CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY IN PITTSBURGH, USA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA ESTABLISHES INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) PARTNERSHIP
The Ministry of Economic Reform, Science &
Technology signs Memorandum of Understanding with Carnegie Mellon
University
In a refreshing vote of confidence and support to Sri Lanka's
efforts to bring Information Technology solutions to the people,
one of the best universities in the United States in the field
of computer science, Carnegie Mellon, announced its agreement
to develop a program of cooperation with Sri Lanka which includes
a Technology Peace Corps.
Coming on the eve of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit
to the United States, the announcement from Carnegie Mellon indicated
that the plans include a launch of a Technology Peace Corps through
which academics, researchers and training staff will visit Sri
Lanka to conduct research, help upgrade the IT environment, and
learn from the experience. Details of the plan will be finalized
in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Reform, Science and
Technology and the newly formed Information, Communication and
Technology Agency (ICTA).
Carnegie Mellon University Provost Mark Kamlet said that he was
hopeful that the University's expertise in the field can make
helpful contributions as Sri Lanka, through the e-Sri Lanka framework,
moves forward to support sustainable economic development. The
students and faculty, he said, will enjoy working with creative
collaborators and leverage the rich culture and traditions, and
the potential that Sri Lanka has in a post conflict situation
to make rapid economic growth.
Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology, Milinda
Moragoda, who is also accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit,
stated that this is a vote of confidence by a very prestigious
university, in the potential for IT in Sri Lanka. We need to open
our "windows" to what is happening in the IT field in
the world and the Technology Peace Corps will enable Sri Lankans
to interact with volunteers who are also excited with the opportunity
to work, learn and share their knowledge. "We have one of
the highest literacy rates in the developing world but we will
fall behind if our IT literacy rate does not also catch up. I
see prospects for the Carnegie Peace Corps initiative, through
their research work, to help us develop low cost solutions that
will benefit the many people who do not have the opportunity in
our country to benefit from IT."
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA
01 November 2003
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