A multi-national company which produces a wide range of personal care products had been aggressively pursuing to gain special privileges in Lanka Sathosa.

The company has released a booklet outlying the planned sales promotion strategy which is said to be following the “Perfect Store” sales principle. The aim is to increase the sales of the particular company by extensive promotion within Sathosa stores.

According to the planned mechanism, store space was to be reserved for the products of this company. A wide variety of products were to be made available even in the same category and a percentage of sales rack space was to be allocated.

Store Managers and Regional Managers were given sales targets and those who achieved them over a six month period were to be rewarded with commissions and even foreign tours.

However, according to 'The Nation' newspaper, Lanka Sathosa Deputy General Manager Ranjith Edirisinghe has stated to ‘The Nation’ that Lanka Sathosa had refused to meet the demands of the company. He agreed that there was an exclusive promotion campaign being conducted but it was nothing different from the usual promotions that are carried out by any company.

The objective of Lanka Sathosa in entertaining such projects was to increase the sales of the stores, Edirisinghe has said. Also he had claimed that Lanka Sathosa did not favor one company in particular and have given space for local producers as well.

Edirisinghe also has told ‘The Nation’ that as a state entity it was never possible to entertain foreign tours and other perks from private companies.