ICTA, Intel partnership to enhance IT literary rate

by Hiran H. Senewiratne

"The country needs to increase the competency of English language among the younger generation to get the real benefits of information technology" the Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana said.

"People who know English get the real benefit out of IT in the country," Prof. Vitharana said at the unveiling of the e-Sri Lanka PC program, which was launched jointly with the ICT Agency and Intel on Tuesday.

Under this program, ICTA and Intel aim to increase the accessibility and use of PCs and the Internet and pave the way for Sri Lanka to become a knowledge based society, he said.

He said that though the country's general literacy rate is more than 91 per cent and the IT literacy rate and penetration rate at less than 3 per cent was not a healthy situation for a developing country like Sri Lanka. Therefore, we need reduce the digital gap by increasing English language competency, he said.

Prof. Vitharana said that Sri Lanka experienced economic constraints along with the two decade civil war.

He also said "we are trying to emerge from December 26th tsunami shock as well. The joint participation between public and private sector to popularise the IT sector will help to increase IT in rural areas,".

Vice President, Intel Gerry Greeve said that by making computer literacy as a basic skill as reading, writing and arithmetic, business productivity and citizen satisfaction will improve. This in turn boosts economic growth and competitiveness, he said.

"Governments across Asia Pacific are realising that information communication technology and computer literacy are vital for developing thriving and competitive economies," he said.

He said the vision of the country is excellent for the development of IT and the E- Sri Lanka PC program is one of the best programs in Asia to take IT into rural areas. CEO/MD, ICTA, Manju Haththotuwa said that it is envisioned that through this program people, across the country will gain access to information and education giving them a chance to uplift their position and enabling them better opportunities.