Virtusa selected 2008 finalist for US award

Virtusa Corporation has been selected as one of eleven finalists for the United States Secretary of State’s prestigious 2008 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).

The Award recognises the important role U.S. businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens. Since 1999 the U.S. Secretary of State has awarded the ACE to deserving American businesses operating overseas for advancing good corporate citizenship, innovation and democratic principles. The Department of State is committed to working with businesses to further these best practices worldwide, and to recognise efforts to improve lives at home and abroad. Virtusa and its employees were recognised for their significant time and resource contribution to the “Sahana” disaster recovery system. “Virtusa Campus Reach,” “Virtusa Digital Reach,” and IT advocacy programs aimed at improving IT skills and curriculum in Sri Lanka.

Sahana, which was developed on an open source platform following the 2004 tsunami, is currently managed and led by the Lanka Software Foundation, and has been widely used in the aftermath of disasters in Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia and China, Sahana has received numerous awards for its contributions to disaster recovery efforts. “We are honoured and very privileged to be selected as a finalist for this prestigious award.

This is a recognition of Team Virtusa’s focus on sustainable contribution to the communities in which we operate, and is testament to our pursuit of excellence in all we do, Virtusa Chairman and CEO Kris, Canekeratne, said. “Our focus on providing IT skills and creating opportunities for our communities on a global IT stage has been recognised by this nomination,” EVP/Managing Director Asian Operation said.

Virtusa was selected as a finalist from over 60 nominations submitted by American ambassadors around the world. “I nominated Virtusa because of its commitment to assist with disaster relief,” U. S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake said.

“I am also impressed by Virtusa’s continued dedication to helping local Sri Lankans gain the necessary IT skills to compete in the global business environment.

The company’s devotion to Sri Lanka and its corporate culture of “giving back” to the local community are examples that I encourage others to emulate.”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will announce the 2008 ACE winners in November 6 awards ceremony at the State Department.