Federation of Information Technology launches new initiatives for 2015

Tuesday, 7 April 2015 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Sri Lanka has witnessed significant forward-movement over the years and is now in the transitional process of evolving itself into a knowledge-based society with an outreach for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), said FITIS Chairman Chinthaka Wijewickrama. “There are around 75,000 persons actively involved in the IT industry in Sri Lanka at present. By the year 2020, the country will require a 200,000-strong workforce in terms of human resources to fuel the economy and push it to greater heights. By then, every single citizen in Sri Lanka will be using a smart mobile phone. “In the foreseeable future, every literate citizen will have access to a laptop or a smart mobile phone and log on to the internet. We have a clear vision to guide the ICT industry in the backdrop of this enormous socio-economic transition unfolding in this vital segment. “As a responsible organisation, the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) has already developed an innovative program to cater to the evolving changes and also meet the challenges ahead. We are now ready to launch this novel initiatives.”

Wijewickrama was speaking at the AGM of FITIS and a ceremony to mark the launch of the organisation’s new dedicated program of work for the year 2015, at the Colombo Hilton Residency recently. Around 160 members of FITIS participated in this ceremony, in addition to a large number of professionals in the IT sector and other distinguished guests were also present. Speaking further at the launch, Wijewickrama said: “FITIS has mapped out a program of action encompassing many initiatives to be

implemented in 2015 with the sole objective of contributing towards the overall development and progress of the ICT industry in Sri Lanka. The INFOTEL – 2015 information and technology exhibition, proposed launch of a national ICT directory, program to improve IT literacy amongst senior citizens, establishment of a proposed employment bank for the ICT sector, implementation of a waste management project, strengthening the cordial relationships with regional ICT organisations, starting of regional chapters and newest in Jaffna, conducting the APICTA Computer Software Contest and the Young Computer Scientists Competition, introducing the National Information Technology Quiz program, creation of IT societies in schools which will be linked to FITIS, conducting the Tech-Forum Workshops, implementing professional and amateur training programs and organising friendly cricket matches to further develop cordial ties amongst IT vendors, are some of the key projects lined up for implementation by FITIS.” The Sri Lanka Computer Vendors Association, which is the body representing the Hardware Chapter of FITIS, the Sri Lanka Association for the Software Industry representing the Software Chapter of FITIS and the Association of Computer Training Organisations representing the Training Chapter also held their Annual General Meetings during the FITIS launch. The new office bearers and members of the Executive Councils of the respective Associations were elected on the occasion. Accordingly, Derrick Fernanduz, was elected new President of the Sri Lanka Computer Vendors Association representing the Hardware Chapter of FITIS, Sudath Amarasinghe as Vice President, Poojitha Rajapaksha as Secretary, Ahmed Shaheer as Vice Secretary, Naleem Farook as Treasurer and Fazloon Sheriff as Deputy Treasurer. A Jayaseelan, Vasantha Weerakoon and Udaya De Silva were elected members of the Advisory Committee. Gnanam S. Lalith Perera, Dinesh Kumar, Prabath Wickremaarachchi, Prabath Gunasekara and Nushan Rafeel were elected members of the Executive Committee. At the AGM of the Sri Lanka Association for the Software Industry representing the Software Chapter of FITIS, Abbas Kamrudeen was elected new President, while Welington Perera was elected Vice President. Dhanika Perera, Sudarshan Wellihinda, Suren Rupasinghe, Thushitha Kularatne, T. Baheerrathan, Gamini Fernando, Prasath Hettiarachchi, Udaya De Silva, Crishan Perera, Dr. Tariq Marikkar, Fahard Hussain, Zia Cader and Dr. M. Ramasuddu were to the Executive Committee. At the AGM of the Association of Computer Training Organisations representing the Training Chapter of FITIS, Dr. Viraj Pinto was elected new President, Upul Dasanayake as Vice President, S. Romesh as Secretary, Amila Bandara as Vice Secretary, Vajira Karunarathne as Treasurer and M. Ziyam as Deputy Treasurer. Azard Ishak, Kapila Giragama, Pradeep Pushpakumara, Sanjeewa Perera, M. Fairooz and Mrs. Luciana Maurene were members of the Executive Committee. The Sri Lanka ICT Industry Association, The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) constitutes the Sri Lanka Computer Vendors Association (SLCVA) – the Hardware Chapter, Sri Lanka Association for the Software Industry (SLASI) – the Software Chapter, Association of Computer Training Organisations (ACTOS) – the Training Chapter, Lanka Internet Service Providers Association (LISPA)/(TPA) – the Telecommunications Chapter and Information Systems Audit & Control Association (ISACA) – the Professional Chapter. FITIS has been in operation for the past 20 years as the unified umbrella organisation of the ICT industry in Sri Lanka. FITIS has been actively engaged in setting the strategic direction and developing the ICT industry in Sri Lanka with many programs which have been successfully implemented. There are 200 organisations representing the respective Chapters which are members of FITIS. FITIS has rendered yeoman service over the past 20 years to develop and give strategic directive to the ICT industry in Sri Lanka. Organisations which obtain membership of FITIS enjoy immense benefits. FITIS plans for 2015 include INFOTEL 2015 industry promotion exhibition, APICTA 2015 on an international scale and the proposed launch of the National ICT Director, which again is a major industry promotion factor. The vision and mission of the organisation and the enormous work it has done in this vital sphere can be viewed by logging on to www.fitis.lk.