Re-ignite yourself was the main theme which introduced the awards ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute Marketing (SLIM), last week. Approximately 150 awards were won by companies within a diametric scale of varying skills and professional applications. Awards were won by companies dealing in Auto Engineering, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering and Electronic Equipment Supplies. Shipping, Confectionary, Tobacco, Land Development and Media Advertising were also others who were award winners.

President, National Sales Congress (NASCO) Kelum Hewawasem said that competitors had reached high standards within their achievement disciplines fully justifying their stint of hard work and dedication.

This was the fifth annual ceremony conducted in as many years catering to a wide cross section of skills and more importantly, development of such skills.

Chief Executive Officer Sri Lanka Telecom Soi Anan was chief guest. President Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing Nalin Attygalle delivered the key note address. He said that NASCO had now developed to cater to demands of modern times which, among other subjects dealt with customer relationships, concentrated in the abbreviation CRM. Or Customer Relationship Management. It was not an intense discipline of management, but now had attained sophistication to meet demands of a growing force for skills of a more intensified character.

He said that the customer was the core of any business and quoted the example of Japan and its rapid growth. He said that in that country the customer was treated with hallowed deference, and naturally Japan was an industrial force which commanded international respect. A sales person was a high profile generalist with a multitude of skills which has made him a high profile cog in any given marketing environment.

Sri Lanka Telecom was the main sponsor of the event. Associated with sponsorship was also ‘the island ‘Group of news papers.

CEO SLT Soi Anan said that SLT being the main sponsor has changed the total out look of telecommunications in this country. After change from a government entity, SLT had progressed to reach the top slot in the corporate ladder and are now rated No.1 in the top 10 standing. He explained the key changes initiated by SLT to ensure its leadership standing which he said was done by Sri Lankans with guidance from the Japanese.

This was now sustained and through a process of internal improvement and employee self improvement SLT was now a corporate leader in the economic sphere of the country. He said that SLT was sensitive to changes in technology and customer requirements. These were the driving forces which made SLT a leader in the business world. He said that SLT had invested 20 billion to improve the service and make the entire organisation efficient and customer based.

He said that marketing was now an important skill and was growing in importance within and without the Board Room.