Lanka eyes US $ 1b income from ICT sector by 2015

Indunil Hewage

Sri Lanka expects to generate an income of US $ one billion dollars from the IT sector in 2015, which currently stands close to US $ 500 million. The ICT industry posted around US $ 375 to 400 million revenue in 2010. The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) is optimistic of achieving the one billion US $ mark before the stipulated time period.

In addition, the government hopes to achieve 75 percent computer literacy rate in five years. ICT literacy in Sri Lanka has increased from four percent in 2004 to 32 per cent today due to various initiatives implemented by the government while bringing ICT to ordinary Sri Lankans, particularly in rural areas.

ICTA, CEO Reshan Dewapura said the Sri Lankan ICT industry has grown in the past 4 to 5 years unprecedently. Sri Lanka produces niche software products that are being used by global multinational companies.

Sri Lankan companies have to compete with international companies to win these lucrative businesses.

"We don't have to market Sri Lankan made software across the board since our markets are niche. In addition ICTA will be investing significant amount of money in the years to come to take the technology to rural areas coupled with the e-Sri Lanka programme," he said.

ICTA has also teamed up with the Health Ministry and has started work in some of the provincial hospitals to do system automations using patient records. The project is being piloted in base hospitals, and it is going on successfully. "We are now working with the Health Ministry to see how we can bring it to the main stream and to implement it across the all hospitals. The automation system will link with pharmaceuticals, OPDs and entire segments of a hospital," he said.

In addition to various initiatives implemented to develop the ICT in the country, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Sri Lanka Section (BCSSL) will organize the National Best Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA) competition this year for the 13th consecutive year to recognize and award local ICT innovations and achievements.

The primary objectives of the competition are to recognize outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations in Sri Lanka who have contributed to the development of ICT. In addition, it is expected to create a window to gain international recognition for locally developed ICT products while improving the standards and the quality of local ICT products and services. The competition is open in eighteen categories particularly security, financial, industrial ,Health communications green IT, Tools and application infrastructure.