FITIS launches first-ever Sri Lanka Internet Day

Event Co-Chair Microsoft India Country Head – Venture Capital and Private Equity Partnerships Lathika Pai

Event Co-Chair PickMe CEO Zulfer Jiffry

The digital chapter of the Federation of Information Technology in Sri Lanka (FITIS) is gearing up to launch the first-ever ‘Sri Lanka Internet Day 2021’ this April. The two-day virtual event which will be held in association with the Ministry of Technology and the State Ministry of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion, will go live on 6-7 April.

Spearheading the Internet Day 2021 under the theme ‘Digital Inclusion’ are Co-Chairs Zulfer Jiffry, President of the FITIS digital chapter and founder CEO of digital app-based mobility company PickMe, and Microsoft India Country Head – Venture Capital and Private Equity Partnerships Lathika Pai, with the support of FITIS CEO Aruna Alwis and the project committee.

“Creating an event around the internet is significant for FITIS, as this has become the single most important salvaging factor of the pandemic which impacted all our lives. One of the things that surfaced during this time is that we are not doing enough to bridge the digital divide and be inclusive. It has also become clear that it is not the responsibility of just one set of individuals to create opportunity for all, but more of a community effort to build structures that are inclusive to all levels of society,” said Zulfer Jiffry.  Last year, the internet crossed its 25th year milepost and there are almost 4 billion people around the world using it. What this highlights is that there is a lot more work to be done for it to reach every nook and cranny. The internet is particularly absent or very low amongst marginalised communities who are more vulnerable to the volatilities of day-to-day life. 

The digital chapter of FITIS has tied up its goals in this respect with the roadmap for digital cooperation released by the UN Secretary-General. The roadmap charts a way forward for universal, affordable, and meaningful access to the internet by 2030; for human rights to be respected online; and for people to be protected from online harms and digital security threats. 

The goals outlined in the roadmap and inculcated by FITIS are not only a call to action for governments of nations but also the private sector, technocrats and technical communities, civil society, and the public at large, in order to address key issues of this digital age. In line with that FITIS has connected with several key players from the Government, local and international business and tech communities, educators and experts in different fields to conduct workshops, panel discussions and online activities at the two-day virtual event.

Aruna Alwis said that since this is the first time Sri Lanka is initiating an event of this nature, they sought neighboring India’s help in getting the event off the ground. “India’s expertise in the field of technology is trailblazing, and they have made their Internet Day an annual summit which is participated by industry leaders across the world in the last five years. We were very fortunate to have an expert like Lathika Pai from Microsoft India come on board as the co-chair of the event. Together with our own experts and the two Co-Chairs, Zulfer and Lathika, we are doing some great work to make our first Internet Day a memorable one that will benefit all participants.”

Co-Chair Lathika Pai commented: “Sri Lanka is at a critical inflexion point in digital adoption. It is important for public and private entities to come together to help accelerate this which will result in compounded growth for Sri Lanka’s economy.”

The two-day event will have approximately 40 virtual sessions where some important topics will be addressed by leaders and experts of the public and private sectors. The topics will include the digital vision for Sri Lanka; the country’s digital strategy; bridging divides; the foundation of Sri Lanka’s digital economy; connectivity to all, tech startups ecosystem etc., and some sessions will be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil.  High-powered panels will moderate discussions and judge interactive competitions for the media, teachers and youth. An art competition for teachers and youth, a panel discussion for media on ‘fake news in the age of information’, ‘women entrepreneurs’, ‘women in agriculture’, and a host of other sessions are amongst the rundown of activities.

All the events will be addressed by industry experts, subject gurus and motivational speakers who will give valuable insights on how the respective groups can benefit from the internet and what digital inclusivity can do for the entire country. The President of the digital chapter of FITIS says they have also sent out an invitation to Microsoft Corporation founder Bill Gates to address the event and await his response.

Overall, the Sri Lanka Internet Day 2021 is moving towards a great kick off with the goal of making Sri Lanka Internet Day an annual event that all stakeholders will look forward to.