CICRA Solutions awarded ‘Innovation ISV Partner of the Year’ by Microsoft at SEANM Partner Awards

Leading software development and servicing company CICRA Solutions; a subsidiary under CICRA Holdings was awarded as ‘Innovation ISV Partner of the Year’ at the South East Asia New Markets (SEANM) Partner Awards 2020 for its revolutionary Colombo Tea e-Auction platform. 

The winners were selected based on their commitment to customers, their solution’s impact on the market and exemplary use of Microsoft technologies. The Colombo Tea e-Auction platform developed by CICRA Solutions paved way to be bestowed with this prestigious award and recognition by Microsoft. 

Recently it was selected as Sri Lanka’s Best National Digital Solution for World Summit Awards (WSA) 2020, under the Business and Commerce (Innovative Services) category.

The partners were acknowledged for their innovative solutions and making their services more possible for customers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partners across Southeast Asia had to meet on a virtual platform at the SEANM Partner Awards 2020. 

The award ceremony, which was live streamed and held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft Teams brought together partners from nine countries consisting of Bangladesh, Brunei, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The virtual award ceremony was held on the final day of Microsoft’s annual regional partner conference, Inspire SEANM 2020. 

CICRA Group Director and CEO Boshan Dayaratne said, “We are incredibly proud of our achievement and all the credit should go to our hard-working team that came up with the innovative Tea e-auction platform. We made history on 4 April 2020, by digitising the world’s oldest and single largest tea auction that has 137 years of history.”

CICRA Solutions Software Architect Champika Kuruppu and Manager Engineering Buddhika Gayan stated, “We are excited to have been awarded and recognised as the innovative partner for our Tea e-auction platform. Technically, it was a huge challenge and a big achievement and proud to be in a development team with such a commitment which made this innovative idea a reality with many tireless nights in the backlog, at a time when the country is facing many challenges due to COVID-19.”

During the session, on the final day, Microsoft Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Hasitha Abeywardena outlined country-specific priorities for the partners to drive consumption and explore more opportunities. 

“It’s an honour to recognise the winners at the Microsoft Inspire South East Asia New Market Partner Awards 2020. These partners go above and beyond, delivering timely solutions that help Sri Lanka’s industries cope with the impact of COVID-19,” added Abeywardena.

CICRA Holdings (Centre for Integrated Communication Research and Advocacy) was first mooted in 2006 among a public-spirited team of academics and professionals, who were determined to promote integrated communication as a tool for socio-economic development in Sri Lanka. The company has been engaged with UN agencies in Sri Lanka and works closely with global agencies including the World Bank, International Finance Corporation and the USAID.