Digital solutions for the UN SDGs: Sri Lankan software company wins World Summit Awards 2022

Wednesday, 14 December 2022 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Founder/ Manager/ CEO Shohan Kulasuriya

Marketing Director Lashika Thanuj

Assistant Software Engineer Shashika Parakrama

Assistant Software Engineer Hasini Ruwanthika

Software Engineer Lahiru Mendis

 

 

 

  • Deegenics software solution “ManKiwwa” (ux lsõjd / மங்கிவ்வா) triumphs in “Inclusion & Empowerment” category

The World Summit Award (WSA) winners 2022 provide a meaningful selection of worldwide digital solutions that are contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) – 40 solutions from 29 countries have been awarded by an international jury. 

The winners of 2022 demonstrate how digital solutions decisively support societal challenges and assist to achieve the UN SDGs. The global pandemic specifically demonstrated the importance of digital solutions and this year´s winners are an excellent example how digital solutions and applications can help protect the environment, support healthcare, provide inclusive and high-quality education, connect people, and share relevant information. The winning projects demonstrate the diversity and richness of digital content solutions globally.

Given that WSA had nominations from almost 100 UN member states, there were an estimated 800 projects and products under consideration, and they have been chosen to be among the 40 most outstanding.

The challenges we are facing in Indonesia and globally will only worsen if we are investing not more in ICT, and computerisation. We need to get smarter in technology to become more sustainable, but it is also about the survival. Tornados in Canada are breaking down whole villages, while in British Columbia 70 tons of fish died by being directed by wrong streams. 

We all face this, every country in the world – nobody will be spared. We all need to invest into new technologies, and everybody is called to share knowledge, find solutions, and not that everything can be automated, but it needs behavioural changes. This can only happen through knowledge sharing and international cooperation. The WSA Grand Jury in Jakarta, Indonesia, organised in joint with the German GIZ’s Digital Transformation Centre and Bubu.com, is a perfect example of that.

“The WSA winners combine two major focus points – the commitment on the UN SDGs and solving societies issues with smart content application. Evaluated by an international expert Jury in 2 stages – a multi-stakeholder college unique in terms of diversity and background – the 40 WSA winners 2022 have been tried for sustainability, aim, technical and strategic finesse. This year’s challenges show more than ever how much digital means can offer progress and solutions. This year’s WSA winners present a wonderful showcase of purpose driven innovation and entrepreneurship,” WSA Chairman Prof. Peter A. Bruck states.

“In the wake of major social and political changes over the current pandemic, social entrepreneurs and digital innovators around the globe are taking bold steps to safeguard diversity, equity, and inclusion. Being a member of the WSA Grand Jury, I have witnessed this first-hand. As became clear, there is no silver bullet. No single solution that can tackle the UN SDGs. Yet, in pushing ourselves to think outside the box and draw on the best empirical evidence that exists, the convening WSA applicants showcased promising evidence that we still have significant hope for the UN 2030 agenda. WSA Grand Jury process is the most democratic evaluation mechanism that is out there to compare and contrast global innovations representing all UN member countries. This is what I enjoy the most being a member of the WSA Grand Jury,” WSA Grand Jury member and Australia National Expert Sachi Wickramage states.

“Mankiwwa has made it to the ‘Hall of Fame’ of digital innovation with impact on society. We are very proud of this locally grown solution which no doubt will be a game changer on how we engage with local government authorities and facilitate access to the multitude of services we all need from them on a daily basis. The World Summit Award is unique – different from most, if not all other technology awards. Its raison d›être is to bring on the world stage digital excellence with social impact from across 180+ countries it engages with. WSA is today recognised as the ‘quality seal for digital content with societal impact’. Mankiwwa clearly ticks all the boxes in demonstrating how ICTs can impact positively on society and has to be commended for what it has achieved during a very difficult period. Congratulations to Shohan and his team for making the country proud by keeping the flag flying high at WSA 2022.” National Expert Sri Lanka Chithranganie Mubarak states.

Deegenics software solution “ManKiwwa” will be recognised at the WSA Global Congress 2023, in front of an international audience. The tech advocacy company will receive their award in the “Inclusion & Empowerment” at the WSA Global Congress 2023, 

from 8 to 11 March, 2023 in Puebla, Mexico. The WSA Global Congress is an international networking and learning event for those who are interested in the use of digital technology to achieve the UN SDGs.

The agenda will be a compilation of interaction and inspiration, hands-on workshops, business blind-dates and inspiring keynotes, bringing together the global and multi-stakeholder network of WSA.

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