Nenasala lab set up in Ampara

Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya speaks at the inauguration of the Nenasala computer laboratory at HATI.

"The permanent Nenasala computer laboratory at the Hardy Advanced Technology Institute, Ampara (HATI) fulfils a dire need," said Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya at the launch of the Nanesala computer laboratory at HATI recently. "As the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) is wont to do, this time too it has come out with a mechanism for accelerated development through ICT," he said.

The laboratory is equipped with 20 computers and modern facilities including wi-fi.

"This permanent computer laboratory will open the vistas for valuable ICT benefits for its users both directly or indirectly. Every year about 600 applications are received by HATI to follow ICT courses conducted at the institute. Up to now it has been possible to admit only about 30 students annually to follow its full-time six-month ICT-related National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) course," the minister said.

"However, thanks to the Nenasala laboratory, it will be possible to increase the annual intake to this course to 50 students. Moreover the Nenasala laboratory will enable shorter ICT courses to be conducted especially during weekends for Government employees and professionals without affecting the full-time courses," he said.

The launch of this Nenasala laboratory is timely on account of the proposal to upgrade HATI as an ICT University.