Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Mobile phone, a tremendous stimulus to empowering people: Minister Tissa Vitarana

Friday, 11 June 2010 15:00

By Mario Fernandopulle

Mobile phones can be a tremendous stimulus to empowering the people says Technology and Research Minister Professor Tissa Vitarana. The Minister said so while participating as Chief Guest at the inauguration of the first South Asian Mobile Content Conference held at Colombo Taj Samudra Hotel last Thursday.

Speaking further at the inauguration of the conference hosted by the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (CTA) with Etisalat Sri Lanka Private Ltd. and hSenid Mobile as strategic partners, the Minister said that technology, when properly, used could open new vistas of great opportunities for people everywhere. “Sri Lanka is relatively at an advantage among countries in the region owing to its high rate of literacy offering a great opportunity for knowledge. Knowledge is power enabling people to forge ahead. It helps to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, the village and the city. This opportunity should be grabbed and optimized, the Minister urged.

“It is a well known fact that media is controlled by powerful groups who amass wealth at the expense of society. Mobile phone can dispel the false information and rid society of the ills that misinformation brings and thus enrich people’s quality of life”, the Minister pointed out.

In his address at the inauguration of the confab with representatives from South Asia including about 300 from Sri Lanka ICTA Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura said:”At a time when Information and Communication Technology is getting closer and embedded with our daily lives in a meaningful manner, I’m extremely happy to have the opportunity to speak a few words at the inauguration of the mBillionth – South Asian mobile conference. It is indeed important and significant that we are able to host this event in Colombo.

Major step towards making Sri Lanka become knowledge hub

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 17:08

Ringing out Mahinda Chintana “Vision for the Future”

The South Asian mobile content conference and workshop will contribute immensely to Sri Lanka becoming the knowledge hub envisaged in the Mahinda Chintana “Vision for the Future” says ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) COO Reshan Dewapura. The ICTA Chief Operating Officer said so while participating at a media briefing held in Colombo recently.

Addressing the media briefing organised by ICTA at Hotel Taj Samudra Dewapura emphasised the importance of the conference and the workshop: “The South Asian Mobile Content Conference and Workshop that will be held in Colombo on 10th and 11th instant will go a long way in making the benefits of ICT reach all, especially the disadvantaged in South Asia. ICT has a significant role in taking the development drive forward, promoting economic growth, generating employment, and thus making Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries be on a par with the ‘developed’ world. During the past five to 10 years the mobile sector has developed fast and the different segments in society, whether in the Government or private sector, cannot, on their own, properly meet the growing needs of accessing information, electronic transactions etc. The ICTA, the Digital Empowerment Foundation of India, the Ministry of ITC, the Government of India, hSenid Mobile (Pvt.) Ltd. and Etisalat Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. have joined together to facilitate the Mobile Content development in South Asia.”

300+ sign up for SL workshop at m-Billionth mobile awards

Tuesday, 08 June 2010 11:30

More than 300 homegrown mobile developers have already signed up to participate at the South Asian Mobile Content Conference and Workshop, which is happening on the sidelines of the inaugural m-Billionth South Asia 2010 awards judging that will occur in Colombo on June 10 and 11.

The workshop, which is particularly geared for local 'garage' developers to learn how to develop applications, or even translate their web-based application, for the mobile medium, has so far exceeded the 100 developers initially anticipated by organisers. 'Garage' developers, or those who develop part time as a hobby, are widely expected by the industry to be the source for the next 'killer', or top-selling, application even more so than the so-called sophisticated mobile development firms. A market in which there are hundreds of mobile based technologies coming out every day.

Additionally, the workshop will introduce hobbyists to a web-based mobile development portal. This will allow mobile developing sans the know-how of the intricacies of the mobile medium. Also provided will be access to developer tools necessary to translate applications into mobile compatible form. This is important since there are hundreds of thousands of web-based applications which have, as yet, not been available for the mobile medium as tools to adapt them had not been easily accessible.

This mobile developer portal, offered by Etisalat and hSenid Mobile, will also give local developers access to a number of markets, not just in Sri Lanka but also through Etisalat's network. Successful applications will also result in 70% of revenues being channeled back to developers.