e-Society projects win awards

Two weeks after e-Asia 2009 which brought Asia's plaudits to President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the region's ICT President, a record number of ICTA initiated e-Society projects won awards at the Manthan Award 2009 in New Delhi recently.

Organised by the Digital Empowerment Foundation,the sixth in the annual series, had attracted Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Butan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for competition and showcasing of projects that highlight "Digital Inclusion for Development".

While the total number of nominated projects of which Sri Lanka shone was 380 about 1,000 delegates and ICT champions participated in the conclave, exhibition and Mela for Masses.

The projects for the awards are selected under stringent rules and by an international jury of experts. The names of projects for which Sri Lanka won awards in this 13-category competition this year are predominantly mnemonic and reminiscent of victory such as 'vi' for victory or 'wi' for winner or ICT itself. For Vidusuva, Vidunena, Wikigoviya and "ICT for teaching the hearing impaired" are among the ICTA initiated e-Society projects that shone at the Manthan Award 2009.