Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa says that ICT will be used to the maximum for developing the Uva Province properly.

Inaugurating  the 601st ‘Nenasala’, Uva Province Chief Minister said that maximum use of ICT, a main  development tool, should be made for raising the standard  of life of the people of the Badulla and Moneragala districts.

The 601st  ‘Nenasala’ was inaugurated recently at the Badulla Senarat Paranavitana Public Library premises under the ‘Nenasala’ programme  according to a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for setting up ‘Nenasala’s – rural wisdom outlets island-wide.

Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa pointed out that by now 65 ‘Nenasala’ have been set up in the Uva Province and that in the future the Uva Provincial Council  would implement a systematic programme for carrying out the ‘Nenasala’ activities in an  effective manner. The Chief Minister said that he hoped to obtain the advice  of the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka and stressed that necessary steps would be taken for revamping  the ‘Nenasala’s that are currently inactive and making  them more useful to the people.

Speaking further on the occasion the   Chief Minister  said that the Provincial Council intends to develop the Uva Province  according to a proper plan. The Minister said that ICT would be given priority in this development plan.

Joining the occasion Badulla Mayor Attorney-at-law, Upali Nissanka, said that the setting up of a ‘Nenasala’ centre  within the premier library in the Badulla town was very appropriate.

The Badulla Mayor pointed out that since this ‘Nenasala’ helps the students as well as professionals of the Badulla district to obtain information through the internet, the Senarat Paranavitana Library was now able to move beyond conventional library services  and  provide the ICT requirements of the Badulla town residents.

Participating in the event, ICTA Strategic Communications Senior Programme Head Athula Pushpakumara, said that this ‘Nenasala’ could be defined as a new investment for the education of the children of the Uva Province. The ICTA Strategic Communications Head explained  how the Government had taken steps through the “Mahinda Cinthanan –Vision for the future’ “  to give priority to ICT that creates new opportunities. “Thus  the Government  has given priority to ICT on a par with the pride of place given for housing, employment and education”, he pointed out.

Caption:-
Uva Province Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa addresses the audience during the inauguration of the island’s 601st ‘Nenasala’  in the premises of the Senarat Paranavitana Public Library in Badulla. Among those seated in the front row are (from left)  Badulla Mayor Attorney-at-law, Upali Nissanka and ICTA Strategic Communications Senior Programme Head Athula Pushpakumara.

The above article is carried in today’s (02.07.2010) Daily FT (www.ft.lk)

http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/07/02/bus10.asp

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