Hans LMD’s ‘Sri Lankan of the Year’

Group Chief Executive Officer Dialog Telekom, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, has been nominated as LMD’s ‘Sri Lankan Of The Year’ (SLOTY) for 2008.

“The main reason for nominating Dr. Wijayasuriya for this award is because he has placed Sri Lanka on the map of corporate boardrooms in the region,” a spokesperson for LMD’s publisher Media Services said.

The country’s leading business journal presents the SLOTY award annually to the citizen who has made the most significant contribution to the nation at large.

At home, Wijayasuriya has led virtually every effort to turn Dialog into the leading brand among mobile telcos - and one of the nation’s most valued brands, at the same time.

Regarded by many in the corporate sector as an icon of the telco industry, LMD’s SLOTY for 2008 has been at the centre of many developments and innovations that have changed the way in which Sri Lanka and its people communicate.

Invited to share his response to being named SLOTY 2008, the Dialog Chief told LMD: “In one word. undeserving - undeserving of such an honour. And I am very cognisant of the fact that behind this recognition are 4,000 people who have worked with me, with the same vision - and five million customers who proved that Sri Lanka can be top of the region.”

As the widely read biz magazine observes, there is little doubt that Sri Lanka’s mobile-telephony industry is ahead of the curve regionally, in terms of nationwide reach.

Featuring a call-rate regime which is among the lowest in the world, a stream of reductions in the cost of ownership and usage of mobile phones have been crucial to the success of our industry, Wijayasuriya said.

“I don’t think I deserve this award. I think there are more deserving Sri Lankans nationally who would have qualified for this,” he said.

“However it gives me pride to receive this award and I must also thank my team who made this possible,” he said.

“The entire telecommunications industry has helped to transform the lives of many Sri Lankans,” he said.

The industry has also helped to reduce barrirs in poverty. Today is an era where technology is helping to break barriers of people. “World victories in cricket have taught us that ruralisation pays dividends. This is a lesson that, others too should follow,” he added.

Life time award recipient, Reinzie Wijetilleke said that people should not complain on the minus points of the country but move on.