(Press Release)

Joint statement issued by the Ministries of Energy, Communications and Multimedia of Malaysia and Economic Reform, Science and Technology of Sri Lanka

On the initiative of and expression of interest to Dr. Mahathir Mohamad by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Governments of Malaysia and Sri Lanka have concurred to establish an Inter-Governmental Cooperation Programme (IGCP) with respect to the development and advancement in ICT-related areas.

The IGCP between Malaysia and Sri Lanka is in keeping with Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s vision of closer regional cooperation and transfer of know-how and expertise between developing countries.

The formation of the IGCP follows talks held between the respective ministers of the governments of Malaysia and Sri Lanka Amar Leo Moggie MP and Milinda Moragoda MP.

Malaysia and Sri Lanka share a common vision with respect to the harnessing of ICT as  a key driver of economic development in the emerging knowledge economy.  Both countries recognize the immense potential of their knowledge based human resources and the pressing need for pan-regional cooperation in the building of defensible internal strengths as well as external competitiveness in the fiercely volatile hi-tech environment which is fast pervading Asian economies as well as the world at large.

The IGCP will initially explore cooperation and knowledge sharing in the areas of:  Multi-tiered education and human resource development and technology driven broad-basing of the dissemination of educational content through virtual learning and multi-media vehicles;  Establishment of an ongoing investment promotion programme for ICT related Malaysia-Sri Lanka joint ventures;  Establishment of ongoing inter-institutional cooperation programmes on specific sub-areas based on parallel centres of excellence and expertise centres;   ICT reform and policy formulation mechanisms aimed at maximizing consumer dividends, national development and nationwide technology advancement with respect to infrastructure establishment and application;  Intra and inter governmental application of ICT enabled system aimed at harnessing the dividends of the knowledge economy within the public sector and its inter-actions with local and global markets;  Application of ICT towards accelerated development, poverty alleviation and the bridging of the digital divide.

The IGCP will be taken forward forthwith by an Inter-Governmental Working Group (IGWG) consisting of high level governmental representation from the policy formulation, investment and technology sectors.

It is foreseen and intended that advancing the broad areas of cooperation would lead to the crystalisation of specific  outcomes with mutual benefits to the people and governments of Malaysia and Sri Lanka.