Business
Commercial Bank- StrEdge Advisory successfully complete a BPR project
Sri Lanka’s largest private bank- Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC recently completed a three-year Business Process Reengineering (BPR) project with StrEdge Advisory, the business consultancy arm of StrEdge Group of Companies.
Covering the entire branch network of Commercial Bank, comprising 268 branches across the country, the project included reviewing of processes within the branch network, redesigning of job descriptions and implementation of the same. Further, this exercise covered a process review of the import and export departments and included review and redesigning of the Card Centre and credit card recoveries processes, a StrEdge news release said.
“The branch review covered processes related to assets and liability products and pawning. The BPR project also reviewed operations and centralized functions. The implementation of solutions was driven by a steering committee which consisted of both bank and StrEdge team members,” it said.
“With the customer at the heart of the transformation, Commercial Bank-StrEdge collaboration has added value to the quality of deliverables by the BPR project. ‘Right technology is imperative here, as customers want a quality service with least time spent on processes and StrEdge was able to strengthen the platforms of the Bank further,’ Managing Director/Group CEO of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, S. Renganathan remarks.”
Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID pandemic and the lockdown that followed, the release explained, both teams adapted to new norms and implemented identified solutions, which was yet another feat. The active participation within the implementation supported by highly engaging steering committee structures was headed by Chief Operating Officer, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Sanath Manatunge who played a key role by facilitating the Bank to steer through change management and project management challenges. The support and the inputs provided by the members of the corporate management of the Bank also was a key factor in the success of the project.
As a home-grown consultancy firm catering to multiple industries covering tri-dimensional elements of ‘people-process and technology’, StrEdge was instrumental in creating the required space to identify the imparities in the key functional areas and provide the right solutions to Sri Lanka’s largest private bank.
“Although we are essentially a local consultancy team, we benchmark ourselves with the best global practices to meet local needs. Our high levels of understanding of the banking industry from both Sri Lankan and global perspectives, coupled with strong connections made towards all levels within the Bank enabled us to drive a BPR project of this scale successfully, going beyond an assignment of traditional consultancy. While it is important to have global best practices in place, the ‘cultural-sensitivity’ cannot be undermined,” says the CEO, StrEdge Advisory and Director, StrEdge Group of Companies, Sumedha Wijesekera.
“StrEdge team’s focus was to create value to the end customer to see Commercial Bank as the ‘Best place to bank with’ and for its employees to see the bank as the ‘Best place to work at’. To realize this, it was important that customer-engaging functions, centralized processing functions and closure of the processes were all interconnected. The approach from a ‘people, process and technology’ perspective which is fundamental to all StrEdge-driven ventures, was crucial for the success of the project,” notes Director, StrEdge of Group of Companies Janaka Epasinghe
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
Harvard offers free tuition to families earning less than $200,000
Canada’s Carney makes statement by choosing Europe, not US, for first foreign trip
Cannes award-winning actress Dequenne dies at 43
-
Foreign News2 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Features5 days agoRichard de Zoysa at 67
-
News6 days agoAlfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Editorial7 days agoGhosts refusing to fade away
-
Midweek Review6 days agoRanil in Head-to-Head controversy
-
Features5 days agoSL Navy helping save kidneys
-
Features7 days agoThe Gypsies…one year at a time
-
News3 days agoDPMC unveils brand-new Bajaj three-wheeler