IFS to empower rural youth with IT skills

One of the leading global enterprise applications companies in Sri Lanka, IFS was a key participant in the IT-BPO (Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing) Career Fair held in Anuradhapura this October. Conducted jointly by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), the Education Ministry (MoE) and the IT- BPO Private Sector, this is part of a government lead initiative to create and spread awareness of the IT-BPO industry and also to provide much needed career counselling, especially to the rural sector.

Held over two days, the fair attracted around 4000 students aged between 15-21, as well as parents and teachers from the Anuradhapura district including many from surrounding areas such as Pulmoddai, Padaviya, Vavuniya.

Joining this program for the first time IFS has taken a significant step towards strengthening their ongoing commitment to educate and grow the IT talent and potential in Sri Lanka.

This is a crucial part of a dedicated CSR effort by IFS who are not merely a multinational functioning in SL and South Asia, but a strong presence locally employing over 700 people from across and around the island working with the development, support, sales and implementation of the world leading component based business solution, IFS Applications.

Committed wholeheartedly to improving IT education, they have also built and maintained strong connections with local IT education facilities, such as SLIIT, IIT, NIBM, APIT, Singapore Informatics, as well as the local universities providing lectures, with other facilities. Jayantha de Silva - Vice President, IFS South Asia, confirms that their CSR activities have indeed focused on education and that IFS will continue to contribute to the national plan of developing IT, "We believe in providing the 450,000 strong student base in the O/L grades, the proper guidance if they wish to follow a career in ICT", he said.