IT expert with a soft corner for his motherland

Made in Sri Lanka by Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

IT TRAINING: Information Technology better known as IT has become a part of our lives. People are keen to gain a computer knowledge to fit into the present situation. Many institutes bloom offering IT education. It is unfortunate to witness those who gain IT knowledge going abroad in search of employment.

Among the many who left the motherland in search of better opportunities in the IT field, there is a man with a Sri Lankan heart. His aim is to serve the Lankan market with the knowledge he gained.

Starting his career as a program analyst cum instructor at the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) now he owns his own institute.

Managing Director of Thesaurus Computer Centre Bandula De Silva is the man intending to take IT into every nook and corner in Sri Lanka. "My ambition is to serve the local market in computer training and software development.

Computer knowledge is essential at present and in the days to come you cannot survive without the basic computer knowledge. At present IT literacy is low in Sri Lanka. Even to use a mobile phone IT is necessary. People are afraid to use IT, which is very useful," he said. De Silva said that there is big competition in the IT field. "There are many IT training centres. But they do not have a good standard.

The low standards degrade computer studies. People in Colombo benefit from the reputed computer centres. Computer field is always changing. We have to focus on the local market. We should recognise the needs of our people and fulfil their requirements," he explained.

"International market should be of concern but it is not essential to collaborate with foreign universities to provide IT knowledge.

We have professionals who can prepare a suitable IT education scheme for the local market," de Silva pointed out. He said that the approach to the international market is not appropriate. "We should develop our own software. Sri Lankans have the potential to do so.

With a high literacy Lankans can easily create software without following others. Then we can demand a price for our service without assenting to what the international market offers. Lankans can be a resource to the other countries. The huge amount of money flowing to the other countries can also be avoided," de Silva added.

"The Mudalali in the small boutique should also be able to handle a computer. We should increase their capacities. IT should spread in the rural areas. The subject knowledge is what matters in computer. English is important but that should not be a barrier to develop the IT industry in Sri Lanka," he stressed.

De Silva is not interested in expanding his business but looks forward to sharing his knowledge with others in various districts. "I found the way to reach others through the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA). As the director of Kalutara Chamber of Commerce I was able to join BPA.

It opened new doors to creating a better future for IT. Training the workforce is my aim. Sri Lankans are highly creative but you have to pave the right path for them to move forward," he said.

While developing software for the Sri Lankan market de Silva also runs a computer centre in Panadura. Starting with three computers in 1989, Thesaurus computer centre was the first in the Kalutara district. " There were only 40 students in the first batch. The center has expanded and currently educates more than 200 students. There are courses for people of all standards ranging from children to professionals.

Doctors, lawyers, housewives and bankers are trained under our qualified staff," de Silva explained. The high standards of computer studies that the institute offers has placed it among the top 11 computer centres in Sri Lanka in compliance with the standards of Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). "For 18 years we have produced several talented people who are engaged in the software field. We hope to offer IT degrees in the future.

We have the strength to do so but we need the recognition," de Silva said.