Technology Secretary outlines key initiatives towards a digital SL

• Details plans for major technology developments in SL at FITIS Digital Excellence Awards 2021
• Techno parks to be built across nation with abundance of resources
• 10,250 schools to be powered with fibre optic connections to battle communication problem

By Jibraan Mohamed

Ministry of Technology Secretary Jayantha De Silva last week highlighted various initiatives the Government has taken to develop the digital landscape of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the FITIS Digital Excellence Awards 2021, de Silva said a countrywide digital IT push was being rolled out along with a national framework.

“In this we’re not coming out as only a digital framework for IT, we’re coming out with a national framework with a layer that any one of you could use. Any of the Sri Lankan companies would be able to access this data, obviously with a set of rules. You will be able to develop software on this and most of the projects identified namely, 56 projects will all be handled by the local companies. So, you will have a huge opportunity to work for the best of this country and for the best of these industries.  Once developed we all want these products and solutions to go as solutions to outside the world,” IT industry veteran de Silva said.

He outlined the effort in revolutionising a method brought to the courts. This is by being able to view court proceedings online, enhancing the credibility and transparency of all proceedings. “This particular solution would give more transparency than most of this developed world. It will always be voice recorded and video recorded and any person living anywhere in the country without coming to courts would be able to get too integrated into this solution,” said Jayantha.

The Secretary spoke of the impressive project that is in progress – Techno parks being built around the country. These are going to be built to facilitate many kinds of technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, along with many more. Every techno park has been planned and architected and construction has already begun in Galle and Kurunegala.

«They will be working on top class technology at the highest end. We are going to have grown greenfields; all our techno parks are going to be green bond environments. There will be swimming pools, tennis courts, running tracks, walking tracks, yoga meditation, food parlours, everything that would be inside techno parks.”

These techno parks will be facilitated with 5G internet, fibre optic connections, 24-hour operation up and running, assured power, and they’ll be available all 365 days of the year.

The Secretary made a special remark about the drive by the Government to empower the digitalisation of schools: “We have taken a decision, as spoken in the Budget, to connect 10,250 schools by next September; 10,250 schools across the country will be facilitated with fibre optic connections, which means to give all facilities to every school in this country. So the person in the remotest school would get access to the best features in Sri Lanka.”

The event featured several international and local experts who shared key insights on Industry 3.0 to exponential organisation, digitisation, digitised operations, automation, digitisation of products and services. There was a fireside chat on ‘Digital Transformation – How to take off and stay ahead’.

Platinum Partners of the event were WSO2 and Oracle, Silver Partners were BMC Software, Dialog Television, Freshworks, Liferay, Impact IT and Silverleap, Knowledge Partners were Next Campus and openexo, Print Media Partners were Daily FT, Daily Mirror and the Sunday Times.