E-village programme underway in five provinces

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Secondary Education Modernisation Project (SEMP) of the Ministry of Education along with the President's Office jointly implemented the e-village programme in five provinces aiming at empowering rural communities by improving 'Information Technology' literacy rate, information sharing and creating employment opportunities.

The e-village programme was initiated under the Mahinda Chinthana concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and developing e-villages was another fulfillment of the 2008 budget proposals.

The first phase of the project was implemented in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western, Uva and Southern Province. Under the second stage of the programme, community computer centres are scheduled to be constructed in addition to schools computer learning centres.

Prompted by the success of the programme in Mahavilachchiya, the President has advised the Ministry of Education to initiate the e-village concept in selected rural communities. Accordingly, the SEMP of the Ministry of Education has so far established five projects in five villages.

"On successful completion of these projects, the programme will be further extended within its long-term scope," Education Ministry sources said.

"The country can easily be developed by educating people regarding modern technology such as information technology related fields which help the development of any country. Apart from that our human resources can be enriched with modern technology which can cater to the demand of employment opportunities," Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nimal Bandara said.