ICTA News 17 August 2009 372 views No Comment  Print This Post  Email This Post

“Government attaches great importance to e-Asia 2009: it is an ideal opportunity to show the world that Sri Lanka can do things,” said President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga.

Mr. Weeratunga made this assertion while participating as chief guest at a special ‘e-Asia 2009’ stakeholder meeting held at the Presidential secretariat recently.

Explaining at the meeting of top officials of the Government and local and international private sector institutions the great opportunities available for local and international organisations engaged in business especially in the ICT field Mr. Lalith Weeratunga said that the international community was already highly attracted to Sri Lanka as a high calibre performer in the ICT sector due to its huge achievements.

“It is indeed a great feat that this year the Government Information Centre,  more popularly known as the  ’1919′ project,  won the WSIS award out of 20,000 entries from 157 countries”, Mr. Weeratunga said emphasising that the time was ideal for showcasing Sri Lanka.

Elaborating on the ICT achievements of Sri Lanka Mr. Weeratunga pointed out: “Countries like India, Malaysia and Thailand also have made great strides in ICT but what is particularly remarkable with regard to Sri Lanka is that in Sri Lanka ICT has penetrated the rural area in a significant way. The ICT literacy which was about 5 per cent in 2004 has now hit the 30 per cent mark”.

Participating in the function ICTA Chairman Prof. P.W. Epasinghe pointed out that Sri Lanka’s choice as the host country for ‘e-Asia’ 2009 amidst stiff competition was a recognition of achievements in ICT by Sri Lanka.

ICTA’s Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura recapitulated the work so far done with regard to e-Asia 2009 and the opportunities e-Asia 2009 offered especially for local and international ICT institutions.

The whole of BMICH will be available for the greatest ICT event of the region.

“The event consisting of a three-day (Dec.2-4) conference and exhibition with participation by 45 countries, 100 corporate and about 800 foreign and 800 local delegates involving 40 thematic sessions, will be the culmination of the English and IT year – and incidentally the last one held before the near 18-month closure of the BMICH for refurbishment. It will be a rare opportunity which everyone with interest in ICT should make optimum use of in their own best interest”, Dewapura said.

President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga addressing the eAsia 2009 stakeholders’ meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat recently

Participants engaged in a lively discussion at the eAsia 2009 stakeholders’ meeting

No related posts.