The Island

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) donated a computer lab to the Embilipitiya Junior Secondary School in one of the company’s latest CSR efforts. The programme was initiated and organised by the Sri Lanka Telecom Havelock Town Welfare Society. The computer lab consists of four brand new computers together with computer tables and chairs and also wired and wi-fi connectivity through ADSL technology, providing the school with access to SLT’s high speed, uninterrupted internet facility.

IPS recently hosted a discussion on the Sri Lankan perspectives of a World Bank report titled ‘More and Better Jobs in South Asia’ and brought to light many issues related to the Sri Lankan job market. Among the diverse range of views that surfaced, issues related to youth employment seemed to be common among many stakeholders.

National Airport Services and Ground Handling Agent (NASHA) of Somaliland recently signed a long-term deal to use the advanced Departure Control System (DCS) developed by JKCS. This system is named Evinta.DCS. With this ground-breaking deal, Evinta.DCS now process the flight check-in and boarding functions of three African airlines landing at Hergeisa Airport (HGA). They are Daallo Airlines, Jubba Airways and East African Safari Express.

Respected think tank the Institute of Policy Studies is using an interactive tool in order to give you an opportunity to have your say in the development challenges facing the country.

The government has commenced a programme to set up Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres throughout the country, Director General of Intellectual Property D. M. Karunaratne said yesterday.

Dinesh Weerakkody, Director of HR Cornucopia and Chairman Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, speaking at a seminar on "Managing Employee Performance" last week observed that recognizing that most employees in a company are potentially great performers - is a key to being a great manager of people and performance.

Intellectual property (IP) continues to be a dynamic and constantly evolving field, closely tied to technological, economic, political and social changes. The changing geo-economic landscape has led to a growing interest in how IP can be used as a tool to build sustainable economic growth, both in emerging economies looking to build up their economic base, as well as in more mature economies wanting to maintain their competitive edge in the global market. Business can play an important role in helping governments understand the type of IP infrastructure necessary to stimulate the growth of innovative and creative industries and to encourage technology transactions.

In its continuing efforts to stay relevant and ahead of changing times, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) will hold an awareness programme titled ‘Dawning 2012’ for its lecturers to familiarise them on recent changes made to the Institute’s globally recognized Chartered Accountancy course curriculum.

Parallel to the ongoing Deyata Kirula development programme in the Anuradhapura district, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) has set up an Information Technology Centre and a Computer Languages Laboratory to enhance the skills of young students in Raja Rata.

It is indeed a rare occasion in Sri Lanka today that one can genuinely offer ‘Bouquets’ to anyone in authority, but it is with pleasure that I would like to offer my congratulations to the Government of Sri Lanka for the recent announcement that the Private Universities Bill is withdrawn, at least for the time being. I only hope that this is not a mere tactical withdrawal to divert attention, but is based on the realisation of the impropriety of the manner of its intended introduction.

One of Australia’s leading educational service providers IIBT (International Institute of Business and Technology) is further extending the 11 year agreement it has had with their Sri Lankan Representative MTI, by using Sri Lanka as the launch pad for some new services in regional markets.

The number of complaints regarding hacking of ‘Facebook’ accounts of Lankans has increased, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) Senior Information Security Engineer, Rohana Palliyaguru said.

By Sirimal Abeyratne, Professor in Economics University of Colombo

Policy Brief prepared for Pathfinder Foundation

University education in Sri Lanka has so far been operating behind the high protective barriers under the state monopoly. Despite frequent rhetoric for reforms, this important sector was not open to liberalization even after more than 30 years of liberalization policy reforms. Therefore, the university system in Sri Lanka continued to exist with all of the typical problems of a "state-owned enterprise" operating in a "closed-economy" model. The University system did not expand enough to cater to the growing demand so that there is a serious supply shortage.

Tech One Global will set up a 50-seat IT/BPO business, becoming the first Sri Lankan company to set up operations in Sri Lanka’s dedicated IT/BPO Park in Hambantota.

Household access to telephones is on par with electricity, television, and radio in Sri Lanka mainly because of the boom in mobile phones, and are set to overtake TV and radio, a new study said.

AIESEC is the world’s largest student-run organization bringing together more than 60,000 members from over 100 countries in the world. AIESEC offers leadership and international exchange and skill development opportunities for youth around the world in its efforts to achieve its vision: "Peace and fulfilment of Humankind’s Potential."

Dinesh Weerakkody MD HR Cornucopia says the current educational system in our country, from kindergarten through university, does a poor job of equipping people for continuous learning. Therefore, to engage Generation Y, there needs to be a wave of innovation in future education, particularly online, that will cater to this need in a more flexible, personalized way than the traditional degree or postgraduate courses are delivered.

John Keells Foundation inaugurated its popular "English for Teens" scholarship programme for 2011/12 in 19 Districts of the country in November 2011. "What we learn in this programme will help us in school and in our daily lives. It is an honour to be given the opportunity to learn at a well reputed Language Centre. We hope that John Keells will continue to provide scholarships for the benefit of children like us", said 14-year old, W.M. Lakshani Navodya Wijetunga of Gothami Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo at the inauguration ceremony held in Colombo.

Over 50,000 are employed in the IT industry in Colombo and Sri Lanka is growing as a global IT destination, a Science and Technology Ministry official said.

Micro Research Group, local language mobile application developer, revolutionises Sinhala Mobile Applications with an industry first, Sinhala – English dictionary for Mobile Phones.

Specialising in the development of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, Bileeta (Private) Limited has earned a reputation – both here and abroad - for providing a cutting-edge solution to both medium and large-scale enterprises. The CEO Mr.Sanji De Silva and COO Mr.Sanka Weerasinghe, of Bileeta is on an aggressive growth path that continues to gain recognition, specifically with the affirmation of ICTA – the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake yesterday told Parliament that the draft for a Non-Governmental Universities Act had been forwarded to the Attorney General and the implementation of that Act would shut down the institutes which sell degrees.

EVES Group AG, an international IT Management and Software Solutions Provider based in Braunschweig, Germany, unveiled their ambitious plans to make EVES IT Lanka, with its operations in Colombo the hub of its Information Technology (IT) products and services marketing in Asia by enhancing the local operations with advanced German technological inputs and know-how.