Victorious nation and independence
Sanath Siriwardena
This Independence Day would be the most
celebrated Independence Day in our history. The nation starts to smell
the taste of true independence after many years in the grip of
terrorism. The enlightened hearts and the inspired minds of our nation
once again have their faith on the rising sun in the Indian Ocean.
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Role of ICT significant in all aspects |
Defeating terrorism would not be so easy unless we have great
leadership. If we go through the pages of history many great kings,
leaders and latter the politicians contributed much to the independence
of this country.
Nothing would be gifted to us on a gold platter. We as a proud nation
in a tiny little country in the Indian Ocean known as the pearl of the
Indian Ocean have once again proven to the world how great leadership
and unity could build a country which was classified as a devastated
state in the past.
The right time has come. We must give values to our war heroes who
fought and sacrificed their lives to the freedom of our motherland. Now
our turn has come to build our country, economy for the betterment of
the people living in the country.
Challenge
The next biggest challenge would be the building of country’s economy
to cope up with the world economic crisis.
In this context the role of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) would be significant in all aspects. On the other hand, ICT is the
smartest tool in the world which can be used very effectively in the
economic development.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s keenness on the development of ICT was
clearly reflected in his speech delivered at the Independence Day
celebrations last year. The year 2010 was set as the target year to reap
the harvest of ICT.
The question is how ready are we to meet the targets given by the
President in the last year on the very same day.
ICT consisted of many individual technologies and services. Among
them data transferring methods and information distribution networks
would play a significant role and can be used in the developing process.
But where Sri Lanka is concerned the information technology or rather
technologies based on Internet is very much limited to individual tasks
and is rarely used in the Government services.
We have spent millions of rupees and sacrificed valuable lives of our
people for nothing. It is the same thing happening again in the country
where ICT is concerned. The improper strategies carried out by certain
authorities and their lack of knowledge and limited exposure would have
prevented the country from achieving ICT goals timely.
Networks
The main driver in the ICT is the data transferring medium that
connects individuals. If one tries to develop ICT in any particular
country without developing data networks that would be utterly useless
and could end up with no success.
Services
Products and services generated as a result of ICT could not be
delivered or received if the high speed data networks were not available
in the country.
Internet is like a day dream for majority of people who are living in
rural areas in the country.
This is no surprise in a country where Internet operates in a policy
vacuum situation. Due to none existence of a national policy to
recognize the needs of information technology the value of the Internet
was never recognized. People in the country are totally unaware of the
benefits of Internet. This technology has been kept aside or it has been
neglected.
The outcome of this would be more serious and it would directly hit
the rural community than the urban community in the long run. This
digital divide within the country must be eliminated or otherwise this
would be a great injustice to rural community in the country.
The students must be empowered with the knowledge and their skills
must be enhanced to the standards of other students living in more
privileged areas namely in the western province.
The Tourism industry can play a key role in the economic development.
As soon as the war ends the favourable condition that it generates can
attract thousands of tourists in to the country.
If we have developed communication infrastructure it can be used to
connect our entire hotel network to the Internet by enabling the
traveller to make reservations online irrespective of the star grade of
the hotel.
Ventures
More foreign investors like BPO can be invited there to launch their
business ventures soon when war ends.
To assure their presence in the country we must develop the country’s
data network infrastructure to meet the demand of future requirements.
This will be very challenging. If we continued the existing strategy
what was being used it would do no good for the nation. We need a strong
hand and a good strategy to take our motherland forward in the ICT
industry.
Like how we conquer the war, we must conquer our economy. In this
aspect ICT can be a wise choice. The Government named this year as year
for ICT and English development.
The achievements can be assessed at the end of this year or later at
the next Independence Day. Hence, we must find a better way to achieve
our goals comparatively in lesser time yet with great success. Then the
next Independence celebrations will be more colourful.
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