Fonterra links up with SLT for high speed data connectivity

(Colombo 27 th April, 2012) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation’s truly integrated telecommunications service provider and Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (FBL), Sri Lanka’s largest dairy company entered into an  agreement where SLT will provide FBL with high speed data connectivity, further strengthening the long standing relationship between the two organizations. FBL is the largest Dairy Company in Sri Lanka, with well known iconic  brand names such as ANCHOR™, RATTHI™, NEWDALE™, ANLENE™ and PEDIAPRO™ which are also widely distributed through all the leading super market chains and island wide retail stores.

The agreement was officially signed at the SLT premises, in the presence of several officers from SLT and FBL. Mr. Greg Young, CEO – SLT and Mr. Achyut Kasireddy, Managing Director – FBL were the signatories on behalf of the two organizations.

Under the agreement, SLT will be providing FBL with high speed and reliable internet leased line connectivity via  fiber optic infrastructure to meet all their data communication requirements. By utilizing SLT’s superior technology  FBL employees are empowered to carry out day-to-day business & administrative activities more effectively,enabling them to make their time spent online more efficient.

Commenting on the significance of the partnership, Mr. Greg Young, CEO of SLT said, “It is a privilege for us to  do business with an international brand such as Fonterra and they continue to be one of our most valued  customers. As such, it is our pleasure to enhance this important business relationship through signing of this  agreement which will enable Fonterra to enjoy upgraded data communications between its Head office & factory  in Biyama and other relevant stakeholders.”

Moreover, the new agreement between SLT and FBL will help to enhance the capabilities of FBL and make their  operations smoother resulting from investing in a cost effective data solution that helps create synergy between  the organization and its functions and network of local and overseas suppliers.

Mr. Achyut Kasireddy, Managing Director – FBL added his viewpoint, saying, “We are extremely satisfied with the  service excellence that we have experienced from SLT so far and as such we did not hesitate in extending our  business relationship further and making them our data communications provider as well. Through the top class  communications solutions provided to us by SLT, I believe that we will be better equipped to focus on our  aspirations to serve the Sri Lankan community with the highest standards of excellence, quality and reliability that  we have been known for.”

Fonterra Brands (Pvt) Ltd.
Fonterra Brands Lanka is Sri Lanka’s largest Dairy Company and is a fully owned subsidiary of the Fonterra Cooperative Group of New Zealand. Its range of nutritional dairy products are made from milk produced in the lush  green pastures of New Zealand and by the dairy farmers of Sri Lanka. All products are manufactured at two stateof-the-art manufacturing facilities in Biyagama. Fonterra Brands Lanka has a strong commitment to the country,  employing more than 700 people at its factory. Fonterra also supports a range of local programmes to raise the  nutritional standards in Sri Lanka and also works towards the development of the local dairy farming industry.

Fonterra’s iconic ANCHOR™ brand is the best-known brand in Sri Lanka and the number-one selling full cream  milk powder in the country. Fonterra’s nutritional dairy products are well-known for their goodness, quality and  reliability. Fonterra is passionate about providing the natural source of dairy nutrition to everybody, everywhere,  everyday.

About Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka Telecom  is one of Sri Lanka’s most valuable blue chip companies with an annual turnover  in excess of Rs 50 Billion. Sri Lanka Telecom is the nation’s number one integrated communications service  provider and the leading broadband and backbone infrastructure services provider in the country. Listed on the  Colombo Stock Exchange, the company’s market capitalization as at 31 December 2011 topped Rs 87 Billion.

The SLT Group has a customer base of over five million including multinational corporations, large and small  corporate, public sector, retail and domestic customers. The company has been awarded a National Long Term  Rating of AAA (lka) and a BB- rating on Long term Local Currency and Foreign Currency by Fitch Ratings,  followed by BB- local currency and B+ foreign currency Credit Ratings by Standard & Poor’s.

SLT, together with its subsidiaries; Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, SLT Visioncom (Pvt) Ltd., SLT Publications (Pvt)  Ltd., Sri Lanka Telecom (Services) Ltd. and SLT Manpower Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. provides a full gamut of facilities  and services in the areas of voice, data, video, mobile and Networking solutions to its customers.