‘US $ 1 b income from IT possible by 2015’

Ishara Mudugamuwa

Sri Lanka can reach the US$ one billion income target from the IT sector by 2015. The income at present is US$ 400 million, Sri lanka Association of Software and Service companies (SLASSCOM) chairman Dinesh Saparamadu said.

Saparamadu was speaking at a ceremony to sign the Memorandum of Understanding to establish co-operation in the field of Information Technology across Sri Lanka and outside between the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and SLASSCOM at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo yesterday.

The MoU focuses on correcting the mismatch between the supply and demand of manpower with necessary skills and exploring the possibility of customizing courses available at VTA according to requirements of the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT/BPO) job market. The SLASSCOM will also offer on the job training for VTA trainees.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga said that it is mentioned in the Mahinda Chinthanaya that computer literacy should be increased to 75 percent by 2016 which is 35 percent at present.

“Private sector partnership is necessary for this task. There are 270 training centres under the VTA. They can play a vital role to develop the IT sector,” he said.

”In this development drive we should not forget people in villages. The gap between the urban and rural community should be reduced by providing all these facilities for villages as well. As the VTA has an islandwide network, they can transfer vocational training to villages. They need career guidance to show the correct path, Weeratunge said.

Scientific Affairs Senior Minister Prof Tissa Vitarana was the chief guest. Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake and ministry secretary S S Hewapathirana also participated.