Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

ICTA and private sector praised by Minister Tissa Vitarana

Monday, 23 August 2010 09:47

Technology and Research Minister Tissa Vitarana paid a glowing tribute to both the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the private secto for their role in making the benefits ICTA accrue to people island-wide. “We must congratulate both the ICT Agency for the e-Sri Lanka Programme which has been forging ahead successfully despite various problems and the private sector for joining in to advance ICT in this country”, the Minister said.

The Minister said so while addressing as Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the28th National Information Technology Conference organised by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) Sin Colombo recently (11-12). The two-day conference “ICT 2.0: ‘Empowering Sri Lanka to a New Social Order” had more than 24 high quality paper presentations and was marked by a distinguished panel speakers.

Continuing the address, the Minister said that the President had made a historical input into the concept of Nenasalas by having them set up in places where devotees of the major religions of the country congregate. Due to that input today 601 Nensalas are successfully spread across the country in a manner that is people friendly. The Minister added that if not for that village-friendly cultural change initiated by the President the Nenasalas would have been restricted to an elitist society as internet cafes even today. “These Nenasalas are complemented currently by 257 Vidata centres. Plans are under way to have a Vidata centre in each of the 331 administrative areas.” the Minister said. The Minister emphasised that it was encouraging that an all-out effort was being made both by the Government and private sector including the Computer Society of Sri Lanka to make peoples’ lives comfortable through ICT.

Satellite technology to improve railway transport management

Thursday, 12 August 2010 10:48

The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Sri Lanka Railway Department (SLR) have jointly taken steps to use satellite technology to improve railway transport management.
ICTA and the SLR and gTrack Solutions Private Ltd. signed a MoU recently to use Satellite Technology that would greatly enhance the railway transport management in Sri Lanka.
This MoU to use the Global Position System (GPS) and the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) entailing satellite technology for more efficient train service management and more effective commuter satisfaction was signed at the Railway Department headquarters in Colombo last week.
ICTA Re-engineering Government Programme Director Wasantha Deshapriya said that as a result of the application of Satellite Technology as per the MoU anyone from anywhere would be able instantly to know where a train operating under the new technology is.
"When this project is implemented anyone will be able to avail himself/herself of the automatic display of where a train equipped with the said facility is at any given time. The commuter, actual or potential will be able to know instantly whether the train concerned will be on schedule, have a delay and if so the likely extent of the delay and make alternative plans accordingly. He or she will be able to have this information simply by using his/her mobile phone or internet," Deshapriya added.

ICTA Grant Scheme covering Startups’ 75% of project cost starts off

Monday, 02 August 2010 10:19

Under an ICTA-initiated grant scheme aimed at promoting new technologies startup companies with less than a two-year post-registration existence and less than 10 employees could aspire to have 75 per cent of their total project cost reimbursed.

This was revealed at a media conference organised by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and Intel at Hotel Taj Samudra for the launch of the Grant Scheme of ICTA Friday (30).

The programme targets new business enterprises or those in the very early stages of development and aims at encouraging entrepreneurs island-wide to launch new technology products and/or services. Thus the programme promotes the launch of these products and services which are transformations of their new business ideas while addressing market gaps and assisting new ICT related innovations. Under the scheme registered technology businesses in Sri Lanka less than two years in existence and with less than 10 employees can apply for a grant. This grant will cover 75% of the total project cost or a maximum of USD 5,000 whichever is lower. With the grant the new companies can subsidise infrastructure, capacity building, business development and any other third party costs. ICTA informs that up to 20 such companies may be supported under this programme in stages.