Five new Vidatha centres

The Technology and Research Ministry revealed that five new Vidatha Resource Centres (VRC) are to be opened within next couple of weeks. The Pallama VRC in Puttalama, Ganewaththa and Thalawa VRCs in Kurunegala, Meegahakurula VRC in Badulla and Mahara VRC are to be handed over to the villagers with the presence of Technology and Research Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana.

Over 30,000 youth have so far been given computer knowledge through VRCs. The objective of the VRCs is to transfer Information Communication Technology to the villages and create job opportunities at village level which would help alleviate rural poverty.

Meanwhile, Rs 11 million in loans have been granted for Vidatha rural entrepreneurs under Vidatha lending scheme conducted by the Peoples Bank. Rs five million has also been granted to rural entrep-reneurs by Savidhana banks.

The Vidatha program commenced in 2005 and 257 VRCs have been established islandwide to date. Ministry of Technology and Research plans to establish 330 VRCs covering all Divisional Secretariats in Sri Lanka.