ICT Agency formed: e-Sri Lanka programme gathers momentum

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

[from http://www.developmentgateway.org/ ]


ICT Agency formed: e-Sri Lanka programme gathers momentum 
(Sunday Observer, 22 June 2003)


URL: 	http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2003/06/22/bus01.html

Description: 	Lead: "The ICT Agency, the implementing arm of the 'e-
Sri Lanka Smart People Smart Island' programme, became a reality with 
the ICT Bill being passed in Parliament last week. The Government is 
now in the process of selecting a capable management team. Eran 
Wickramaratna has been appointed Chairman of the ICT Agency while 
Manju Haththotuwa of Millennium Information technologies is tipped to 
be the CEO. According to industry sources, the other members will 
include Prof Rohan Samarajiva, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya and P. 
Thayaparan. The World Bank has offered financial help to the tune of 
US$ 50 million while the Swedish International Development Agency, 
Canadian International Development Agency, Ausaid and Japan Bank for 
International Cooperation have also extended their support. As the 
programme evolves, more funding will come in, Wickramaratna said. He 
said Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda 
Moragoda and Indian ICT Minister Arun Shourie have signed a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore areas in which Sri Lanka 
and India can cooperate..."