SLT and Huawei sign MoU to support digital Sri Lanka initiatives

From left: SLT Digital Projects General Manager Ishari Siriwardane, SLT Enterprise and Wholesale Deputy Chief Officer M.I. Deen, SLT Enterprise and Wholesale Chief Officer Janaka Abeysinghe, SLT Corporate and Digital Chief Officer Prabhath Ambegoda, SLT CEO Kiththi Perera, Huawei Deputy CEO Iron Chentie, Huawei Public Relations Director Christopher Li, Huawei Enterprise Solution Director Eric Huan, SLT Enterprise Digital Services Deputy General Manager Jaliya Bandara, Huawei Senior Solution Consultant Nadun Gunawardana

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the leading ICT and digital solutions provider in the country recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Huawei Technologies Lanka Co. Ltd. (Huawei), the renowned provider of ICT and telecommunication infrastructure solutions for the telecommunications and ICT industries, at SLT premises in Colombo. 

This MoU will bring together these two ICT giants along with their expertise and resources in ICT to facilitate the digital transformation of Sri Lanka via the implementation of a range of digital initiatives, with a special focus on digitalising government institutes in the country. 

The MoU was signed by authorised signatories SLT CEO Kiththi Perera and Huawei Deputy CEO Iron Chentie, in the presence of several other representatives from both companies.

This landmark partnership will cover several ongoing digital projects and initiatives including Colombo Port Smart City project, Polonnaruwa Smart City project as well as other applicable projects under the Government’s Digital Sri Lanka Initiatives. The MoU will entail Huawei to design optimal digital solutions as well as supply, deliver, install, test and commission relevant systems and equipment, efficiently and whilst ensuring value for money. 

SLT, on the other hand, will bear responsibility for providing the required infrastructure services including fibre/ copper connectivity, data centre and hosting services, internet connectivity and Wi-Fi services, voice and voice related application services as well as any other ICT services as necessary whilst also liaising between government institutes and Huawei to obtain and share all relevant information pertaining to the project. 

Expressing his views on the MoU signing, Iron Chentie gave his comments saying: “Huawei is a leading global provider of ICT services as well as smart devices. We are dedicated and delighted to continuously bring latest technological breakthroughs that drive Sri Lanka forward to become a competitive Digital landscape in South Asian region. We are indeed glad about this partnership with Sri Lanka Telecom, the national ICT and digital service provider in the country. We believe that bringing together the expertise and resources of both our companies will be a key strength for Sri Lanka and will help to expedite the country’s digital transformation.”

Kiththi Perera also expressed his views saying: “It is a privilege for us to partner with Huawei, who also share our dream to witness a digitally enabled Sri Lanka, with citizens enjoying the privileges and enhanced living standards promised by a digital world. We are confident that this partnership is a step in the right direction both for SLT and also for Sri Lanka as a whole, as Sri Lanka works its way towards becoming the Digital Hub in South Asia. We believe that this partnership will play a key role in Sri Lanka realising its dream of becoming a digital economy and eagerly look forward to working closely with Huawei in the coming months.”