Indian IT giant - HCL Technologies has reportedly started operations in Sri Lanka and is looking to hire 1500 employees as part of its new unit over the next 18 months.
The company currently operates in 45 countries excluding Sri Lanka and boasts of over 150,000 employees across the globe.
HCL plans to recruit freshers, graduates, and professionals in software engineering, application development, product testing, infrastructure management, and support as part of its recent expansion.
While it will expand on several lines of business at its Sri Lankan unit, it will not bring BPO operations to Colombo, officials said.
The use of a local talent pool in the country for global assignments will be a key part of HCL's business and development strategy in Sri Lanka, the company further added.
Commenting on this, Susantha Ratnayake, chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, said, "I am hopeful HCL will be able to create employment opportunities for the people of the country, and people of Sri Lanka will have access to the global work environment right in their own country. We are excited about this and I am hopeful Sri Lanka will soon emerge as an IT destination for more companies,"
Srimathi Shivashankar, corporate vice president of HCL Technologies further added that the company is keen to recruit and engage with Sri Lanka 's highly qualified and talented citizens."Our delivery center in Sri Lanka will play an important role to serve our Fortune 500 and Global 2000 clients and partners throughout the globe," she said.
HCL joined forces with Sri Lanka's Bank Of India in February 2020, to launch its local company HCL Technologies Lanka (Private) Limited and set up its first regional distribution center.
Through this agency, HCL will provide software and network services to global clients in the areas of applications and system integration.
HCL will also implement its Work-Integrated Education Program to foster growth by working actively with local information and communication technology and engineering institutions to develop and train the local talent pool.
The company will concentrate on recruiting A-Level, Higher National Diploma students through HCL ESOFT Training & Hiring Program for freshers, the statement further clarified.