Minister for Economic Reforms, Science and Technologies Milinda Moragoda has expressed his desire to establish communication centres and cyber cafes in villages.
Moragoda, as a special representative of the Government said so when he met Minister Pramod Mahajan, Minister for Information Technology and Communication of India at New Delhi recently.
The objectives and plans of E-Sri Lanka project initiated recently by Prime Minister Rail Wickremesinghe were also revealed at the meeting. The two ministers discussed about the development and benefit of information technology sector in both countries. The two ministers agreed to exchange preparatory groups to sign a treaty to promote the experience of both the countries in computer and information communication sector.
Attention was made to obtain Indian support to Sri Lanka in popularising information technology in state ruling, industries, enterprise development and education.
The ministers discussed on introducing rules not existing in Sri Lanka and some recent Acts approved by Parliament of India to develop information technology.
Moragoda explained about the Multimedia University under construction with the aid of Multi Media University in Malaysia and said Japan has agreed to provide aid for this programme.
He explained that if Indian information technology sector can involve in this programme, it will enable to establish a Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka triangular Multimedia University to provide international education.
Moragoda said that telecommunication and computer technology is not yet developed in distant areas in Sri Lanka. He expressed the desire to establish communication centres and cyber cafes in villages.
Minister Pramod Mahajan said the Multimedia University can be connected to Andra and Malayanadu States in India and informed about the programme launched by the Indian government to provide at least on telephone to each village in India.
Moragoda invited Minister Pramod Mahajan to visit Sri Lanka. The Minister said a team to discuss the required facilities will be sent to Sri Lanka in January. |