• Introduction
• ICT Capacity Building Program
• IT enabled Services
• eSri Lanka PC Program
• Notices
• Spiralation

 

 

This program has parallel aims of supporting the domestic ICT sector and the ICT export industry of Sri Lanka. For the domestic sector, ICTA is endeavoring to increase the utilization of ICT in all of private sector within the country. The second aim is to re-brand Sri Lanka as a destination of choice for ICT products, services and investments. These twin aims will contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth and employment creation in Sri Lanka.

 

Vision

Branding Sri Lanka for its adoption of ICTs in ensuring an efficient public and private sector and producing best of breed ICT solutions for niche global markets, establishing itself as a destination of choice for business process outsourcing and thus stimulating socio-economic growth and job creation.

 

Strategies

• Promoting growth of the local private sector by providing ICT solutions and services to government.
• Empowering the local industry and consequently the general population, to reap the dividends of using ICT in business and commerce more widely.
• Promotion of local ICT products and services to the global market.
• Branding Sri Lanka as an attractive location for global Multi National Corporations to set-up operations (Foreign Direct Investment).
• The creation of Centers of Excellence for emerging technologies, and increase the opportunities for local entrepreneurs to play a key part in global markets.

 

Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has formulated an ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) to catalyze the development of ICT capacity of the country. The ICBP has three (3) broad sub-components

·ICT Industry Human Resource Development

·Industry Promotion and Development

·Creating an Enabling Environment for ICT Industry Growth.

 

These programmers will be implemented through 30 strategies identified in consultation with the private sector.

The overall goal of the Policy and Capacity Building Program, ICBP, is to strengthen, predominantly through private sector-led initiatives, the existing ICT industry in Sri Lanka; to encourage emerging sectors of the industry and entrepreneurship, to stimulate broad-based industry growth, and to promote international competitiveness. The ICBP is intended to provide benefit to stakeholders across the broad spectrum of the Sri Lankan ICT industry, including, but not limited to; the software industry, IT enabled service industry (ITES), manufacturing, IT training providers and the expected growth of IT consulting services.

Additionally, investments funded under the ICBP are expected to contribute to social harmony, expanded employment opportunities and geographical and regional equity. Expanded employment opportunities may be (a) directly in the ICT industry; (b) indirectly in organizations that will arise to support the ICT industry, or (c) additional employment opportunities in traditional industries and government, as institutions in these sectors adopt more advanced computer systems.

 

1. ICT Industry Human Resource Development

Strengthening Management and Professional Skills:

The lack of ICT professionals has been a recurrent theme in recent reports on the industry in Sri Lanka. This issue has several dimensions. A depressed national labour market, affected by two decades of civil unrest, and higher salaries abroad influence many ICT professionals to seek a career outside Sri Lanka. While the available pool of ICT professionals is thus a concern, of particular concern for Strengthening Management and Professional Skills is the depth of the human resources pool for experienced middle and upper level managers, those with more than five years relevant experience. This shortage is felt strongly in software design, project management and software business consulting. In this cluster of activities particular emphasis will be placed on initiatives to strengthen management and professional skills where the benefits to industry are expected to be realized in the near- to mid- term.

Strengthening Workforce Skills in the ICT Industry:

This program has as its broad goal to strengthen human capital across the ICT industry workforce, enhancing the skills and competencies of those entering and those already employed in the ICT industry. Initiatives will foster innovation and growth and enhance the capacity of companies and individuals to compete on a level playing field with foreign competition within Sri Lanka, and in markets abroad; by promoting activities aimed at ensuring that a national workforce with the appropriate skill mix is available. A critical challenge for Training and Workforce Initiatives will be to establish a balance between short-term solutions for issues of immediate importance, and long term goals, which may require five to ten years before the impact is felt.

A guiding principle of the ICBP design is to promote activities and investments which will benefit the ICT industry as a whole. The ICBP is not intended to develop specific companies. Although individual companies will certainly gain benefits from strategies under this program the objective is to invest in those activities which can demonstrate greatest benefits to the industry. Similarly the ICBP is geared to encourage diversity and provide assistance as broadly as possible. To this end assistance to individual companies will be limited at different levels.

Read Strategies

 

2. Industry Promotion and Development

Industry promotion has as its broad goal to provide funding and technical assistance support which will enable Sri Lanka to identify and take advantage of domestic and global business opportunities in the ICT field. The E-Sri Lanka Roadmap for ICT Development envisions a focus on emerging opportunities in three key segments; development of software products for new applications and markets, capturing of a significant share in the global software services market and, securing a dominant position in the global market for Information Technology Enabled Services, ITES, including Business Process Out-sourcing, BPO. In pursuit of this vision industry promotion will need to focus both on export and domestic markets, and develop specialized niche markets, including both software services and products and both lower and higher end BPO. The importance of the domestic market is recognized as while it small and not offering profit margins comparable to that of the export market it is likely to continue to be important as a seed bed for local firms’ capacity building. Strategies supported under this program will encourage innovation and excellence, quality assurance, market specialization and market diversification. Specific strategies will build capacity and expand the utilization of ICT in SMEs and Micro-enterprises.

Read Strategies

 

3. Creating an Enabling Environment for ICT Industry Growth

The strategies in this program of activities recognize that development of ICT human capacity and promotion of the ICT industry will require an enabling environment in which to be effective. Strategies will support quality assurance through incentives for ICT companies to seek international accreditation, and the accreditation and capacity building of national ICT training providers. Additionally strategies will seek to “repatriate” international ICT expertise through fostering links in a Global Network for ICT Expatriates and improving the profile of the ICT industry and the skill base of entrants into the ICT workforce by familiarizing career counselors with the skills, attitude and knowledge expected by private sector ICT employers.

The program will also fund technical assistance to undertake an industry training needs analysis the results of which will be used to rank training needs in order of industry demand to create the national priority training list to be supported under the program.

Read Strategies

 

Objective

Create the enabling environment to ensure a thriving ITeS industry in Sri Lanka.

Description
For the ITeS industry to grow, some of the key enablers identified are infrastructure, human resources and cost of utilities. This project will seek to work in conjunction with the rest of government to address the broader issues relating to infrastructure and cost of utilities. However, initial concentration of activities will be to enlarge and ensure a quality workforce to service this growing industry. In this respect, a concerted awareness campaign has been launched to educate school leavers, parents, and teachers on the careers available within the ITeS industry.

In parallel to this project, an ITeS training project will be facilitated by ICTA. This project falls under Programme 4 of ICTA ICT Human Resources Capacity Building.

Target Group

• International companies looking to outsource their operations
• School leavers
• Part-time students
• Parents
• Teachers

Project Results

• A larger and more qualified workforce to service the industry
• More local and overseas companies setting up their outsourcing operations in Sri Lanka

Project Benefits

• Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) coming into Sri Lanka, propelling growth and equity
• Local companies becoming more profitable
• Retaining local talent in Sri Lanka and creating greater employment opportunities

Success Stories of Sri Lankan ICT Industry
The Sri Lankan ICT sector has come a long way. Receiving numerous awards in recognition of quality, many Sri Lankan companies have shone brightly in global settings specially in the recent past. Here are a few of those stories

ICTA goes one-on-one with the ICT Private Sector
ICTA firmly believes that the development of the Nation cannot take place without the participation of all sectors and considers the private sector an important partner in progress. In order to have meaningful dialog on how e-Sri Lanka can be achieved through the active participation of the ICT industry, ICTA is committed to hold quarterly meetings with the ICT Private sector.

Read more

 

 

The e-Sri Lanka PC Programme is aimed at increasing Sri Lanka's current low IT literacy, by enabling access to Information Communication Technology (ICT). This program fosters the charter to "bridge the digital divide" that has been taken on by government's across the world through the UN Millennium Declaration and World Summit on the information society.

Research in this area has shown that consumers lack awareness of the benefits of owning a PC and PC usage. This program was jointly embarked on by ICTA & Intel to address these issues and will increase the accessibility and usage of PCs and the Internet across population segments and pave the way for "knowledge based societies".

The e-Sri Lanka PC, a personal computer (PC), based on Intel architecture, will be installed with educational tools and programmers. It will also expose the users to the functionality and availability of open source software in an easy to use Linux desktop environment. Developed in collaboration with Intel ,Red Hat and other partners, this is one of the main ways through which ICTA plans to increase ICT literacy in Sri Lanka.

This endeavor aims at ensuring that e-literacy becomes as basic as reading, writing and arithmetic and governments can increase business productivity and citizen satisfaction and in turn boost economic growth and competitiveness.

Three models of PCs are available for purchase through this scheme (please refer brochure for details) through three selected local distributors. All models come with a tool three year product warranty. There is pre-loaded self learning educational software that explains common features of the PC in all national languages. Users can obtain telephone based remote support for a period of one year on any issues related to the PC.

 

Related Links

• ICTA and Intel Launches e-Sri Lanka PC Programme to promote PC awareness and adoption in the country
• ICTA Project Showcased in Asia's Premier Open Source Conference
• e-Sri Lanka PC Project Brochure (English / Sinhala / Tamil )
• FAQs on e-Sri Lanka PC Desktop

 

More information

 

• Training Voucher Scheme 
• Career Fairs
• ICT Work Force survey
• Training Needs Analysis, ICT industry of Sri Lanka (2007)

Introduction
SME’s play a large role in the Sri Lankan ICT Industry with a majority of companies categorized as SMEs which proves that it is a successful working model for the country. Nurturing start ups is hence very important as young companies are particularly vulnerable in their early/start-up years. Further technology professionals or academics tend to be attracted to starting up companies with outstanding technological background but very little business experience.
The spiralation grant focuses on providing seed funding for technology entrepreneurs. Business enterprises forming new or in very early stages of development will be targeted (Small enterprises with less than 2 years in operation). The primary focus would be to encourage entrepreneurs to launch their business ideas in creating new products and/or services that would serve in creating new businesses, breech market gaps, assist new ICT related innovations etc.
The grant will cover (75% of total project cost) or a maximum of USD5000.00, whichever is lower. A start-up should include a minimum of three directors and employee no more than 10 employees.

Selection Process

• Three stages of screening will take place. Application forms will be posted on the ICTA website and the availability of the grant will be publicised through the National Media.
• During phase I, applicant companies are expected to send applications which include a substantial business plan and resumes of employees. The applications will be marked and shortlisted by an expert panel. Shortlisted companies will be called in for phase II of screening.
• Phase II consists of a demonstration/presentation covering the detail business plan and activities that will be carried out during task execution which will bring about expected benefits.
• During Phase III, a technical review will be carried out which will consist of a technical test and/or technical review by an expert panel. Relevant experts will be engaged at each stage.
  

Criteria	Marks
Business Proposal	100
Non Technical Competency	100
Technical Competency	100

 

Round 1 of implementations

A total of 43 applications were received during the 1st round of implementation which included multiple applications from 3 companies. Seven companies where selected at the end of the three stage evaluations.

1. AdroitLogic
2. AgileSoft Technologies
3. Akram Natheer
4. Ape Aswanu
5. Araaya Solutions (2)
6. BLOOM Solutions
7. Chandrasiri Sumanasekara
8. Cheerurteam.com (Pvt) Ltd
9. CIC Rural Humanity Services Foundation
10. Clientele International
11. DataMatrix Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd
12. Dinuk Hettiarachchi (RNH)
13. DOK Solutions Lanka (Private) Limited
14. E. D. M. Nuwn Madusanka
15. EFFIPROZ (PRIVATE) LIMITED
16. gTrack Solutions Private Limited
17. Infolink Solutions (PVT) Ltd
18. InGame Entertainment
19. interactive Fusion
20. iPhonik [Pvt] Ltd
21. LOOPS Solutions (Pvt) Ltd
22. Maadya Digital (Pvt)Ltd
23. Nadun Basnayake
24. Nuwan Kithmal Warawita
25. OnTarget System Developers
26. Rasika Rajapaksa
27. Sajith Vimukthi Weerakoon
28. Samadara Ginige
29. SEEDA LANKA
30. Sithil Solutions (Pvt)Ltd (2)
31. Sky Management Systems (Pvt) Limited (2)
32. Tenders Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
33. Tourism GDS Lanka
34. VICIT Innovative (Pvt) Ltd. (Vsoft)
35. Vizu Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd.
36. Weligama Nenasala
37. Ygen Advertising Solutions (Printonline.lk)
38. yttriumtechnologies
39. තලාව සාමෙස්වය

 
Selected companies

1. Araaya Solutions
2. Cheerurteam.com (Pvt) Ltd
3. gTrack Solutions Private Limited
4. iPhonik [Pvt] Ltd
5. LOOPS Solutions (Pvt) Ltd
6. Maadya Digital (Pvt)Ltd
7. Sky Management Systems (Pvt) Limited

 

 
Round 2 of Implementation

A total of 36 applications were received during round two. Five companies were selected at the end of the three stage evaluation.

1. A pinch of Handicrafts
2. AFORCES
3. AlphaAspire
4. An Advanced technology Innovation Force (Pvt) Ltd
5. ApeAswanu
6. Apulid Technologies (Pvt) Ltd
7. Armmigo Advertising
8. Ascent
9. Central Province Exporters’ Chamber
10. Cheerurteam.com (pvt) Ltd
11. Comments.lk
12. emappz – Enterprise Mobility Application Zone
13. eMPAC Technologies
14. i-Tronics Ltd.
15. Kithsirionline
16. Macsoft Business Solutions Ltd
17. Mobile Marketing Solutions, MMS
18. MotionWaves.com
19. Multisoft Extreme
20. On Target System Developers
21. Online Art Gallery Of Sri Lanka
22. Pinnacle Technologies (1)
23. Pinnacle Technologies (2)
24. Pinnacle Technologies (3)
25. Sandesha
26. Sathkara Gift Delivery Services
27. Science Park Asia (Pvt) Ltd
28. Sithil Solutions(pvt) Ltd. (1)
29. Sithil Solutions(pvt) Ltd. (2)
30. TDR Online
31. Tourism GDS Lanka
32. VICIT Innovative (Pvt) Ltd. (Vsoft)
33. Virl Systems
34. Vizu Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd.
35. WisCom Solution
36. Yaaldevi & Friends pvt ltd

 

Selected companies

1. Cheerurteam.com (pvt) Ltd
2. Pinnacle Technologies (latter registered as Innosoft Pvt Ltd)
3. Sandesha (latter registered as Sandesha Internet Marketing Pvt Ltd)
4. Online Art Gallery Of Sri Lanka (latter registered as Ceylon Artists  Pvt Ltd
5. Central Province Exporters’ Chamber

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Funding for the year 2012 & 2013

Round 1

1. Applications received

2. Agaya Holdings (Private) Limited

3. Cey-Digital Corporation

4. IKiosk (Pvt) Ltd

5. Lanka Info Solution Private Limited

6. LAUGFS PAY & GO (PVT) LIMITED

7. MediCheck

8. Meegua Solutions (Pvt) Ltd

9. Total Creation

10. Workforce Pvt Ltd

11. ENVOY SOLUTIONS (PRIVATE) LIMITED

12. Geek Ants

13. eTenders

14. ECOMMDEVS (Pvt) Ltd

15. Square Mobile (Yaathra)

16. Square Mobile (ShoutOut)

17. SILICON BRAINS PVT LTD

18. Gnosis

19. Cinnamon Information Technologies (Cinnamon IT)

20. eIMSky Business Solutions Pvt Ltd

21. Lanka local directory (Local.lk)

22. Webdesign Era

23. Travel Hub (Pvt) Ltd

24. Shree Vengadeshwaraa Networks (P) LTD

1^st round selections

1. Shree Vengadeshwaraa Networks (P) LTD

2. eIMSky Business Solutions Pvt Ltd

3. eTenders

4. Geek Ants

5. LAUGFS PAY & GO (PVT) LIMITED

6. Lanka Info Solution Private Limited

7. Agaya Holdings (Private) Limited

2^nd round selections

1. eIMSky Business Solutions Pvt Ltd

2. eTenders

3. LAUGFS PAY & GO (PVT) LIMITED

4. Lanka Info Solution Private Limited

5. Agaya Holdings (Private) Limited

Final Selections

1. eIMSky Business Solutions Pvt Ltd

2. eTenders

3. LAUGFS PAY & GO (PVT) LIMITED

4. Agaya Holdings (Private) Limited

Round 2

1. Bhasha Lanka (Project 1)

2. Bitfirms Solutions

3. CODE IT Solutions

4. FET Synergies

5. Ignite Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.

6. Infosurv Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

7. Pagetaken.com

8. saloon.lk

9. SLbazaar.lk

10. Softcare Apps

11. Square Mobile

12. The Seed Woman

13. Travel Hub (Pvt) Ltd

14. UniverSL Software Solutions (Pvt) Ltd

15. Vacation Sri Lanka Group

16. WeServe

17. AFORCES

18. Atiral

19. Bhasha Lanka (Project 2)

20. Business Breakthrough Technology (Pvt) Ltd

21. CityBizMap

22. Colombo Things to Do help center

23. Fortunate

24. innoWIDE

25. ISECED

26. Lanka Exam Solutions

27. LBPIS

28. MediCheck

29. Photon Fission

30. Rex4 Solutions

31. SAMSON IT SOLUTIONS

32. SmartCard Solutions

33. Social Network Analysis for CRM systems

34. Softdevex pvt ltd

35. Stress and Depression management

36. Wee Solutions

37. Zen Labs

1^st round selections

1. Shree Vengadeshwaraa Networks (P) LTD

2. Bhasha Lanka (Project 1)

3. Bitfirms Solutions

4. CODE IT Solutions

5. FET Synergies

6. Ignite Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.

7. Infosurv Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

8. Pagetaken.com

9. saloon.lk

10. SLbazaar.lk

11. Softcare Apps

12. Square Mobile

13. The Seed Woman

14. Travel Hub (Pvt) Ltd

15. UniverSL Software Solutions (Pvt) Ltd

16. Vacation Sri Lanka Group

17. WeServe

2^nd round selections

1. WeServe

2. Vacation Sri Lanka Group

3. Square Mobile

4. Softcare Apps

5. Infosurv Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

6. Ignite Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.

7. FET Synergies

8. CODE IT Solutions

9. Bhasha Lanka (Project 1)

3^rd round selections

1. WeServe

2. Square Mobile

3. Softcare Apps

4. Infosurv Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

5. Ignite Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.

6. CODE IT Solutions

7. Bhasha Lanka (Project 1)