MAS Legato 2023 Q1 Newsletter

A Message from the CEO

2023 has brought forth a multitude of global challenges, yet it is also an opportunity to reset our business goals and make our organization future ready. I would like to take a moment to reflect on the overall strategy and alignment communicated at the Townhall meeting. At MAS Legato, we strive to be a lighthouse for digital transformation. We plan to introduce new tech tools and add further enhancements to Oracle and integrate SAP. This would improve touchless operations and reduce your daily effort. Furthermore, we want to be the single source of real-time information for faster decision making. All of which would allow Legato team members to move to more value adding work.

In our endeavour to become a best-in-class operation, it is important to benchmark all performance indicators to global standards. This will drive efficiency of our operation, enhance group liquidity, and reduce cost-to-serve through operations excellence. We are now the recruiter for MAS. Our plans to improve recruitment quality and reduce lead-time would benefit our businesses. It would also help build a talent pool that is ready to take on business partnering at our SBUs as well as centers of excellence. Furthermore, we look forward to improving the revenue by leveraging the existing stable platform in Finance. Hence, we are aiming to grow MAS and BPM operations by 10mn USD by the year 2025.

When providing Finance and HR shared services, MAS Legato needs to operate with a service-mind. As much as this is a discipline, it is also an attitude. This helps us to identify opportunities and create value for the core business. Data analytics will play a key role in this. It’s needless to say all what we do would enhance the level of governance at MAS. The Finance and HR transformations that are underway would help us to stabilize, optimize and reduce costs in the next two years.

I look forward to working with all of you to realize the above, also to have to fun in the process and enjoy what we do.

I wish you all the very best!

Suranga Nanayakkara Chief Executive Officer | MAS Legato

Making Legato Proud

National Convention on Quality and Productivity Awards 2023

Left to right (standing):

Navanjana Abeysekara, Kushani Jayasinghe, Kavinshika Rajapakse, Maneka Dabare, Gayan Sepalage, Charuni Batuwatta, Anuradha

Amarakoon, Chanuki Jayawardena, Janaranjani Ganeshan

Left to right (sitting):

Mihin De Silva, Malinda Gunawardana, Johann Amarasekara

Absentees:

Minesh Dissanayake, Damitha Jeanando, Duchenne Fernando & Deshani Athapaththu

MAS Legato emerged as the big winner at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity (NCQP) Awards –2023, organized recently by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP).

The event aimed to recognize outstanding achievements in quality and productivity within the manufacturing and services sector, under the theme “sustainable development through innovative quality solutions”. Competing in the Continuous Improvement category as part of the Cross Functional Teams (CFT), MAS Legato team won 2 Gold Awards and 2 Silver Awards demonstrating their unwavering commitment to quality and productivity by adopting a Lean Journey.

A Message from the CEO

In Sri Lanka, the NCQP Awards stands out as the sole local accolade exclusively dedicated to recognizing executive and non-executive staff. The competition hosted 400 participating teams across various categories this year. The NCQP Awards play a crucial role in promoting operational excellence and empowering employees to implement best practices towards a sustainable future. MAS Legato takes pride in being one of the winners.

This achievement is particularly significant for MAS Legato and we are proud of the enthusiasm and commitment of our valuable employees who have played a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiencies. Our unwavering commitment to our core values will continue to guide us as we strive for excellence in operational excellence. We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to the future.

Legato Gives Back

The Paws & Play Project

This quarter, Legato joined hands with Tails of Freedom, a non-profit organization which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes the companion animals that are found abused and abandoned.

The prevailing economic crisis has taken a great toll on their work as it is hard to manage the rehabilitation and medical expenses of the rescued animals. MAS Legato donated to this worthy cause and also had the opportunity to visit one of their rehabilitation kennels to witness the impact we were creating.

Reaching New Milestones

Given the right conditions, we can perform equal to or better than our counterparts anywhere in the world.

Growing with Legato

Legato Speechcraft Program

The Legato Speechcraft Program Finale was held on March 22, 2023, to celebrate the culmination of a comprehensive training program designed to help employees improve their public speaking and communication skills The event was attended by the company's management team, including CEO Suranga Nanayakkara, who showed their support for the employees' accomplishments.

The program aimed to help participants develop their speaking abilities through a series of exercises and workshops. Over the course of several weeks, the employees received guidance on how to structure their speeches, engage their audience, and manage their nerves during presentations

The finale was a significant event, as it marked the conclusion of the program and the recognition of the participants' achievements. A total of 20 employees successfully completed the program and were awarded certificates to acknowledge their accomplishments. The event included speeches from the participants, who shared their experiences and how the program had helped them become better communicators. The management team showed their support for the program by attending the event and congratulating the participants on their achievements. The CEO, in particular, emphasized the importance of effective communication in the workplace and how it can contribute to the company's success.

Growing with Legato

Financial Accounting Fundamentals

inancial accounting fundamentals e-learning was an online course designed to teach learners the basic principles and concepts of financial accounting which was offered though Cousera. This e-learning course covered topics such as accounting equations, financial statements, recording transactions, and financial analysis. This was self-paced, flexible, and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, making it a convenient option for our busy employees. With this e-learning course, our employees acquired the foundational knowledge and skills required to enhance their proficiency in financial accounting.

E-mail Etiquette

Email etiquette training is a program designed to teach employees the proper way of composing, sending, and receiving professional emails. This training was aimed to improve communication within the workplace, enhance the company's image, and avoid miscommunication, conflicts, and legal issues that may arise from inappropriate email communication It covered topics such as email structure, tone, grammar, formatting, addressing, and responding to emails. This training was held in batches and was conducted by the L&D Team.

Growing with Legato

Advanced Excel Training

Advanced Excel training is a program designed to teach participants advanced skills and techniques for using Microsoft Excel The goal of advanced Excel training is to help participants become proficient in using Excel for complex business tasks, improve their productivity and efficiency, and make more informed decisions based on accurate data analysis. The training is usually conducted by experienced trainers who have in-depth knowledge of Excel and its various features and applications. This training was held physically at MAS Legato Biyagama and was facilitated by Kanthaka Silva, Deputy General ManagerStrategic Planning & Business Support at MAS Holdings. So far there were 2 batches for this year. Stay tuned for more.

What's in Store for Q2

Technical SoftSkills

ServiceMindsetTraining

Bookkeeping&Accounting

WorkshoponData

Analytics

WorkshoponTaxation

AdvancedExcelTrainings

PowerBITraining

CloudFoundations

Employee Wellbeing

WorkinginDiverseTeams

EffectiveTime Management

LegatoSpeechcraft

Program

BusinessWritingTraining

E-mailetiquettes

PresentationSkills

EmotionalIntelligence

Work-lifebalance

ManagingyourFinances

HealthisWealth

Stressmanagement

Ergonomics

Employee Wellness

Sexual & Reproductive Health Awareness

Good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Legato took the opportunity to reinforce the importance of the said by providing an overview of reproductive health and related topics such a menstrual hygiene, common sexually transmitted/reproductive organ related diseases and effective contraception methods. This awareness session was facilitated by Ms. Chalani Gunawardana, Counselling Psychologist and Life Coach from the Sri Lanka Family Planning Association.

Employee Wellness

Mental Health Awareness Program Series

In Q1 2023, aimed at promoting mental wellbeing, providing support to those who may be experiencing challenges, and at reducing the sigma surrounding it, MAS Legato held mental health awareness programs on the topics of:

1. Suicide prevention & stigma reduction

2. Productivity and mental health

3 Stress & Anxiety

We believe that a healthy work environment goes beyond culture and the way we work, it involves physical and importantly, emotional and mental well-being. To improve our employees’ overall wellbeing, MAS Legato will continue to raise awareness and support our teams in prioritizing their mental health.

Other Highlights

Kandy Hub Opening Ceremony

The MAS Legato Kandy hub was ceremoniously opened on the 12th of January, 2023 The Kandy hub was established, as part of expanding our shared service operations with the purpose of servicing the many units located in Kandy and its surrounding areas. Apart from the main operations in Biyagama, this is the second hub that was established under the Legato HR Shared Services, whereas the first hub was set up in Thulhiriya, at MAS Athena in September 2022

Other Highlights

ReachHR - Go Live

On the 30th of January 2023, we hit yet another milestone with the Launch of ReachHR. This is a selfservice portal where employees can request a range of services such as documentation services, personal information changes, benefits and other related services, and Line Managers can now raise an RRF through the system and provide approval for requests raised. Additionally, all employees can access a range of training material and policies.

Other Highlights

Deputy Chairman's Visit | Sharad Amalean

MAS Legato had the pleasure of hosting Sharad Amalean on the 14th of March 2023, and share the progress we have made on our shared service journey - the evolution and further transformation of the finance function as well as the establishment of the human resources function under our scope.

Other Highlights

March HR Leaders Forum

The March HR Leaders forum was held at MAS Legato on the 31st of March 2023, post which the Divisional heads of HR had a walk-through of the HRSS departments. This was the first physical HR Leaders forum that was held physically since 2020, after moving to a virtual mode due to COVID-19

Events & Celebrations

Events & Celebrations

Events & Celebrations

Events & Celebrations

Q1 2023 Townhall | 06th April 2023

Creative Content

A Daily Reminder

A bright and humid day, she wakes up to a screeching alarm in the background. Everything is still a little hazy, as she scrambles to find her phone and switch off the alarm. Still not convinced, she goes back to sleep. A few minutes pass and the alarm goes off again. This wakes her up finally. As she gets up from bed, her mind wakes up and all thoughts starts rushing in. ‘What needs to be done today?’ ‘Do I have a deadline to meet at work?’ ‘Am I getting late to work by lingering in bed longer?’ As these thoughts crowd her mind, she gets ready to start her day.

From the moment you wake up, your mind will always keep crowding you with one thought after another. This is a small reminder to take a moment to relax and take in your surroundings before analyzing your next thought.

-Sneha Wickramasinghe

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will When the roads you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high When you want to smile but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing down a bitRest if you must but don't quit.

Life is strange with its twist and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learn.

Many a fellow turn about, When he might have won had he struck out, Don't give up though the pace seems slowYou may succeed with another blow.

You never can tell how close you are It may be near when it seems afar, So stick to fight when you're hardest hitIt's when things seems worst that You mustn't quit.

-Ashvini Prabakaran

Health & Lifestyle

Benefits of Meditation

Brain Teaser

You want to boil a two-minute egg. If you only have a three-minute timer (hourglass), a four-minute timer, and a five-minute timer, how can you boil the egg for only two minutes?

You walk up to a mountain that has two paths. One leads to the other side of the mountain, and the other will get you lost forever. Two twins know the path that leads to the other side. You can ask them only one question. Except! One lies and one tells the truth, and you don't know which is which. So, What do you ask?

What 8 letter word can have a letter taken away and it still makes a word. Take another letter away and it still makes a word. Keep on doing that until you have one letter left. What is the word?

A doctor and a bus driver are both in love with the same woman, an attractive girl named Sarah. The bus driver had to go on a long bus trip that would last a week. Before he left, he gave Sarah seven apples. Why?

A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him underwater for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?

You ask each twin tWha would your brother say?. This works because.... Well let's say the correct path is on the left side. So say you asked the liar "What would your brother say?" Well, the liar would know his brother was honest and he would say the left ,side but since the liar lies, he would say right. If you asked the honest twin the left!thewaspathcorrectthethatknowwouldyouTherefore,lie.willbrotherhisknowshebecauseright,saywouldhequestion,same I.in,sin,sing,sting,string,staring,starting,starting!iswordThe away!doctorthekeepsdayaappleAnanddoctoraisloverHer dry.toupithungandit,developedhusband,herofpictureashotShephotographer.awaswomanThe

riddle.thisfortimerfour-minutetheneeddon'tYouwater.theofouteggthetaketimeisitandelapsed,haveminutestwoout,runstimerminute

Once the water is boiling, turn the three-minute timer and five-minute timer over. When the three-minute timer runs out, put the egg in the boiling water.

When the five-

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