Biz-Tech

Microsoft Tech Ed 2010:

IT community learns cutting edge technology

Microsoft's technical education and networking conference, the recently concluded Tech.Ed Sri Lanka 2010, provided an unparalleled opportunity for IT students and professionals to explore current and future Microsoft technologies, tools, platforms and services. The three day program themed 'Challenge your world' provided participants with the opportunity to interact with Microsoft innovators, third party experts and IT students, and was structured in a manner in which participants could avail themselves of over 200 IT learning opportunities.

Tech.Ed 2010 Sri Lanka hosted four main technical tracks which spawned 50 learning opportunities.

The main tracks spanned across business and productivity tools, IT management and tools, security, optimization; developer tools, database, languages and frameworks; and web technologies and user experience. The sessions encompassed subjects of interest for both IT students as well as advanced professionals.

Another attraction of Tech.Ed 2010 was the "Partner Expo" conducted by Microsoft partners, an exhibition featuring leading local IT solution providers and technology giants who showcased solutions and products whilst demonstrating their expertise in the latest technological innovations and developments.

An additional focal point at Tech.Ed 2010 was the state-of-the-art technical lab that provided participants with the opportunity to experience and study what was being showcased in a live environment.

E-WIS rated gold Corporate Accountability Index 2010

E-WIS once again entered the STING Corporate Accountability index 2010 due to its ethical and transparent stance in the Sri Lankan corporate world. They have been rated in the class "gold" with an overall score of 63.85 which is above the average. This index reflects a holistic approach to CSR, sustainability and governance and also is a report card on ethical and transparency standing of Sri Lankan Corporates.

E-WIS Group of Companies, Chairman/CEO Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, said "We are very serious about our commitment to the society. Our initiative to empower rural youth dates back to 80s where CSR was not a hot topic then. Our prime objective in CSR is to eliminate domestic brain drain from rural to urban by empowering rural communities with skills, knowledge and facilities."

Under this initiative, E-WIS has carried out many activities together with state authorities and NGOs to facilitate rural communities with ICT related skill and infrastructure developments. Their latest undertaking is outsourcing software developments to developers recruited at regional level. Already they have recruited 20 people from Kandy and Galle and they are remotely working for several significant projects.

"We have given them the required resources and training. It is a good opportunity for them to earn experience by getting involved in significant and large scale projects. Some said that this could be a risky and may be a costly move. But I am very much confident that we can bring this vision to life. The era where people were forced to leave their home towns and move to Colombo should come to an end," said Wickramanayake.

ICTA initiates eHuman resource management project

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) launched the eHuman resource management project recently.

The project is implemented centred around the Public Administration Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry.

Under this project several internal activities of the Public Administration Ministry and Home Affairs Ministry are facilitated through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Accordingly the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, the Government Management Assistants' Service, the Drivers' Service, the Office Assistants' Service, the Translators' Service and the Librarians' Service will be thus facilitated through the use of ICT.

As a result of this empowerment more than 46,000 public sector employees in the above-mentioned categories will benefit. These benefits will include speedy and proper execution of functions such as confirmation in service, promotion, transfers, disciplinary action and retirement.

The project was launched under the patronage of Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama at the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs.

Minister Sarath Amunugama said that ICT and human resource management were closely linked with the present day society and that as a result a successful and useful service could be obtained.

The Minister said that projects like this went a long way in making the maximum benefits of ICT reach the people.

ICTA Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura said that Sri Lanka was moving fast in the ICT sector. Dewapura said that ICTA had contributed much for capacitating the State sector through ICT and that the agency was engaged in taking the necessary steps for increasing the facility of the states even more.