SL should have world class universities – Bill Gates

(May 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The chairman of global IT giant Microsoft, Bill Gates said that Sri Lanka should find ways of developing world class universities locally, thereby enabling the island to enter into a new world of knowledge and technology. In that respect, Microsoft has announced the possibility of setting up an innovation centre in Sri Lanka, whilst facilitating greater support for the IT/BPO industry, greater investment in education and boosting IT capacity in Sri Lanka.

Gates made this suggestion when he met an eminent Sri Lankan delegation at the Government Leaders Forum (GLF) organized by the Government of Indonesia in collaboration with the Microsoft Corporation. The event, titled ‘Serving the Citizen: The Transformative Power of Information Technology in Delivering Government Services’ was graced with the presence of high profile participants in the league of President of Indonesia Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation.

The GLF provided an opportune moment for leaders in the Asia Pacific Region to converge in an exchange of views relating to administrative governance, education, healthcare, sustainable economic growth and most importantly, addressing the role of information and communications technology (ICT) within these spheres and the value it adds to the successive evolution of the above.

At a meeting with the Sri Lankan delegation the Microsoft Corporation went onto state that they would explore the possibility of commissioning a McKenzie Consultant Study for Sri Lanka, focusing on the potential for IT/BPO industrial growth in the country. Whilst launching a special initiative to boost the country’s IT capacity,

Microsoft also plans to develop the specialist skills of approximately 500 Government employees, communicating greater support towards rural computing and adding emphasis on working through the Nenasala and Vidatha centres and more. Further, enhancing its commitment towards skills development in Sri Lanka, Microsoft also plans to equip overseas workers with IT training and provide them with email IDs prior to leaving the country thereby supplementing the ICTA eFEB project simultaneously.

After receiving a special invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapakse to visit Sri Lanka, Bill Gates indicated his support towards the country’s ‘Year of IT’ plan for 2009, and went onto make further recommendations to the Sri Lankan delegation in the wake of reducing internet access costs, which he felt was a prime factor in regard to a population’s progression in being internet savvy; and further increasing broadband penetration in Sri Lanka.

The Microsoft Corporation reaffirmed the importance of educating local consumers on the many drawbacks, and global repercussions of contributing to the ever increasing growth of software piracy that is prevalent in the country today. The government recognized the severity of the issue, and guaranteed that methods to curtail the distribution of pirated software in the country will be paramount in their plan of action.

The partnership between the two organizations is to be spearheaded within the related areas of the Sri Lankan Government by Minister Karu Jayasuriya and Prof. Tissa Witharana. The campaign will have the fullest support of the President’s office, which will play a pivotal role in these initiatives, thus providing for the nation a concrete body to liaise with new developments, undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka. A task committee of such stature only reaffirms Sri Lanka’s commitment towards these new initiatives, and their will to make these visions a reality.

The Microsoft Corporation and Government of Sri Lanka alliance is tipped to be a very positive milestone in the ongoing economical development of the nation. With a worldwide network that sets the standards for bridging the gap along the information superhighway, this partnership promises new hope for Sri Lanka, and its many generations to come.

The Sri Lankan delegation to the seminar was fortunate to have been selected as one of four countries to have a series of one-to-ones with Gates and his team members. Microsoft was delighted and keen to hear of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s vision for Sri Lanka as a key player in the global IT revolution, and went on to state that the positive impression presented by the Sri Lankan delegation created and provided a moment for Sri Lanka and Microsoft to forge a public-private partnership with each other. In addition to the interaction the delegation had with Gates, they also had the opportunity to have multiple meetings with Chris Atkinson (President South East Asia – Microsoft Corporation) on strategies and implementation aspects of the proposed partnership as well as Michael Donlan (General Manager Public Sector, APAC – Microsoft Corporation) who further helped the delegation prepare for the proposed strategy.
- Sri Lanka Guardian