IT spreading to villages rapidly - President

Rohan Mathes

President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserts that every Sri Lankan would be linked to the universe by the provision of knowledge of Information Technology (IT) to all. President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he presided at a ceremony to mark the 'International Telecommunications Day' at Temple Trees on Saturday.

He pointed out that the 'Computer Literacy' rate which was around 5 per cent when his Government came into office in 2004, has increased to 20 percent now, with the services of 'Nenasela' programmes.

"Rural areas where even newspapers were unavailable, had developed with a knowledge of IT. This knowledge would be imparted to the village, city and all the schools in the island", he said. IT equipment were presented to schools and 28 Vocational Training institutions, to mark the World Telecommunication day.

On a concept of himself, President Rajapaksa also presented 70 CDMA telephones to Dance Troupes' leaders participating in the Hunupitiya Gangarama Viharaya 'Navam Perahera'.

Viharadhipathi of the Gangaramaya Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, Ministers Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, M. S. Sellasamy, Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Priyantha Kariyapperuma and others participated at the ceremony.