[Technology]

ICT related projects will improve living standards - CSSL President

By Gamini WARUSHAMANA

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The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) held its 26th national information technology conference last week, the biggest IT conference in the country under the theme “e-inclusion for a knowledge economy”.

The president of the CSSL Dr. Prasanna Lokuge told the conference that the theme of the conference pertains to the present time as Sri Lanka has embarked on many ICT related projects to uplift the living standards of the people.

The cross-cutting nature of the technologies provides a level playing field for all citizens of Sri Lanka to access and disseminate information for socio economic benefits.

E-inclusion, made possible through many innovative technologies is capable of uplifting the living standards of the masses by bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal opportunities to enjoy the fruits of new technologies, he said.

ICT can deliver opportunities to the most disadvantaged segments in the society, so that deprived communities can solve their most pressing problems by themselves.

The ICT industry is increasingly engaged in social agenda. The CSSL together with the ICT industry has initiated various e-inclusion programs through new technologies.

The emergence of wireless technologies, maturing of standards, mainstreaming of voice over IP, application of RFID and expansion of broadband access are the technologies that make e-inclusion possible, Dr. Lokuge said.

Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitarana, the chief guest at the conference said that the limitation of financial resources hinders efforts in the promotion of ICT in the country.

Though the country is rich in human and natural resources the limitation in financing is a serious issue in this industry. Therefore, we have to find ways and means to overcome these issues and the CSSL should lead such initiatives, the Minister said.

“We have set up computer centres in many schools including rural schools to improve computer literacy among children. However, we have started the program from the wrong end due to the limitation of resources today we teach IT in O/L and A/L classes.

However, we should have started it from the primary level,” he said.

According to the Minister the ICTA has shown reasonable progress in the e-government program. The program has disseminated to the provinces.

The language barrier has hindered the progress of the program. Still the access through local languages, especially Sinhala is not satisfactory. A unified Sinhala system and fonts should be introduced throughout the country.

Since India has developed solutions for Tamil this issue is still prevailing only in Sinhala, the Minister said.

The Minister outlined the government’s future programs that have been designed to promote ICT in the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared the year 2009 as the year of ICT and the year of English education.

To get the maximum benefits from the opportunities available in this booming service economy we have to develop the English communication skills of the students parallel to the ICT skills. We will get assistance from India to improve the quality of our English education.

The Minister said that Microsoft has expressed its interest in investing in Sri Lanka.

We had a discussion with Bill Gates and he would visit Sri Lanka next year.

The seminar was held from August 20-21 at the Cinnamon Grand with the participation of a large number of ICT professionals.

Aramex provides Logistics Solutions for Borneo Exotics

Aramex Sri Lanka in collaboration with its Singapore and UK offices coordinated and provided Logistic solutions in air and ocean freight services for the silver medalist - Borneo Exotics Sri Lanka at the Singapore Garden Festival.

Aramex was part of the operation of this event which brought much fame for Sri Lanka.

This event is probably the most exclusive Garden Show in the world; the Singapore Garden Festival puts the best of the best of the world’s top award winning garden designers against one another.

The designers are selected for their previous achievements such as multiple Gold Medals at top garden shows such as the renowned Chelsea Flower Show and other major shows around the world.

Designers Diana Williams and Robert Cantley from the Sri Lankan company Borneo Exotics (Pvt) Ltd staged a 100 sq. m Garden called ‘Season of Mist’ which was constructed in Sri Lanka before being containerised and shipped to Singapore.

The main plants exhibited were Nepenthes, all multiplied in the Borneo Exotics laboratory, grown in their nurseries in Sri Lanka and then shipped and exhibited, straight out of the box in perfect condition.

This was made possible due to the dedication and care of Borneo Exotics’ Sri Lankan staff and the professionalism of Logistics Partner ‘Aramex’, who handled all the logistics for this complex exhibit.

Softlogic Max store in Kohuwala

Softlogic Max, the primary retail brand of the Softlogic group opened its fourth Softlogic Max store in Kohuwala.

This marks yet another key milestone for the company as it steps up its expansion drive of its distribution network, offering customers the maximum experience in shopping, synonymous with its brand tag line.

With the opening of Softlogic Max in Kohuwala customers would have the ease of visiting us and availing themselves from a wide range of superior products covering consumer electronic appliances, mobile phones, computers to notebooks and everything in between.

In keeping with the overall concept of Softlogic Max stores which are positioned as a multi-brand modern home products retailer, quality, convenience, accessibility and value are built in attributes. Hence the reason for us to pay significant attention to detail so that customers can have a hassle free, relaxing shopping experience with us and make their selection from a range of World renowned brands such as Panasonic, Dell and Nokia, among others.

The Softlogic Max store in Kohuwala has been designed to the highest aesthetic standards, with a very modern look .

Oracle revenue in Lanka up 100% in two years

The incremental revenue generated by the Oracle partners from Oracle technology and applications in Sri Lanka has increased by over 100% in the past two years, said Managing Director, Asia Pacific of Oracle Natasak Rodjanapiches.

Oracle partners in Sri Lanka such as Millennium IT, DMS, Interblock and Informatics have increased their Oracle practices by up to 100% through recruiting skilled Oracle certified professionals to service customers in Sri Lanka.

Oracle 25 Oracle Partner Network (OPN) members including independent software vendors, system integrators, resellers and platform partners are taking advantage of Oracle’s expanded product portfolio across database, middleware and applications to provide comprehensive IT solutions to customers in Sri Lanka, Rodjanapiches said. The Company said that Sri Lankan IT companies such as Millennium IT, Interblock and Informatics have witnessed incremental sales as a result of Oracle’s expanded product portfolio.

Oracle is highly successful in the manufacturing, government, telecommunication, financial service and retail sectors in Sri Lanka.

Last year Oracle rolled out several partner focused initiatives including Oracle acceleration program, Oracle application integration architecture, the Oracle technology days, Oracle database 11g deep dive sessions, partner enablement activities and other demand generation programs to promote partners’ solutions to prospects and the Oracle install base.