Can you believe that a mobile telephone could repel mosquitoes? At the 50-year anniversary celebrations press conference in Colombo last week, it was revealed that their telecom services would soon introduce this technology to the Sri Lankan market which would repel mosquitoes within a 5-metre radius.

Rohan Tissera, CEO, Metropolitan Communications said that they are working on the system and it would be introduced soon. There is a slight delay as they are still trying to penetrate the frequency of the Dengue mosquitoes, as these mosquitoes operate on different frequencies.

Further he offered good news in preserving the privacy of those using mobile telephone SMS as Metropolitan is to introduce a technology that would enable the SMS sender to prevent access to others by having a pass-word. He said that they would also introduce a technology where, the SMS would get erased after 10 minutes of receiving the message.

Another significant contribution is that Metropolitan has introduced affordable computers with the latest technology, specially aiming the students. J. J. Ambani, Chairman, Metropolitan Group of Companies, speaking of the company's achievements and aspirations through the passage of 50 years, said that they were the first to introduce computers to Sri Lanka. A very important development was that around 1975/76 when the People's Bank found it difficult to obtain accounting machines, Metropolitan provided them with right products with, right programming capabilities.

He said they were the first people to introduce laptop computers, even ahead of IBM. He said that their most successful story has been that at a time banks were struggling with mechanical machines they were able to provide solutions to banks with computer technology and necessary software. Mr Ambani said that with the right support services they have provided almost all the banks with current accounting machines and by 1977 became the undisputed leader in the supply of these machines.

Mr Ambani said that the company's workplace solutions range includes imaging, printing and office automation. Metropolitan is also the leader in the telecommunications sector. Its portfolio of communications products include integrated communications solutions for voice, data, business-phone systems, mobile phones and video collaboration.