Amritsar, NFAPost: Marking its presence within the region, HCL Technologies inaugurated its first Global Development Centre in Colombo. The facility aims at boosting employment, providing resources and skilling the local talent to serve its global clients.
Founded in 1976, HCL Technologies is a next-generation global technology company that helps enterprises reimagine their businesses for the digital age. A true multinational, HCL is headquartered in India with significant global presence across various key industries and sectors.
A key part of HCL’s business and development strategy in Sri Lanka will be to generate local employment and provide the right skilling programs that will augment the growth of the knowledge services industry in the island.
Collaborating with the BOI of Sri Lanka, HCL’s local entity – HCL Technologies Lanka (Private) Limited will implement its Work Integrated Education Programme to foster growth by actively cooperating with local ICT and engineering institutions to develop and train the island’s talent pool.
System integration service
Through this delivery center in Colombo global clients will be provided with valuable services in the areas comprising of Applications & System Integration Services, Infrastructure Services and Digital Process Operations.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa said it gives me great pleasure to join all on the occasion of HCL Technologies inaugurating its first global delivery centre in Sri Lanka.
“As a nation, we are not only honoured to welcome a multinational technology giant such as HCL but we are also thankful for the opportunities the centre will offer our youth. Presence of a global ICT leader such as HCL technologies is not only an asset to Sri Lanka but also sends a strong message to the entire world that Sri Lanka is back in business, having successfully contained the global pandemic. I take this opportunity to congratulate the management of HCL Technologies and extend my very best wishes,” said Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Commenting on the development, HCL Technologies Corporate Vice President Srimathi Shivashankar. said it is a landmark moment for the company to begin operations in the beautiful country of Sri Lanka.
“We are very happy with the progressive policies this country has and thus, we are fully prepared and committed to bring in new opportunities for the local workforce and creating ever-lasting partnerships within the region. Our valuable partnership with the BOI will help us showcase the true essence of our culture of ‘Relationship Beyond the Contract’. By imbibing our ideapreneurship™ culture we will be aiming to provide best-in-class support to the global clients with the help of local talent pool.” said HCL Technologies Corporate Vice President Srimathi Shivashankar.
Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, Champika Malalgoda said the government is pleased to partner with HCL Technologies – one of the world’s leading technology companies to take forward our development vision for Sri Lanka.
Talented IT professionals
“Sri Lanka has built a reputation for hardworking, dedicated and talented IT professionals who have delivered innovative and futuristic IT solutions to the world. We are one of the best destinations for providing off-shore services for Information Technology Enabled Service (ITEs) as well as services related to Finance and Accounting, Legal, Insurance, Banking and Telecommunications,” said Champika Malalgoda.
The government official also highlighted the fact that HCL Technologies has the resources that will enhance and empower our local IT talent to achieve the national goals set out for the sector.
“We are delighted with this opportunity and look forward to a longstanding partnership,” said Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka Champika Malalgoda.
HCL Technologies President and Chief Executive Office C Vijayakumar said HCL is fully committed on this journey in Sri Lanka that the company embarked upon in March 2020, supported by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and with the tremendous support from the Sri Lankan government.
“We envision this center as one of our key global delivery hubs that will work on technology programs for some of the biggest corporations in the world. We have already hired our first set of employees in the journey and we hope to take this number to over 3,000 people in the coming three years. Indeed, we are extremely happy to be here in Sri Lanka and deeply admire the deep cultural heritage of this country,” said CHCL Technologies President and Chief Executive Office C Vijayakumar.
Global opportunities
CHCL Technologies President and Chief Executive Office C Vijayakumar said the modern and forward looking policies of the government of Sri Lanka have been a tremendous support in the company’s plans to establish our base in Sri Lanka.
“We are very positive of the growth prospects we foresee in the country and looking forward to bringing in global opportunities to the local communities in Sri Lanka. I would also like to welcome all our new joinees in Sri Lanka to the HCL family and hope that together, we will grow from strength to strength,” said CHCL Technologies President and Chief Executive Office C Vijayakumar.
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay said HCL Technologies’ presence in Sri Lanka will prominently put Sri Lanka on the global map for information technology.
“The new delivery centre will also generate thousands of jobs for Sri Lankan youth within a few years, enabling knowledge transfer to local employees. The inauguration of this centre also reflects the commitment of the Governments of India and Sri Lanka to facilitate youth empowerment and talent development for greater progress and prosperity,” said High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay.
- HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, today announced the official opening of its Global Development Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- The new development center was officially inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa and H.E Gopal Baglay, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka in the presence of Mr Shiv Nadar, Founder, Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer, HCL Technologies and C. Vijayakumar, President and Chief Executive Officer, HCL Technologies via a virtual ceremony.
- The inauguration was also attended by Srimathi Shivashankar, Corporate Vice President, HCL Technologies, Susantha Ratnayake, Chairman Board of Investment (BOI), HCL partners from PwC, Board of Investment (BOI), Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), ESOFT and other leading business dignitaries.
- HCL’s office in Colombo will be home to world-class infrastructure, multi-layered data & physical security protocols, and high-end systems to support its global customer base.
- From its new state-of-the-art office, HCL will primarily focus on offering next-generation solutions to serve major blue-chip organizations.
- The office in Colombo which currently has a seating capacity for more than 650 employees, already has over 100 new HCL local recruits. By the end of November 2020, it hopes to further add 600+ seats at this centre.
- HCL plans to deploy about 3,000 people in the coming three to five years and of which 1,500 employees will start working in Sri Lanka in the next 18 months.
- HCL will also implement its Work Integrated Education Program to foster growth by actively cooperating with local ICT and engineering institutions in order to develop and train the local talent pool.
- For freshers, HCL will focus on hiring A Level, Higher National Diploma (HND) students through skills training & hiring program.
- The company would help the local workforce “stay rooted” in their native place and will invite Sri Lanka expats to come back home and be a part of this transformational journey.
- Sri Lanka is accelerating into an emerging destination of choice for the global ITO and BPM market. The country is one of the best destinations for providing off-shore services for Information Technology-Enabled Service (ITeS) as well as services related to Finance and Accounting, Legal, Insurance, Banking, and Telecommunications.
- HCL joined hands with the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka in February 2020 to launch its local entity — HCL Technologies Lanka (Private) Limited and set up its first delivery center in the region. Through this entity, HCL will provide services to global clients in the areas of Applications & System Integration Services and Infrastructure Services.
