Microsoft Sri Lanka’s OEM sector supports SLANA with RISE Award winnings

Friday, 17 April 2015 04:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Microsoft Sri Lanka’s OEM team was the recipient of the internal regional award for being the software giant’s ‘best performing sub in the OEM sector’ during the third quarter. RISE Awards are a quarterly evaluation of the OEM sector amongst Microsoft subsidiaries in the APAC Region and is awarded to the OEM division that is furthest ahead of set business objective within that quarter. The third quarter winners received a reward of $ 2,000, which could be used to support a local cause. The OEM team in Sri Lanka decided to channel their winnings to support the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association (SLANA) by donating eight locally assembled hybrid tablets with free Microsoft software to the Association.

Microsoft Sri Lanka’s relationship with SLANA goes back several years when they joined hands with the association to combat drug use amongst Sri Lankan Youth through the setting up of Community IT Learning Centres, which provided youth with training that would skill them up for gainful employment. This led to SLANA working closely with the software company to provide learning for the migrant worker population especially women going for employment in Middle Eastern countries to help them stay in regular touch with their families. SLANA who was the chief facilitator and trainer of the program has to date empowered over 10,000 migrant workers through regular seminars and workshops on ICT and computer training programs. Microsoft Sri Lanka Country Manager Imran Vilcassim says that the provision of tablets would help to improve SLANA’s day to day technology needs. “This portable device which can be used as a laptop or tablet enables individuals to access technology from any place any time. The tablets would be of significant help to an organisation like SLANA who facilitates IT training in several parts of the country, which involves quite a log of fieldwork where at times connectivity becomes an issue. Therefore the mobility provided by the tablets would be helpful,” he added saying that they would continue to provide SLANA with technology support in the future and continue their joint projects with the association.