ComBank launches e-learning on Microsoft Cloud

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon as a community initiative that builds on the Bank's on-going commitments on a national scale, in the spheres of IT literacy and online education, launched a new educational website that will bring the universe of knowledge closer to Sri Lankan children.

A pilot project linking Sipnena the new website, with 10 schools in diverse regions such as Jaffna, Beliatta, Matara, Minneriya, Kegalle and Kalawana in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa, and Nawalapitiya in the hill country, has been launched by the Bank as the first phase. Registered under the .lk and .com domains, and to be hosted free on Microsoft Cloud by Microsoft Sri Lanka, the 'Sipnena' website will offer students free access to content carefully selected to support educational needs, in line with local curricula, via the IT Labs donated by the Bank to these and 152 other schools around the country.

Commercial Bank's Managing Director and CEO Jegan Durairatnam said, "Our objective is to create an environment that integrates technology as a natural part of the educational experience and provides learners the skills to access knowledge that will be a foundation for their future."

"We believe that the best resources should not be reserved for those who can afford them, but should be made available to everyone, everywhere, without cost. Using the power of the internet, this goal is possible," Durairatnam added.

Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Microsoft Sri Lanka, Imran Vilcassim said, "Sipnena Online Links offer immense potential for increasing exam success, decreasing the cost of education and providing expanded options for learning.

However, overcoming the public's conventional views on technology could be difficult."

"For instance, despite lots of media and industry buzz about the personalised nature of online instruction, the majority of teachers and parents still view traditional, classroom-based education as better tailored to each person," he said.