President inspects Knowledge Park

Thursday, 7 August 2014 00:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday inspected the progress of the Knowledge Park in the former Tripoli Market at Maradana which is expected to be completed by the year’s end. The Government at an estimated cost of about US$ 7 million is building a knowledge park in the heart of its capital Colombo to use as a center to establish knowledge-based industries. The Urban Development Authority and the military, under the supervision of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, are constructing the knowledge park at the former Tripoli Market near Maradana which covers a land area of 25 acres.

During the visit the President held discussions with the project officers and also inspected the future plans of the park. He also held discussions with the business owners interested in investing in the knowledge park. Once completed, the center will be used by technology companies including electronic, software, business process outsourcing, fashion design and pharmaceutical and health professionals. Under the Mahinda Chintana Future Vision, it is envisaged to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub in Asia. The government expects to earn revenues of US$ 1 billion from the information sector by the year 2016. Code Gen International Private Company limited, which is an information technology company that supplies software solutions for the international tourism industry, opened its new office in the knowledge park recently. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also accompanied the President in his tour.