Lanka Sathosa energised with 100 new staff

Saturday, 27 August 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen at the induction of new recruits to the Rs. 32 billion Lanka Sathosa retail network

Sri Lanka’s largest retail network Lanka Sathosa under the leadership of Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has turned around a loss making venture to a turnover of Rs. 32 billion in the financial year 2016. To support the expansion plan to 500 outlets this year from the current 321, a new batch of 100 staff was inducted to the Lanka Sathosa retail outlets family.

“The new members are equipped with advance level qualification and interviewed by multi disciplinary professionals and finally by the ministry officials so that the chain can focus on the customer care and increasing customer experience,” said Minister Bathiudeen. “We must be the price setter to the country. We must understand that our salaries are paid by a consumer and we are here to serve the people,” voiced the Minister.

“We will also be launching a program called ‘Lanka Sathosa Rekawarnaya’ where the basics of hygiene and sanitation enhancement, housing and transport, financial planning, family planning, skill training for the next job will be instilled similar to the ‘ Apparel Go Beyond’ campaign,” said Lanka Sathosa Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala. “This will be endorsed similar to the apparel campaign by ILO and UN so that we ensure sustainability,” he said.

Lanka Sathosa achieved a commanding 13.7 billion net revenue as at half year and is planning to move the reach to 500 outlets in the country this year in partnership with the private sector that has contributed strongly in 2016 to reach the middle and lower middle income households. The recently concluded Idam Nidanaya promotion by the leading household company Unilever had a strong impact to increasing the footfall to the outlets. Currently the key provision items declared by the Government are offered to the customer at a price below the ‘regulated maximum retail price’ which are some of the cutting edge competitive strategies that are implemented by Lanka Sathosa.