Initiated by Infomate – the Shared Services BPO arm of the John Keells Holdings Group, John Keells Foundation and Foundation for Advancing Rural Opportunity (FARO) in 2007, Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited is a good example of private sector companies, public sector and charities working together for the common good in the form of a sustainable venture.
Joining hands with the Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) Infomate initiated a visit by Minister of Finance Honourable Ajith Nivard recently to the Jaffna BPO accompanied by honourable member of parliament Angajan Ramanathan and a team of senior government officials.
“This BPO is an inspiring story of how the internet empowers companies to take jobs to the villages without requiring employees to relocate – it is truly an enabler and an accelerator no just for employees and industries, but the whole country,” says SLASSCOM Chairman Channa Manoharan, adding that Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited has grown exponentially in the last few years and has successfully created sustainable employment for the talented youth of the village.
The BPO organisation carries out accounting transaction processing for subsidiaries of the John Keells Group via Infomate (Pvt) Limited, and was congratulated by the minister, who is a keen advocate of the IT/BPO industry, on their growth and development as a company and as individuals.
“The project demonstrates the capacity of rural youth if given the opportunity to meet stringent criteria in line with international standards consistently,” shares CEO of Infomate, Vice President of John Keells Holdings and SLASSCOM Director Jehan Perinpanayagam. He notes: “The youth who work at Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited have showcased their ability to meet the demanding requirements of a corporation such as John Keells. It is very gratifying to see these youth with limited opportunities gaining really good experience, building their capabilities and growing up to be useful citizens of Sri Lanka.”
The Minister’s visit was complemented by a walkthrough of the Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited , organised by the team.
Jehan Perinpanayagam shared a presentation on the thinking behind rural BPOs and how it empowers the villages of the island and uplifts them by creating employment opportunities outside the city. He explained that Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited was commenced with the objective of uplifting the area which was just emerging from a devastating 30-year war. Creating jobs for the youth while helping Informate in its business operations, the project is a win-win situation which further encourages more ventures of this kind. The company currently employs over 50 staff members and has facilitated over 200 jobs in the last decade.
The youth who work at Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited are provided ample opportunities to grow as individuals and professionals. “They are exposed to world-class technologies such as SAP and are trained in the latest processes and security standards of Infomate and they are also comfortable to work here given that they are able to earn a good income without leaving their hometowns and villages,” avers Jehan
Jehan added that the project is especially advantageous to female employees who are empowered to build a career, earn a living and grow in their roles while residing in their homes. “The productivity, quality and commitment of this youth is very encouraging – they are willing to learn and try out new functions every day, so the growth is astounding.”
In his presentation, Jehan Perinpanayagam also mentioned how outsourcing and BPO is an excellent channel through which Sri Lankan expatriates could help their motherland by creating opportunities for the youth in rural areas.
An excellent endeavour to uplift rural Sri Lanka through technology, Jaffna BPO Technologies Limited is an inspiring success story of the IT/BPO industry and its role as an employment generator without boundaries.