674 Pirivenas to receive computers

Milton DHARMASINGHE - Bulathsinhala spl. corr.

Minister of Education Services Nirmala Kotalawala said in Bulathsinhala that as the country should go with the modern development in technology, 674 Pirivenas in the country would be provided with computer rooms from next year and it had been expected to raise the computer literary rate up to 50 per cent.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting at Bulathsinhala MMV (Navodya) recently following the opening of computer unit in the school.

The Minister also said: "A few years back the computer literacy rate of the country was 10 per cent. Today it has risen up to 24 per cent. So within the next two years it is expected to be increased up to 50 per cent. The knowledge of computer technology and modern technology is a sine qua non to have rapid development of the country."

"The Ministry has planned to set up another 2,500 computer units in the country and connect the network of computer systems with all centres. It is very essential to move with the rest of the world.

"In providing computer education so far Pirivenas have been neglected. Buddhist Monks preach Dhamma to the world. They are intellectuals who can invent computers too. So they should also be given a good knowledge of computer technology."

M. A. Keerthisena, Director of Education, Bulathsinhala, P. D. Thilakaratna, Principal of Bulathsinhala MMV also spoke.