5 billion which the government cannot subsidise at this point of time,” he said.

“By introducing this package, Government servants will save money whichcan be used to purchase other items,” he said.

He said that with the introduction of this package other operators have lowered tariff which would have a positive impact for the customers. “Under the Upahara package, short messages would cost 25 cents and if a competitor lowers the SMS rates Mobitel will look at providing SMS free,” he said.