'Focus on consumer market':

Steady growth in IT hardware

Niranjan de Silva

Harshini Perera

The computer hardware market in Sri Lanka has recorded steady growth over the years. Even though the demand for other products slowed down due to the economic downturn, the growth in IT hardware never slowed down, said Director/CEO, Metropolitan Computers (Pvt) Ltd, Niranjan de Silva to Daily News Business.

Q: How do you see the hardware market in Sri Lanka?

A: The hardware market in Sri Lanka has recorded steady growth because parents want their children to be IT literate regardless of the credit crunch. The declaration of 2009 as the 'Year of English and IT' by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Nena Sala organized by the ICTA have highlighted the importance of IT among the public. Therefore, the hardware market in Sri Lanka is a step ahead compared to the past few years.

Q: How do you see the competition in the market?

A: There is good competition in the market which in turn is good for the market as well. The customer gets a good deal only if there is competition. When competition is quite fierce, the end user could benefit and get a good deal. Hence it becomes a good equation.

Q: Does the current global economic crisis have an impact on your business and how do you meet these challenges?

A: The global economic crisis has not affected the IT sector severely. In fact, consumers want to be IT literate and on account of the financial crisis organizations are trying to be more efficient and effective. Once they become more efficient they tend to use IT more than ever before. Organizations need to analyze their data more carefully and manage the organization closely.

The only way one can manage an organization more closely is by using IT. In that manner one can make the company run smoothly. Most of the time companies are affected when they do not have proper information. Any company can perform profitably if it acquires the right information at the right time and control it. The only way is by using computerization to cut cumbersome manual work.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: We catered to the Government and business sector until last year and we have now changed our focus towards the consumer sector. We are in the process of setting up showrooms with our branded products since we are focusing on the consumer market.

We have started setting up retail outlets such as M-centres in Kollupitiya, Wattala, Nawala and will be setting up an M-centre in Battaramulla soon.

Metropolitan Computers (Pvt) Ltd. has linked with the Arpico chain to get closer to consumers so that our products will be available to customers. We already have regional business units in 12 towns in the country. We need to expand the business units in the newly liberated North and East areas because there is a huge potential. People in those areas had been deprived of technology for nearly 30 years. We should also help them to catch up on the technology fast and integrate them into the workforce of the country.

Q: What is your advice to young people?

A: Young people in today's world should have a clear vision as to where they are heading. Sometimes they don't know their aims.

They should have a plan to achieve that aim. If one has a dream and a plan, then one would definitely achieve that goal.

In addition, they should be well disciplined. It is important to be punctual and have unblemished integrity.

Q: How do you spend your leisure?

A: I read extensively to get an overall view of current affairs and issues in IT and related areas. I do exercises to keep fit. Therefore, I could balance my life of work and leisure together and I spend a great deal of time with my twins.

Q: What is your philosophy in life?

A: My philosophy in life is to be down to earth and lead a good honest life.

Q: What is the best place you wish to visit outside Sri Lanka?

A: I wish to visit Singapore. But there is no country like Sri Lanka.

Q: What are the places you like to visit in Sri Lanka?

A: My home town is Kandy and I prefer to be in Kandy.