The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) in association with the Electronic and Computer Software Export Promotion Council. Government of India Organization (ESC) conducted a major International IT event "Indolanka IT.com". The two-day event that comprised of an Exhibition and a Seminar was held at, Hotel Villa Ocean View in Wadduwa, Sri Lanka, on 26th and 27th July 2003.

While the Exhibition was for 15 Indian IT Companies to display their products and services, the Seminar concentrated on policies, guidelines and areas of requirement as far as Sri Lanka IT sector is concerned in which both the Govt Sectors and about 50 Sri Lankan IT Companies participated. The event was supported by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the newly formed ICT Agency of the Island. Both organizations made presentations on the E-Sri Lanka program and the opportunities that need are available to Sri Lankan companies and Indian investors. The Software Exporters of Sri Lanka and SLASI also made presentations indicating their requirements and reinforcing their support to the Indian IT companies to implement the various projects in the IT sector in association with Sri Lankan Companies.

The event was inaugurated by Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Economic Reform Science & Technology of Sri Lanka who expressed his happiness about the event and invited the Indian companies to support the Sri Lankan counterparts in converting the vision of "e-Sri Lanka" in to a reality. He also confirmed full support of the Sri Lankan Government for the Indian IT leaders to associate with the IT companies of Sri Lanka. Sri Ashok representing the Indian High Commission released the Event Catalogue and expressed his happiness on the event supporting the same for creating synergy between the two country's IT Leaders.

Sri. H.C.Srikantiah Minister Revenue in Karnataka, India made a short presentation on the IT project in the e - Government Sector concerned with the land records of the State. He informed that the implementation of this project has helped farmers locate their land records, transfer of rights and such other documents without any delay or impediment. He also informed that the project has gained importance not only in the country but also internationally. Karnataka has been a leader in IT field factually implementing various projects in the e-Government sector and IT companies who have come to Sri Lanka have successfully implemented some of the projects.

Nagaraja Rao, the Regional Executive of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) explained the need for such an interaction giving the details of the event and program of the Seminar. He furnished the statistics on the growth of the IT exports in India over the years and conveyed the information that out of the 71 CMM Level 5 companies, India has the privilege of having 50 of which Bangalore alone accounts for 30 companies. He also confirmed that the quality has been the prima-facie factor by most of the companies in Bangalore and that is why Bangalore is named as Silicon Valley with huge capital of knowledge power. He expressed happiness that the Indian companies are willing to partner with the Sri Lankan IT companies in effectively and quickly implementing the vision of Sri Lanka. Sri. Venkatesh Ramdas of M/s. V Tours & Conventions who managed the event, expressed thanks to every one for the co-operation in making the event a grand success.

Sri. Sanjoy Das Gupta IAS former Secretary IT of Govt. Karnataka, and who is also the Regional Chairman of Export Promotion Council (ESC) made a detailed presentation of the success stories in the various faculties of e-Government. He highlighted the need for Education and Training so that the IT projects could be effectively implemented. He cautioned the Sri Lankan Government to concentrate on creating awareness at grass root levels as otherwise there will be a widening of the Digital Divide. He demonstrated the different methodologies how effectively the rural folk could be involved in the e - Governance projects.

M/s. Red Hat India one of the co-sponsors of the event made a presentation on the usage of Open Source and the Linux platform for the Software Development and indicated that they would intend to have a local partner in Sri Lanka to take it forward. M/s. Millennium IT and Standard Technologies, the IT leaders of Sri Lanka, the sponsors of the seminar also gave details of the achievements and the great progress made by them in Sri Lanka identifying the projects and the services provided by them. They also expressed happiness over the event and indicated their intention to partner with Indian IT leaders.

On the second day all the Indian companies participating in the event made presentations of their products and services to the audience of 50 Sri Lankan IT Companies who were eager to have a dialogue of partnership. This was followed by series of One to One meetings which continued for the next Two days in Colombo. It is estimated that the event would generate a business of US$ 1 billion in successfully converting the vision of Sri Lanka into a reality.