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| Sunday, 5 February 2006 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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More value added info in new SLT directory by Gamini Warushamana Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is developing its telephone directory as a separate business and has launched its 2006 directory in a new format. Initially, SLT expects to cover its cost and then go for a profit making directory business. Provision of a directory free is a regulatory requirement which cost around Rs. 350 million to the SLT. The new SLT rainbow pages provide economical advertising options for advertisers and a convenient information source for SLT customers. The new SLT directory has more value added information than names, addresses and telephone numbers of customers. The new directory consists of eight separate sections. with the rapid increase of SLT's customer base it is difficult to carry the whole customer base in a single directory, said SLT's Chief Marketing Officer Kapila Chandrasena. The SLT customer base listed in the directory increased to 940,000 or approximately 1,342% compared to 1983. A single directory with all the information will be cumbersome and will run into 3,760 pages. In the new format there are separate directories on a regional basis. The Western province has a separate directory with two volumes. In the first volume there are information pages, government pages, religious pages, organisation pages and rainbow pages. The second volume is published as three books for Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha districts listing the relevant personal names. Every SLT customer gets the first volume and the relevant second volume. The Rainbow pages are included in the first volume. The Provincial directory has been published in four volumes covering provincial areas, North/ East, Central/ North Western, Central/Uva and Sourthern/ Sabaragamuwa. The Rainbow pages in the provincial editions are common in all four volumes. The White pages in the new directory consists of five sections. First, the information page carries service information provided by the SLT such as IDD call charges, SLT telephone numbers, general information such as hospitals and tourist information. The second section consists of government information such as Presidential section, ministries, departments, statutory authorities and corporations and provincial councils. In addition to the categorical index a new alphabetical index has been included in the new SLT directory. The third section comprises religious institutions in the country classified according to the main religions. In section four all personal names are listed alphabetically. Additional information such as listing under other family member's name, fax number, mobile phone number and email address are also included. Phonetically similar surnames have been grouped together. In the organisation pages, organisations other than government organisations are listed alphabetically. Company logos and tag lines under their company names to give extra prominence to their company is allowed in the new directory and it is also convenient to users. |
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