A great opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka :

e-Asia 2009

President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, chief guest at a special 'e-Asia 2009' stakeholder meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat recently, said, "Government attaches great importance to e-Asia 2009: it is an ideal opportunity to show the world that Sri Lanka can do things".

President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga addressing the eAsia 2009 stakeholders’ meeting at the Presidential Secretariat recently.

Explaining at the meeting of top officials of the Government and local and international private sector institutions the great opportunities available for local and international organisations engaged in business especially in the ICT field, Weeratunga said that the international community was already highly attracted to Sri Lanka as a high calibre performer in the ICT sector due to its huge achievements.

"It is indeed a great feat that this year the Government Information Centre, more popularly known as the '1919' project, won the WSIS award out of 20,000 entries from 157 countries", Weeratunga said emphasising that the time was ideal for showcasing Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the ICT achievements of Sri Lanka Weeratunga said, "Countries such as India, Malaysia and Thailand also have made great strides in ICT but what is particularly remarkable with regard to Sri Lanka is that in Sri Lanka ICT has penetrated the rural areas in a significant way.

The ICT literacy which was about 5 percent in 2004 has now hit the 30 percent mark".

ICTA Chairman Prof. P.W. Epasinghe said that Sri Lanka's choice as the host country for 'e-Asia 2009' amidst stiff competition was a recognition of achievements in ICT by Sri Lanka.

ICTA's Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura recapitulated the work so far done with regard to e-Asia 2009 and the opportunities e-Asia 2009 offer especially for local and international ICT institutions.

The whole of the BMICH will be available for the greatest ICT event of the region. "The event consisting of a three-day (Dec.2-4) conference and exhibition with participation of 45 countries, 100 corporate and about 800 foreign and 800 local delegates involving 40 thematic sessions, will be the culmination of the English and IT year - and incidentally the last one held before the near 18-month closure of the BMICH for refurbishment.

It will be a rare opportunity which everyone with interest in ICT should make optimum use of in their own best interest", Dewapura said.