Country on path to Smart Sri Lanka’- ICTA CEO

Sri Lanka is now journying from version 1.0 to version 2.0 of Development Agenda, ‘Smart Sri Lanka’ moving from pure technology and focusing more on innovation, transformation, entrepreneurship and inclusion. This was stated by ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) CEO Reshan Dewapura on Tuesday (19), while participating as the Chief Guest at the inauguration of IBM Software Universe 2013 in Colombo.

ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura delivering his keynote speech as Chief Guest at the inauguration of IBMSoftwareUniverse2013 at Oak Room, Cinnmon Grand, Colombo on 19th March 2013.

Organized by IBM Sri Lanka, this was the first ever IBM Software held in Sri Lanka. Delivering his keynote address on the occasion, Dewapura explained to a full house at the Oak Room at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, the buzz phrase ‘Smart Sri Lanka.’ In the spirit of this event, the IBM Software Universe, where we have heard much about a smarter planet, let’s refer to this version 2.0 of the e-Development Agenda as ‘Smart Sri Lanka.’ Version 1.0 was e-Sri Lanka and by coining this new phrase, we are now moving above and beyond pure technology and focusing more on innovation, transformation, entrepreneurship and inclusion.” Highlighting the differentiator component of the endeavour, Dewapura said further: “Benefitting from the latest advances in technology, more intelligence and smartness could be induced to the country, in all activities in all sections.

Director of Software Sales & Marketing, IBM India/South Asia, Jason Mosakowski, Director - IT, Agro Harapan Lestari Pvt. Ltd., Kevin de Silva, Country General Manager, IBM Sri Lanka, Chrishan M Fernando and Head of the Software Group, IBM Sri Lanka, Channa de Silva also spoke at the inaugurationsession. The Chief Guest provided an overview of Sri Lanka’s achievements in the ICT sector and shared with the conclave the future national ICT plans.

The buzzword was ‘smarter.’ Dewapura drew the attention of the audience to three focus areas, both with regard to the past achievements and future hopes - government, private sector and people. (Smart Government, ‘Smart Jobs’ and ‘Smart People’). Underlining the benefits of peace attained after many years, Dewapura pointed out the path to achieve one of the challenges put forward in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana, Vision for the Future.’

While ensuring Government’s and ICTA’s commitment, Dewapura emphasized that version 2.0 of the Development Agenda would contribute much to fulfilling the challenges of Sri Lanka becoming the regionalknowledgehub. Caption ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura delivering his keynote speech as Chief Guest at the inauguration of IBM SoftwareUniverse 2013, at the Oak Room, Cinnmon Grand, Colombo, on March 19, 2013.