eVillage - Sri Lanka - Press Conference

On March 13, 2008 a press conference was held at the auditorium of the
Ministry of Education to brief the media on the achievements of
eVillage – Sri Lanka project’s Phase I. Within the initial 6 months, a
lot was achieved by the eVillage – Sri Lanka project. Visit http://evillage.wordpress.com/ to see the developments.

EVillage – Sri Lanka project was started by the ADB funded Secondary
Education Modernization Project (SEMP) of the Ministry of Education
with the auspices of the President’s Office in July 2007. The project
replicates Mahavilachchiya’s Model eVillage http://www.mahavilachchiya.net/ project island wide.

Mr. Nimal Bandara, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Mr.
Waruna Sri Dhanapala of the President’s Office, Mr. Anura Dissanayake,
the Project Director – SEMP, Mr. Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, CEO of E-W
Information Systems Limited Mr. Nandasiri Wanninayaka, the Professional
Service Provider for eVillage Project attended the event. The Computer
Center Managers of the 5 eVillages, Mr. Kumara Ekanayake of
Pitakumbura, Mr. Amal Gunawardhana of Nihiluwa, Mr.  Kalana
Dampiya of Mahalakotuwa, Mr. Krishantha Lansakara of Nikawewa and Mr.
Weerakoon Bandara of Damahana were also present at the event.

Addressing the event Mr. Nimal Bandara, the Secretary to the Ministry
of Education stressed the need of improving ICT literacy and English
throughout the country and said eVillage project will be a good
platform for that. Mr. Dissanayake the Project Director – SEMP spoke on
the importance of taking ICT facilities which are in the public schools
to the communities. Mr. Dhanapala reiterated that the developments in
the villages should be done without harming the natural beauty of the
villages. Mr. Wanninayaka spoke of the importance of having self
sustainable ICT projects in the villages to create more ICT related job
opportunities for the village youth.  Nuwan Widyapathige of EWIS
briefed about the CSR projects of the EWIS.

East West Information System donated money and equipment to Pitakumbura
eVillage’s independent eVlllage which is situated outside the public
school. EWIS has promised to provide 4 more fully equipped computer
labs for the other 5 eVilllages within next few months. These 5
independent eVillage centers will be run by enterprising youth and they
will start business as soon as the labs are completed and ready for
operations. The long term goal is to convert the 5 centers to rural
BPOs. EVillage project believes that while developing existing school
based computer labs, each eVillage should have an independent eVillage
center where more youth and adults can have access to. Private sector
contributions are appreciated in this venture.

Phase II of eVillage – Sri Lanka project has now begun and 15 schools
have been already selected and the number will go up to 25 soon.