Stockholm Challenge Award 2008 for Shilpa Sayura

The Stockholm Challenge Award 2008 was awarded to Shilpa Sayura (Sea of knowledge) Project presented by Sri Lanka under the education category.

A total of 145 outstanding ICT projects from all over the world under six categories were selected as finalists.

The Shilpa Sayura project presented by Neranjan Meegammana, Project Leader of the Shilpa Sayura of Sri Lanka received the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008 for the education category.

"The standard of the projects in the Stockholm Challenge Award this year is better than ever," says project manager Ulla Skidn and adds: "The criteria for participation have been set to a higher level compared to earlier years. Participants needed to more clearly demonstrate social impacts and sustainability with their projects in 2008. This resulted in 145 exceptional projects from more than 50 countries."

Shilpa Sayura was earlier the winner of i4D award at e India 2007 and Stockholm Challenge GKP Award at GK3, Malaysia in 2007.

The Shilpa Sayura System provides an interactive means of Digital Self Learning programme based on the National curriculum of Sri Lanka for students in the remote and rural areas who do not have adequate resources and teachers for their education. It is a Local language Digital Learning system.

The aim of Shilpa Sayura is to improve self-learning capacity of the Handicapped Students in Remote areas and rural communities to prepare for the National Examinations. Shilpa Sayura Project is a multi-stake holder ICT community initiative with the e-Sri Lanka ICTA e-Society funding.

The Shilpa Sayura project was commended by the business community in Sweden after the presentation made by Meegammana on the Shilpa Sayura Project at the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council meeting at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Stockholm. Asian Tribune