Lanka featured in UNCTAD’s Information Economy Report 2012

Indunil Hewage

Sri Lanka is featured for the first time in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Information Economy Report 2012 and Etisalat Lanka listed for its contribution to the ICT industry in Sri Lanka.

Dumindra Ratnayaka, Director/CEO, Etisalat Sri Lanka addressing the gathering. Picture by Rukamal Gamage

The report is an indicator of the growth in the ICT industry across all 194 members countries of United Nations and special mentions were also given to AppZone and Book Hub Initiatives spearheaded by Etisalat, Sri Lanka. According to the report, Sri Lanka has shown rapid growth and a strong export orientation in the software industry.

“Software was used to be a pillar of the Western world and today, it is moving into developing world and the industry is shaped up with the developing world.

“During the last 30 years, English proficiency in Sri Lanka has declined and as a result Sri Lanka is loosing its edge it had in usage of English and basic literacy.

“There are 300 million English learners in China, and Vietnam has 50 million English learners,” said, Subinay Nandy UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator United Nations Sri Lanka.

Etisalat Sri Lanka Director and CEO Dumindra Ratnayaka said, “We are delighted to be listed as a country and a company in the UNCTAD information report and Etisalat AppZone –Sri Lanka’s first Telco App store, enables local entrepreneurs and software developers to come in to the market.

“Sri Lanka has an emerging Android ecosystem and App developers create a new industry. Sri Lanka has a very much export oriented software market and the country should further adopt proper strategies to take the industry to a next level,” said Harsha Liyanage Lead Consultant eNovation4D.