Newest Nenasala, nicest new year gift to Nagadeepaya 
Newest Nenasala, nicest new year gift to Nagadeepaya
The Government gave an apt new year gift to the technology-hungry youth and public of Jaffna at the dawn of 2009.
That was at the conclusion of the mega industrial and educational exhibition and trade fair held from December 27 and 29, 2008, at the Jaffna Vembadi Girls’ High School and Jaffna Central College. On the sidelines of the exhibition which registered a count of over 400,000 on Monday (29) the fifth and the latest Nenasala in the Jaffna district was installed at the Vembady Girls’ High School at a technology stall. The exhibition drew large crowds from day one, with over 20,000 entrants on the last day.
The gift of the Nenasala, converted from a model techno centre at Vembady to a permanent knowledge centre at the Jaffna Secretariat and replacing its former reception office, was a sequel to the request from the originator of the concept of the mega exhibition. On the request of Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, whose brainchild the “Future Minds of Jaffna” exhibition was, the model Nenasala set up at Vembady, was re-set at the Jaffna District Secretariat, as the fifth permanent Nenasala in the Jaffna district.
About half of the population that visited the Nenasala consisted of students and youth who to grabbed the opportunity to use the facilities at the Nenasala which they said were not available to them elsewhere.
The objective of the exhibition was to open the ‘doors of opportunity to the youth of the North deprived for long under the cloud of the conflict, and to develop partnerships among all regions of Sri Lanka not only from an economic development perspective but also from a culture and unity aspect. It was expected that it would enable the people of Jaffna to enjoy the same facilities that their brethren from other parts of the country enjoy.
True to the objective of the exhibition, the ICTA initiated Nenasala which was a component of the exhibition opened the ‘doors of opportunity to the youth of the North deprived for long under the cloud of the conflict’.
Referring to the gift of the fifth Nenasala Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda who inaugurated the Nenasala as well as the exhibition said: “It is source of pleasure that on the request of Major Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri the model Nenasala set up at the exhibition is being bequeathed for use by the people of Jaffna”. Expressing his views on the occasion of the launching of the Nenasala Major Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri stated, “It is a pleasure to see that an outlet centre of Nenasala is being exhibited at the exhibition centre”. Peace Secretariat Secretary Professor Rajiva Wijesinha pointing out the relevance of the exhibition and the Nenasala said: “Education and technology are among the keys to peace”. Speaking on the occasion Jaffna Town Commandant J. R. Kulatunga stated: “I as the chief organiser of the Industrial and Educational Exhibition, Jaffna – 2008 am extremely happy to see the success of the event with the participation of ‘Nenasala’ which is going to be an important stall for the students of Jaffna”.
With the latest Nenasala the total number of Nenasala in the district Jaffna now stands at five. Particulars of all the five Nenasalas in Jaffna are as follows:-
DS Office - Jaffna DS Office. Jaffna Ganesh 021-222235/0773-715708
University of Jaffna University of Jaffna, Jaffna Prof. R. Kumaravadivel 021-2222294
Command Head Quarters Kankasanthurai Com. Deepthi Peries. 011-4632513/0773-721160
Palali Camp Palali Capt Rajapakse 077-3308624
Thirunelvely 142, Palaly Road, Thirunelvely, Jaffna Mrs. Saroja Sivachandran
The total number of Nenasalas island-wide now stands at 571.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) the single apex body responsible for implementing the eSri Lanka development initiative has made preparations to set up 330 other Nenasalas during the first quarter of this year.
Besides Minister Douglas Devananda and Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, Bishop of Jaffna Thomas Saundranayagam, Peace Secretariat General Secretary Professor Rajiva Wijesinha and officials of the Security Forces, ICTA were among those who participated at the Nenasala inauguration ceremony.
Nenasalas bring technology to the marginalised communities. By visiting the Nenasalas the user can afford himself / herself of the marvelous facilities which are available in ICT at no cost. Both the farmer who wants to know about the remedy for a plant disease in his crop as well as a student whether he /she , be a Montessori child who only wants some pictures of butterflies for his/her picture book or a post-doctoral student who wants to see the nuances of differences between a indigenous species of butterflies and a foreign species, can benefit from a visit to the Nenasala. Nenasalas are efficient tools for bringing the fruits of technology to them. They promote training in ICT as well as well as the study of English, two areas in which 2009 will focus its special attention as it has been declared by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the year of ICT and English. The year 2009 is also the year of prosperity.
These declarations are not mere coincidences. They are logically linked. If knowledge for which ICT and English are valuable doors is reached, obstacles to peace and growth will disappear and prosperity will follow.
http://www.thebottomline.lk/2009/01/07/index%2010.htm
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