Judging Panel (left to right) – Ms. Thilanka Abeywardena - Vice President, SLIM, Mr. Nandana Wickramage - Vice President, SLIM, Mr. Suranjith Swaris - President, SLIM, Mr. Ravi Dadlani - Head of Jury, NASCO 2019 and Mr. Chinthaka Perera - Project Chairman, NASCO 2019

The most anticipated event in Sri Lanka’s annual corporate calendar, the National Sales Congress (NASCO) 2019, organized by Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), is inviting applications for the SLIM NASCO 2019 awards.

 As the premier event dedicated to recognize the efforts and performance of sales personnel, NASCO is eagerly awaited by Sri Lanka’s sales professionals who vie to win an award on this platform as they are immediately catapulted on a national platform, which benefits both their careers and the human capital profile of the company they represent. 

The only credible and respected award ceremony for sales professionals - SLIM NASCO has become a badge of honour for sales professionals and corporates. This year’s theme ‘Excel. Engage. Ensure - Beyond all Limits’ reflects the call to action for sales professionals of tomorrow to be willing to stretch beyond the limits and achieve the unthinkable in a competitive, challenging marketplace. 

Ideally, sales professionals should balance both customer and the organization by building relationships with stakeholders for business continuity and enhanced customer value. The theme also encourages the sales force to continuously focus on sustainable growth and progress of self, organization and the wider community in which he or she serves.  The NASCO 2019 entry kit can now be downloaded at www.nasco.lk. All entries must be submitted by 5.00 pm on 28th June 2019. Applicants can call Gangani Liyange on 703266988 for further details.

 The awards will be judged on the performance for the financial year starting from 1st January 2018 or 1st April 2018 until financial year ending 31st December 2018 or 31st March 2019 for NASCO 2019 Awards.

The eminent judging panel consisting of seasoned and distinguished business leaders will evaluate applicants across 22 sectors, with each category having a possible Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners for Front liners, Sales Supervisors and Territory Managers. In National Sales Manager & Regional Sales Managers categories there will be an overall Gold, Silver and Bronze awards selected irrespective of the industry they represent. 
The highly coveted awards will be handed out at a gala awards ceremony in October 2019. Devised to recognize sales expertise across a variety of industries and job scopes, the awards programme comprises six categories, namely, the National Sales Managers category, Regional Sales Managers category, Territory Managers category, Sales Executives category, the Front liners category and Other Sales Staff category. In addition to the six categories, NASCO also presents four special individual awards - Best Frontline, Best Sales Executive, Best Territory Manager and the Best Female Salesperson of the Year. 

Mr. Suranjith Swaris - President, SLIM addressing the audience

The President of SLIM, Suranjith Swaris said, “We are pleased to announce that entries are now open for the SLIM NASCO 2019 awards. Judging by the rising response over the last few years, this year too we are expecting an overwhelming response from corporates wishing to nominate their star sales champions. Over the years, we have tried to make the awards as inclusive as possible which does not discriminate in any way and we are pleased to see the positive outcomes.

“NASCO invites entries from companies regardless of their size as the awards are judged on the sales person’s strategy and quality. Sinhala and Tamil speaking sales personnel can also compete for the coveted NASCO awards. SLIM NASCO 2019 has truly become a benchmarking process for companies who can test the quality of their sale personnel against the best of the best in the industry. The immense value that a win at NASCO adds to the winner's resume and career advancement prospects explains its popularity. We can look forward to some close competition at this year’s SLIM NASCO 2019.” 

Thilanka Abeywardena, Vice President Events noted “Sales professionals play a pivotal role in the business organisation and make a significant contribution to the growth of the economy. Selling is a personal interaction between one human to another, which is a powerful fundamental tool to generate business, make customers happy and retain them in the long term and ultimately contribute to the company and to the growth of the country. Thus SLIM NASCO 2019 attempt to recognize the best sales force in the country and give them immense recognition in the marketing fraternity as the Sales achievers”. 

Chinthaka Perera, Project Chairperson of NASCO 2019 said, “NASCO has been an outstanding success year after year, with 120 companies from 22 industries taking part in the previous year’s edition. Over the years SLIM NASCO has raised the profile of the Sales function in Sri Lanka. The national level competition with participation from different industries has continuously improved the standard of the individuals. In this year episode, we believe, that we will get the highest number of entries from the Sales Professionals, under the categories of territory managers, sales executives/sales supervisors and front-liners. In addition to Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, best female sales personnel are also recognised under each category”.

Healthcare Medical Detailing & Healthcare Sales & Distribution are two new categories introduced this year to give more opportunities to sales professionals excelling in different sectors. The sectors for nominations are: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Financial Services & Banking, Industrial, Media, Consumer Durables, Telecommunication, Fashion & Clothing, Healthcare, Modern Retail, Travel & Leisure, Insurance, Alcohol & Tobacco, and Corporate Selling. 

Mr. Ravi Dadlani - Head of Jury, NASCO 2019 addressing the audience

Mr. Chinthaka Perera - Project Chairman, NASCO 2019 addressing the audience