New technology to be harnessed in upgrading communications sector - Prof. G.L. Peiris

The post and telecommunication sector has been required to play a major role in the development of infrastructure in the Eastern Province in the aftermath of the suppression of terrorism there and it was essential to seek the cooperation of the staff of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. Export Development and International Trade Minister and acting Posts and Telecommunications Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

He was addressing the staff of the Ministry after assuming duties as the acting Minister on May 4.

Attending this function were Deputy Postal Services Minister M.S. Sellasamy, Minister Secretary K.G. Leelananda, Post Master-General M.K.B. Dissanayake other senior officials, members of trade unions and members of the staff of the Ministry.

Prof. Peiris said his priority would be to channel the superior benefits of new technology towards the posts and telecommunications sector and said he was formulating a formal program towards that end which takes into consideration the needs and priorities of that sector.

He said the main impediment to development since independence had been terrorism and now that it had been eradicated there were more opportunities opening up for investment in Sri Lanka.

And it was necessary for the country to implement a program of action to utilize these opportunities for the betterment of its economy.

He highlighted the need to spread the infrastructure facilities throughout the country and pointed out that investors could be enticed only if there were functional infrastructure facilities.

He also said that so far several islandwide road-building projects had been undertaken and 660 projects in the Energy sector had been initiated. And the other essential component of development would be the up-grading of the communication sector which he believed to be a definitive factor in the country’s development.

As such, at a time when the country was making an effort to persuade foreign investors to come to Sri Lanka the Ministry was certainly expected to play a major role in those efforts,” he said.

Prof. Peiris discussed with the senior officials of the Ministry, the technical details of programs that were earmarked for implementation.