Increase in computer sales in provinces

Hemanthi Guruge

Computer literacy in Sri Lanka is around 15 percent and this has recently increased sharply mainly due government policies. The government targets over 50 percent computer literacy rate in the next five years. EZY Group of Companies CEO Shafraz Hamzadeen said at the launching of Trend Micro yesterday that many duty waivers that were offered by the government have had a positive impact on the industry.

He said this figure could leap forward if there were more local computer manufacturers.

Sri Lanka’s computer penetration is about 6 to 7 percent and it is increasing rapidly.

“Over 20,000 PC’s and laptops are being sold every month.” He said that with the prices of laptops coming down this figure will increase in future.

“We also see a new trend where computer sales are increasing in the provinces. Ninety percent of revenue was from Colombo at the beginning of their operation but now we see a shift.

Today 60 percent is out of Colombo including Southern and North-Western provinces.

“We also see an increase in sales from our Ampara outlet,” he said.