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Editorial: Spare the messenger! Hands off the humanitarian worker!

Political column: Day of reckoning near for JVP

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As I see it: Sinhala nationalism strengthened

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• Taking marketers to the boardrooms

Hutch, Sierra Global to fulfil the communication needs in the East

Hutchison Telecommunication Lanka Private Limited (Hutch) together with Sierra Global Network Private Limited has planned to provide blanket GSM mobile coverage to people in the East region as part of ‘Nagenahira Navodaya’ programme under the guidance of Minister of Nation Development for East region, Susantha Punchinilame.

Hutch is currently having a customer base of over 1 million and planned to double its GSM network coverage in year 2008 where the East Project is expected to play a key role. It is envisaged to construct over 100 towers in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts to provide 100% coverage to the entire East region. Hutch will be investing over Rs. 1 billion during next 6 months period with this initiative which will fulfil the communication requirement in this re-developing region.

This communication requirement is identified as one of the key aspects to be addressed as part of the ‘Nagenahira Navodaya’ program.

Sierra will undertake the turn-key implementation of the project from site acquisition to site construction and development on exclusive basis on behalf of Hutch where Sierra has been operating in the East region over past 20 years undertaking number of telecommunications, roads, power and water projects as one the largest construction companies in Sri Lanka. Project is planned to be implemented through Sierra’s permanent regional offices based in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara which are part of the Sierra’s national office base of 72 offices across Sri Lanka.

Project kick-off was held at the Parliament complex today at the beginning of Committee Meeting of the East Development Programme.

Meeting was chaired by the Hon. Minister of Nation Development for East region - Susantha Punchinilame along with Government Agent (GA) & Divisional District Secretary of Trincomalee - Major General T. T. R. D. De Silva, Director, Project Management Office (PMO) of Hutch - Brig. H. A. N. T. Perera, Director / CEO of Sierra Global - Mr. Arosha Fernando and Senior Manager, Site Acquisition Division of Sierra Global - Wing Commander Nihal Ratnayake. In the meeting it has been discussed the way forward of the project and benefits out of this project to the East region. Hon. Susantha Punchinilame has appreciated both Hutch and Sierra for being part of the ‘Nagenahira Navodaya’ program and for the initiatives taken to fulfil one of the basic requirements of people from East.