Lanka's software branded top quality

Indunil Hewage

Multinational companies around the world have utilized locally developed software in their business processes due to superior quality.

"Sri Lankan software is being used by many multinational companies across the world and Sri Lankan software have been recognized as one of the best and top quality software in the world and the country is capable of developing quality software", Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), COO, Reshan Dewapura said.

He said local demand for the Sri Lankan software is increasing and the Government is also using Sri Lankan software and all prospects are good as long as country can get the numbers.

"The country has talented people and more people need to get into this industry. When it comes to software development, the country needs to employ at least 500,000 to 600,000 people to develop the industry in the future," he said.

Lack of talented work force is the main impediment faced by the industry and measures are being taken to encourage students to get into ICT field.

Currently, 1.1 million people are able to access internet and ICTA hopes to increase this number up to 7 million in five years.

He said currently 100,000 people are connected to the broadband facility and ICTA hopes to increase this figure up to 2 million in five years.

Information and communication technology (ICT) literacy rate in the country was 4 percent in 2004 and currently it has increased up to 25 percent. ICTA hopes to increase this percentage up to 50-60 in five years.

Currently, the software industry is considered as the fifth largest foreign exchange earner in the country. It earns US$ 275-300 million and it was US$ 60-70 million six years ago.