Technology

e-Asia: Opportunity for digital expansion

The much awaited e-Asia 2009, the fourth in the series of the premier ICT event in Asia was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the BMICH Colombo on December 2. Themed 'Opportunities for Digital Asia', the three-day greatest Information and Communication Technology event of the region for the year consisting of conference and exhibition ended on Friday. The conference includes 40 thematic seminal sessions graced by global visionaries, innovators, practitioners, policy-makers and representatives from donor agencies. About 25 countries particularly from Asia but including USA and Europe represented at top level at the event.

Approximately 100 institutions and more than 1,000 delegates participated in the conference.

Speaking on the importance of the event Reshan Dewapura, the Chief Operating Officer of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) which is the Sri Lankan organisation hosting e-Asia 2009 said: 'e-Asia 2009 provides and opportunity for interacting particularly with the countries of the region. A memorable experience of a lifetime was gained by the local and international participants at e-Asia 2009 both at conference and exhibition'. About 408 presentations involved with the core aim of making the benefits of ICT reach the people are on the cards. These will be under five thematic sectors, namely, (1) Emerging Technologies, (2) e-Government, (3) Digital Learning, (4) e-Health and (5) Telecentre Forum.

SLIIT creates the future of IT in Sri Lanka

SLIIT once again steps forward to the challenge of moulding Sri Lanka's finest IT specialists by welcoming yet another batch of ambitious and motivated students who seek professional IT qualifications. This year 1,500 students will receive the opportunity to be a part of Sri Lanka's finest IT institution. Upholding its firm purpose of national contribution for over a decade since its establishment, SLIIT continues to meet and re-define the needs of a fast expanding IT industry.

SLIIT is the largest IT degree awarding institute in Sri Lanka, encompassing a faculty of highly qualified dedicated in-house academic staff and recognised by the University Grants Commission under the Universities Act. Its capacity to promote, nurture and ensure the availability of a rich pool of IT experts is a boon for the nation. The career-centric education, innovative study programmes and outstanding facilities at SLIIT guarantees an enriching and instructive learning experience for its students. SLIIT takes an active role in advising, mentoring and monitoring all the students at the institution, and provides facilities and labs for a range of applications. Students have the additional benefit of a well-equipped gym, a modern tennis court, an outdoor basketball court, table tennis, chess and carrom facilities as well as a large playground, and have the option of joining the team that plays their favourite game. 'Within such an environment, the student's learning experience extends that of IT learning to a comprehensive and well-rounded development', states Managing Director, Professor Lalith Gamage.

The new batch of students will be able to choose from an extensive array of B.Sc. degree programmes with prestigious partner universities in UK, Australia, and Canada.

The minimum criteria for entry are 3 local or London GCE Advanced Level passes, including a pass for the Aptitude Test conducted by the Institute.

In addition, the four year SLIIT B.Sc. Honours degree in Information Technology, approved by the University Grants Commission, is available in three fields of specialisation; Information Technology, Computer Systems and Networking and Information Systems.

SLIIT's long term Academic Partner University, Curtin University of Australia, has signed a special agreement with SLIIT which permits students to complete the B.Sc. Degrees in Information Technology and Computer Systems and Networking at SLIIT, or they have the option of transferring to Curtin University, Australia once they successfully complete their second year (Diploma Level) at SLIIT.

Gamata IT storms into Puttalam

The second Microsoft 'Gamata IT' town storming event was held in Pallama, a remote area in the Puttalam district, on November 14, 2009.

The Gamata IT program is designed to provide the greatest benefit to the residents of the village it touches. The people of the Pallama village including students, youth and professionals from the public and private sector were given IT training, exposure in usage and benefits of IT as well as assistance in expanding their future prospects through the use of Information Technology.

Garunayake, Secretary to Priyankara Jayaratne - Deputy Speaker of Parliament endorsing the initiative said: "We are happy to be a part of an initiative with a vision to empower rural communities in our country, an initiative that is directly in line with the President's vision for the Year of English and IT.

We take this opportunity to thank Microsoft Sri Lanka and ICTA for choosing the right villages like Pallama, where this kind of investment and attention is needed and appreciated by a community that possesses a great resource of untapped potential that can be used to uplift the livelihoods as well as to take an active role in energizing the national economy.

An 'IT Club' was also launched as another milestone of the Gamata IT initiative.

The IT club was installed to empower its members, especially the youth in Pallama with the objective of enhancing their knowledge and exposure to IT, thus bridging the digital divide existence between rural communities and the rest of the world.

The club aims to create a positive interest in the field of IT and educate the youth of Pallama about new developments that will help them keep abreast of the latest in the field of IT.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Manoji Samararatne, Marketing Director of Microsoft Sri Lanka said "Our efforts are to bring every village to the same IT platform as the rest of the country.

Through bridging the digital divide Microsoft Sri Lanka aims to empower communities to face the 21st century with confidence.

We believe that through the continued empowerment of rural communities like Pallama, we are providing the residents with a means to uplift themselves."

Latest Acer 'Timeline' launched

Metropolitan Computers and Acer Singapore launched the feature packed and versatile Acer Timeline series of laptops at the Cinnamon Grand recently.

Acer Singapore Regional Business Development Manager Regina Lee presenting the first Acer ‘Timeline’ Laptop to Metropolitan Computers Pvt. Ltd. Ceo Niranjan De Silva. While Asst. G/M Marketing Metropolitan Computers Pvt Ltd B. S. Lakmal looks on. Pix by: Wimal Karunathilake

The new Timeline series have a range of advanced features such as more than eight hours of battery life, Acer Comfy Touch technology which keeps the laptop close to five degrees cooler than the user's skin temperature, it is built to be ultra thin and lightweight, with some models as light as 1.6kg, eco friendly with energy efficient components, high definition screen at competitive prices, making Acer Timeline one of the most innovative laptops in the market.

"I am pleased to launch the Acer Timeline laptop in Sri Lanka which is feature-packed and designed for long battery life without compromising weight and is priced at main stream prices", said Regina Lee Regional Business Development Manager of Acer Singapore.

Acer was ranked the second largest global manufacturer of personal computers. Acer's sales rose by 25.6 per cent this year, compared with last year, which also boosted Acer's global market share by 14 per cent.

This increase came thanks to the range of low cost desktops, stylish and popular note book collection and the advanced and easy to use notebook options that Acer offers.

"In Sri Lanka too, Acer's market share has been growing rapidly during the last few years, due to the superb range of products offered by us at a very aggressive price with the renowned after sales service that comes with it said Niranjan De Silva, CEO-Metropolitan Computers Pvt Ltd. who represents Acer in Sri Lanka.