ICTA lauds innovative organisations for work achieved

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) launched the e-Society Development Initiative under the patronage of Mahinda Rajapaksa to take Sri Lanka into a new era where all sections of society would reap the benefits of ICT.

By facilitating more balanced access to information within the Sri Lankan society, it is expected that the e-SDI will help in closing the development divide between urban and rural areas and contribute to the broader national objectives of development, growth and peace.

Since its launch three years ago the Agency has initiated 100 projects under the Community Assistance Programme and 20 projects under the Partnership Assistance Programme.

The response of rural communities to the e-SDI has far exceeded expectations with almost 300 applications coming in for implementing ICT based rural projects.

While the Community Assistance Programme has focused on giving assistance direct to communities to implement projects that would improve their day to day lives the Partnership Assistance Programme addressed the need to develop innovative applications and develop content of value to society.

The recipients of these grants have been both state and private sector organizations as well as NGOs but the ultimate beneficiary has been disadvantaged communities. In the latest round of the Partnership Assistance Programme seven grants have been awarded. Two projects are to increase access to medical services and knowledge.

One will pilot a telemedicine project where mobile measurement and data gathering units will be placed in selected Nenasalas to assist in diagnosis and treatment of certain medical conditions through linkage to a Colombo hospital.

The other is a project being implemented by the Medical Faculty of the Colombo University to develop static text based health education content in Sinhala and Tamil. In the field of education, expanding the scope of the Sinhala section of Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia, will give Sri Lankans access to information without a language barrier.

A web based self-learning software will allow students access to interactive content on A/Level Science subjects with video and audio animated lessons.

These lessons will be made available online and free of charge. In addition, online exams will also be available to enable students to assess their level of competence. This content will no doubt be a boon to students in remote areas where good teachers are scarce.