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ICTA in the forefront to make Sri Lanka a digitally inclusive nation
Digital literacy 43% at present
BY SURESH PERERA
In keeping with the President’s vision, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka has launched multiple initiatives to make Sri Lanka a digitally inclusive country.
As the apex ICT institution of the Government, the ICTA has been mandated to take all necessary measures to implement the Government’s Policy and Action Plan in relation to Information and Computer Technology.
“We are looking at a rapid positive change in digital transformation without waiting for the next 10 to 15 years to create a technology based society”, says a senior ICTA official.
It is to accelerate the digital transformation process and achieve the objective of a digitally inclusive Sri Lanka that the ICTA’s intervention is necessary, he stressed.
“We should make digital technology normal for everybody just like, for example, electricity which was a privilege at one point, but is now general purpose for the citizenry. Our target is to make digital technology general purpose for the consumption of everybody by 2024”, he noted.
He said that targets need to be accelerated to make the whole population or at least 75% of it digitally literate. At present, digital literacy stands at 43%. Computer literacy doesn’t mean learning how to switch on and off a computer. It goes beyond the basics and extends to the effective use of digital technology to surf the web, access online fora or use social media for communication purposes.
A farmer should be able to use Whatsapp or any such freeware or cross-platform for consultations on matters regarding his crops. Not everybody who uses a mobile phone is digitally literate. The concept of digital technology should be an integral part of day-to-day life of the citizenry, the official outlined.
He said the ICTA is working in collaboration with government institutions, industry stakeholders, NGOs and INGOs to achieve dedicated targets to make Sri Lanka digitally inclusive. In a technology based society, everybody should be able to consume something.
It’s an enormous challenge, he underlined. “We need to push ahead with our 900 plus initiatives to make the digital transformation in Sri Lanka happen at a swift pace”.
There is a significant digital transformation of government institutions which have become citizen- friendly and citizen-centric as a result. The ICTA facilitates the task of building sustainable capacity and improving processes to achieve set objectives, the official continued.
The ICTA has rolled out a dedicated government learning platform free of charge to state institutions for educational purposes, he said.
“We are also working on meeting the demand for ICT professionals in the country. The gap has to be bridged by producing sufficient ICT professionals to meet the growing demand”, he emphasized.
He said that ICT across the board encompasses schools, government, vocational and higher education. There is also key focus on enhancing and promoting smart education.
Another focal point is on using digit technology effectively for mass education in a post-Covid situation, he further said.
“We also support professional education”, he added.
Technology adoption is another key area as just as much as capacity building is imperative, trust and confidence should go hand in hand. People should have the competence and the trust to use it, he said.
The 21st century is knowledge-centric. True competitiveness lies in how well technology is integrated into every economic sector, be it agriculture, industry, service or else. It is imperative that Sri Lanka invests strategically in this century’s new innovative technologies, integrate such innovations into our education systems and incorporate innovative measures to our economic framework. The quality of life of people should be enhanced by creating a culture of Technological Innovation.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
