Post war integrity : Mobitel takes the lead

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The victory celebrations to mark the collapse of the terrorist outfit LTTE was in progress in Colombo on June 3,the Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd., took the first step in revamping the unity and integrity of the country by initiating a Singapore tour for a group of 52 of its subscribers from all communities from various parts of the country.

Mobitel Singapore trip winners with CEO Suren J. Amarasekera

The Mobitel company undertook a comprehensive exercise to register its customers in August 2008 to support national security.

With the aim of accelerating the pace of Mobitel customer registrations,the company introduced a ground breaking promotion in April 2009 that offered all existing and potential Mobitel subscribers the opportunity to win a trip for two to Singapore by simply registering their Mobitel SIMs with proof of user details.

The registration drive was a success with over a million subscribers registering or re-registering their Mobitel SIMs since August' 08.

The lucky winners of the Mobitel registration promotion were provided the opportunity to travel to Singapore between June 2 and 5 with a 3 nights hotel stay in the country inclusive of exciting tours to various tourist attractions and sights across the city-state.

The Mobitel tour was unique and significant in many ways as it look place when President Mahinda Rajapaksa called for the unity and integrity of the country with the annihilation of LTTE terrorism which had haunted the island nation for nearly three decades.

The Mobitel winners to Singapore were from various parts of the country with different racial and religious backgrounds.

However Mobitel organised its trip in a manner the winners were all making their trip to Singapore as Sri Lankans shedding their differences. Singapore as a destination chosen by Mobitel is also praiseworthy as the tiny island nation is exemplary in prospering without allowing room for petty differences.

Therefore Mobitel's Lankan winners had the privilege of seeing for themselves the achievements made by Singapore in transforming itself into an economic superpower in the South East Asian region.

Several of the Mobitel prize winners travelled abroad for the first time while for some it was their first trip in an aeroplane.

So the Mobitel representatives on the guidelines given by Chief Executive Officer Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Suren J. Amarasekera ensured that their winners were truly enjoying the trip without any hassle or hindrance.

The energetic CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Suren J Amarasekera earlier speaking on his company's Singapore trip for its subscribers pointed out that Mobitel's effort to register consumers was only a very small contribution to re-enforcing national security.

He also added that Mobitel was very satisfied with the response to this promotion and hoped that the trip to Singapore would be enjoyable to the winners and Mobitel would continue to innovate and reward its valued customers in the future.

From the time the Mobitel winners landed at Singapore's Changi International Airport the Mobitel officials were right behind their winners ensuring that they enjoyed every minute of their stay in the Lion city-state.

The visit to Senthosa Island, Singapore's mega theme -park on an island that has been designed into a sprawling amusement park was an enchanting site for several Lankan winners who had come from very remote areas in the country.

The latest attraction in Singapore is its `Flyer', which is 165 meters in height and believed to be taller that the British Airways London eye.

The giant wheel like flyer is an engineering marvel offering a breathtaking bird's eye view of the shimmering Marina Bay waterfront and the other important landmarks dotting the city skyline.

The `Duck Tour' which was part of the Mobitel tour itinerary in Singapore was mind boggling as that is the first and only amphibious theme tour attraction in Asia.

The Singapore Flyer

The mode of transport used for the `Duck Tours 'are the discarded Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). The `Duck Tours 'were first used in the United States of America with the conversion of the APC vehicles that were used during the Vietnam war.

The `Duck Truck' vehicles with their giant wheels could float like a beach craft in the water. One of the operators of the `Duck Tour 'said that the tour was first introduced in Boston,USA later in Australia and New Zealand.

In Asia it's only in Singapore that amphibious `Duck Tour 'is operated with hundreds of tourists enjoying it daily.

So with the end of the war in Sri Lanka, the amphibious `Duck Tour' in a converted Armoured Personnel Carrier also made one think that the island nation could also now focus more on using its war struck resources in bringing healthy revenue into the country.

One of the winners Mahammed Shamil from Tangalle who went on the Singapore trip along with his father said that it was a once in lifetime opportunity and proud to be able to take his father with him as he has never travelled abroad.

Another winner Thuwan Dilshan from Kotte who travelled with his wife and three year old daughter said that he was extremely grateful to Mobitel for giving him and his family a rare opportunity to visit Singapore.

The total success of the tour emerged with the untiring and pleasant interaction of Mobitel's Yadev and Danel and their colleagues Sujith, Thushitha and Shane, Himaza, Kamal and Udyami who all ensured that the Singapore trip was something remarkable and to remember for years to come.