Dilanthe Withanage – Head of e-Society Program at ICTA

Source :

 http://sundaytimes.lk/031130/ft/14.htm

Opposition leader Rajapakse endorses ICT initiatives
Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse endorsed the initiatives of the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) at the launch of a ICT training programme for media personnel last week.

Addressing the group, Rajapakse stressed that all parts of the country can be developed only through a tri-partisan approach, where programmes are implemented by the state and the private sector together with the civil society.

He added that the tri-party approach was necessary for the rural community to benefit from the information technology programmes to be implemented in rural areas. He added that programmes carried out by a single party have so far not been successful.

The opposition leader also commended the computerization of the offices of the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament; and improving computer literacy of the staff of these institutions under the e-leadership programme. He requested that a similar programme be launched for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition as well.
Addressing the gathering, the Team Leader of the Public Interest Programme Unit Professor Rohan Samarajiwa said media personnel can use the Internet as a rich source for their professional work and that the training was aimed at such benefits.
Manju Haththotuwa, Chief Executive Officer, ICTA explained that ICT can be utilized to create a generation of ‘empowered journalists’ in Sri Lanka.

He said the ICTA was ready to support the journalists in this endeavour adding that the media can play a major role in taking information technology to the village.
Co-coordinator of the e-Society programme, Dilanthe Withanage said that the government had taken an important strategic decision to allow the ICT Agency, which is an entity under the Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology, to work independently.

He said its impartiality was confirmed by the participation of the Opposition Leader at the event. The media training programme was organized by the e-journalists of Sri Lanka and was sponsored by Open Systems Technologies’ CADD Centre and implemented under the direction of the ICTA.

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National awards for e-society reporting
The Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) has announced an e-Society National Media Awards programme to encourage and recognize thoughtful and incisive reporting on Sri Lanka’s progress in becoming an “Information Society.” The inaugural awards is scheduled to be held on the final day of the national e-society promotion campaign in March 2004.

The ICTA is looking for journalistic reporting that creates awareness, builds understanding of the importance of ICT for development and highlights the impact of national and global ICT policies on development, according to an ICT statement.
The awards will be made for published reports of journalists in print, radio, television or the Internet.

The reports should go beyond describing projects or new investment initiatives, analysing broader issues such as the social impact of ICT particularly on rural or disadvantaged groups, or national and global communication policy issues.
The works published from January 2003 to February 2004 may be nominated by sending a clipping, audio or video tape, transcript or web reference by email to: mediaawards@icta.lk or by post to: Coordinator, e-society National Media Awards, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, 160/24, Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 5.

Dilanthe Withanage – Head of e-Society Program at ICTA

Dilanthe Withanage who was behind the creation of e-Society Program- is the the Founder of e-Journalists Program

 Source : http://www.dailymirror.lk/2003/12/01/ft/10.asp

Opposition leader backs national ICT literacy drive
The Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse last week extended his support to the drive towards national ICT literacy.

“All areas of the country can be developed only through a tri-partisan approach, implemented jointly by the state and the private sector together with the civil society. Programs carried out by a single party has so far not been successful,” Mr. Rajapakse said at a function held on at the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka.

He added that state and the private sector and civil organizations should jointly launch and implement information technology programmes in rural areas if the rural community is to benefit.

Mr. Rajapakse commended digitalizing and computerizing of the offices of the President and the Prime Minister’s office and the Parliament and improving computer literacy of the staff of those institutions under the aegis of the e-leadership program. He requested that a similar program be launched for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition as well.

“When we talk about e-leadership, the office of the Leader of the Opposition should also be included,” Mr. Rajapakse pointed out.

The Opposition Leader was addressing an ICT training launching ceremony for media personnel held at the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday. This programme has been organized by e-journalists of Sri Lanka. It is sponsored by the OST-CADD Centre affiliated to e-WIS company and is implemented under the direction of the ICTA.

Addressing the gathering, the Team Leader of the Public Interest Programme Unit Professor Rohan Samarajeewa said the media personnel can use the Internet as a rich source for their professional work. “Journalists can use Internet as a resource tool,” he added.

ICT Agency Chief Executive Officer Manju Haththotuwa described the way the ICT can be utilized to create a generation of “empowered journalists” in Sri Lanka. He said his organization was ready to support the journalists in this endeavor. He added that the media can play a major role in taking information technology to the village. Mr. Hatthotuwa said that state and private sector together with the civil society would combine to achieve that objective.

The Co-coordinator of the e-Society program, Dilanthe Withanage said that the government had taken an important strategic decision to allow ICT Agency, which is an entity under the Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology, to work independently. He said its impartiality was confirmed by the participation of the Opposition Leader in Monday’s event.

Ajith Amarasekara, Managing Director, OST- CADD Center said that his company was willing to continue training journalists in ICT.

Dilanthe Withanage brings GKP to ICTA

Source : http://icta.lk/Insidepages/News&event/171103-2whatsnew.asp

‘e-Sri Lanka’ receives GKP recognition
17th November 2003

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), which is the implementing agency of the e-Sri Lanka initiative, has been admitted as a member of the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP). The GKP is a worldwide network committed to harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies for sustainable and equitable development. GKP’s vision is a world of equal opportunities where all people can access and use knowledge and information to improve their lives. The network enables the sharing of information, experiences and resources to help reduce poverty and empower people.

Founded in 1997, GKP now comprises more than 80 members from 38 countries covering all continents. It is governed by an elected Executive Committee and serviced by a Secretariat based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In June 1997, development stakeholders from 144 countries came together for the first Global Knowledge Conference (GK97) in Canada. Hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Canada, and supported by a large group of public and private organizations, this was the first conference of its kind in the world to address Information Age challenges facing developed countries and the international community.

Within the GKP framework, governments, civil society groups, donor agencies, private sector companies and inter-governmental organizations come together as equals to apply ICTs for development (ICT4D). Such alliances are known as ‘multi-stakeholder partnerships’, a relatively new approach to forging collaborations among different sectors sharing a common vision and goal.

Building on the success of GK97, the Government of Malaysia hosted the second Global Knowledge Conference (GKII) in 2000, which saw a 75 per cent representation from developing countries. GKII effectively brought the voices of these nations to the attention of the development community, and areas for collective action were identified.

“Access to information and knowledge is essential if the disadvantaged, the marginalized, and the poor are to improve their lives and the lives of their children. We, at ICTA, believe that given the opportunities to access and use of ICT, people can improve their economic well-being and empower themselves and their communities to participate in and be responsible for their own development,” says Mr. Dilanthe Withanage, a programme specialist at the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka. He adds that the GKP is an important platform for Sri Lanka, as far as ICT development is concerned.

Increasing numbers of organizations are engaged in activities that support access to information and knowledge. There is a risk of increasing duplication and information overload. GKPs experience over the last five years shows that scarce resources can be more effectively utilized through coordination, information exchange, and increased collaborative opportunities.

Withanage Dilanthe. Founder Advisor, e-Journalists. Association of Sri Lanka

Source :  www.unicef.org/rosa/mapping.pdf

As the Founder of e-Journalists Forum , Dialnthe Withanage participated inWorld Media Forum held at WSIS in Geneva in 2003

Dilanthe Withanage(ICT consultant) from Sri Lanka visited KERIS to study the policy, history, and current status of Korean e-Learning. …

Source : http://english.keris.or.kr/es_news/es_nw_nws/1172844_518.html

 

		Delegation from Ministry of Education, Sri Lank visit
Oct 26, 2005

Dialnthe Withanage on the Web

Source :  http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/06/10/ft/30.aspDaily Mirror FINANCIAL TIMES
Dilanthe appointed ICT consultant The Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Program Specialist Dilanthe Withanage has been recently appointed as the ICT Consultant to the Ministry of Education. He will be directly responsible for directing the officials of the ICT unit in the Ministry in implementing the ICT education program in the school and university sectors while working for the ICTA in his present capacity. Withanage who will be doing sabbatical work in his new assignment expects to introduce ‘General Information Technology (GIT) ‘ as a new subject for Advanced Level curriculum in the state schools where adequate facilities are available from next month onwards.

Source : http://www.actionaid.org/main.aspx?PageID=245

Stand Up Against Poverty

ActionAid stood up against poverty across the globe in an attempt to create a new world record for the largest number of people to stand up together.

In Sri Lanka close to 800 people stood up in a series of events held in various cities across the island.

Supported by Worldview and ActionAid in Sri Lanka, GCAP is uniting concerned citizens to put pressure on governments and other decision makers to deliver their promises to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

“The people who suffer the most the consequences of poverty in Sri Lanka are the youth, those who are starting to run their lives by themselves and can’t find a proper job,” said PAG Premajayantha, Executive Director of Youth Employment Network, speaking at an event in Colombo.

“It is a great opportunity we can come together in events like this as this is the only way we can address these issues, getting all parties involved, all of us together.”

According to Dilanthe Withanage, of Worldview Sri Lanka, events such as this can open the eyes of leaders to the need to focus on poverty reduction and make it clear that if they don’t keep their promises the people will take action against them.

Dilanthe Withanage Designed the www.mahindarajapakse.com in 2003

Dilanthe Withanage was invited by Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse to design his Web site in 2003. Dilanthe while working at ICTA  under the UNP government developed the concept of this site and Dhamike Mendis did the technical implementation.  Source : http://www.mahindarajapaksa.com/first_day.php Sir Arthur C Clarke celebrates his birthday while launching Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa’s website

December 17, Colombo: Dr. Arthur C Clarke launching the official website of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed delight at the use of the internet and communication technology to broaden democracy. While celebrating his 86th birthday Dr. Clarke remembered his small days and how he spent time among the mose code machines at home. He said that both his parents were mose code operators and he also from time to time used to operate them although sometimes he urged to fold a sleep. Soon after launching the website,www.mahindarajapaksa.com, Dr. Clarke cut the birthday cake and shared his happiness with the distingused gathering at Hilton Colombo residencies in Colombo last evening. The occasion was streamed over the internet around the globe with over 38,000 witnessing the proceeding live. Mr. Dilanthe Withanage of Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka was taking a big step forwards e-democracy through the launch of this website. He explained how politicians in a developing country like Sri Lanka should make communications technology easily available to the people to empower them. Team Leader of Public Interest Programme Unit of Sri Lanka Professor Rohan Samarajiva pointed out the need to regularly update the site and make it truly interactive. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his special thanks to all those who helped to make the site a reality, specially Gamini Gunaratna from USA and Athula Pushpakumara from Sri Lanka. The event was attended by Former Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, PA MP and former Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, NUA Leader and former Minister Ferial Ashroff, The Governor of western Province Alavi Maulana, PA MP Chamal Rajapaksa distinguished personalities in Sri Lanka.

Dialnthe Witahange – The Founder of e-Journalists Forum in Sri Lanka

Dilanthe Withanage formed the e-Journalists Forum on 1st of July 2003 at the Jayawardene Center in Colombo , Colombo 7

Source : http://www.trc.gov.lk/wsis.htm

World Summit on Information Society & Sri Lanka The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) as the Administrator for ITU supports and actively involved in WSIS activities. 5► PrepCom-3, 15th-26th September 2003, Geneva ·        HE Prasad Kariyawasam, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Geneva ·        Mr. Sugeeswara Gunaratne, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UN, Geneva TRCSL submitted the contribution for the Prepcom-3 based on the inputs received from National Science Foundation.. • FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WERE HELD Supported Networking South Asia 2003 CSSL and IEE(SL) Joint Session on e-SRI LANKA Yuga Dekma Exhibitions – Ambilipitiya, Matara – Ministry of Mass Communication ICT Exhibition – Beruwala Seminar & formation of E-Journalist Association – Ministry of Mass Communication & World View Organisation Video Conference on WSIS – ICT Agency & Ministry of Mass Communication WSIS/ICT Promotional Campaign with the Theme ‘Towards Building an Information Society’ ,Christ Church College, Matale, Sri Lanka, Monday, 06th October 2003 • FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD SUBSEQUENTLY WSIS AWARDS Press Release Home |Contact Us | FAQ| Site Index © 2004 Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions. Privacy Policy

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