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The Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology signed Memorandum of Understanding with Carnegie Mellon University in USA to support for Sri Lanka's efforts to bring Information Technology solutions to the people. Carnegie Mellon, one of the best universities in the United States in the field of computer science, under this agreement will develop a program of Cooperation with Sri Lanka which includes a Technology Peace Corps.

The MoU was singed during the recent visit by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to the United States accompanied by the Minister of Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda. The officials from the Carnegie Mellon said that through Technology Peace Corps they will bring academics, researchers and training staff to conduct research and help upgrade the IT environment in Sri Lanka. The project is to be implemented in Cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Reform, Science and Technology and the newly formed Information, Communication and Technology Agency (ICTA).

Carnegie Mellon University Provost Mark Kamlet said that he was hopeful that the University's expertise in the field can make helpful contributions as Sri Lanka, through the e-Sri Lanka framework, moves forward to support sustainable economic development.

The students and faculty, he said, will enjoy working with creative collaborators and leverage the rich culture and traditions, and the potential that Sri Lanka has in a post conflict situation to make rapid economic growth. Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology, Milinda Moragoda, said that this is a vote of confidence by a very prestigious university, in the potential for IT in Sri Lanka.

We need to open our "windows" to what is happening in the IT field in the world and the Technology Peace Corps will enable Sri Lankans to interact with volunteers who are also excited with the opportunity to work, learn and share their knowledge. "We have one of the highest literacy rates in the developing world but we will fall behind if our IT literacy rate does not also catch up.

I see prospects for the Carnegie Peace Corps initiative, through their research work, to help us develop low cost solutions that will benefit the many people who do not have the opportunity in our country to benefit from IT." Minister Moragoda said.

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