New initiatives

Microsoft announced that it would further strengthen its commitment towards the country, with Microsoft Country Manager Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne asserting that “our belief is investing in technology and supporting the country to move forward.”

Among the new initiatives are funding the International Institute for Software Economics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incorporated (IISEIE), to conduct a high-tech Economy Survey for Sri Lanka.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the needs and opportunities for the country’s high-tech industry development, with the results helping to develop programs that will enable the IT industry become a key driver of economic and social development for Sri Lanka.

In addition, Microsoft Sri Lanka pledged to deepen its engagement in Sri Lanka by donating over Rs. 5 billion worth of software which will benefit over 50,000 students and individuals and over 400 NGOs over the next three years.

Further providing the younger generation with access to new technology, Microsoft and the Ministry of Education entered into a Schools Agreement that will enable schools to upgrade thousands of computers with latest technology including Windows 7 and other software, an initiative on which both parties will work closely in the years ahead. Making a landmark move, plans are underway to partner ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ on the Microsoft Gamata IT initiative to reach 1,000 rural villages in the future.

The University of Sri Jayawardenapura will be incorporated into the Dynamics Academic Alliance Programme, whereby they receive latest versions of Dynamics AX and NAV software products for free and gain access to a vast set of resources that will enhance the active learning experience of students. In another farsighted step to introduce international standards to the local industrial education space, the company will soon set up the Microsoft IT Academy Programme with the Vocational Training Authority.

On the Technology front, Microsoft is expecting to transform local business practices through its revolutionary range of products and solutions such as Microsoft Lync, virtualisation solutions and cloud computing. MS Office 2010 will also soon be launched in Sinhala as part of an ongoing partnership with ICTA.

Microsoft will also be playing its part in supporting the Government’s ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ theme by bringing one of its regional events to Sri Lanka in May.  The event titled ‘ICT-4-Nonprofits’ is an event to share the latest technology developments, with non-profit partners from across the region.