Sri Lanka among the widely connected countries in South Asia - President

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Sri Lanka among the widely connected countries in South Asia - President

For a country that has emerged from nearly three decades of brutal terrorism, Sri Lanka is today among the most widely connected countries and societies in the South Asian Region, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (13).
He made these views this morning addressing the 50th Council Meeting and the Annual Forum of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), in Colombo. "If it is not so already we can soon lay claim to be the land with the most Broadband Connectivity in all of South Asia, and much of Asia too' President Rajapaksa further said.
The growth in telecommunications is so fast and so vast that foreign investors have found this sector to be most profitable and the promise of success keeps growing, the President stated.
It is this recognition of the importance of connectivity for all that has led to our setting up a National Backbone Network with capacity to provide broadband connectivity to all households in Sri Lanka within the next three years thus reducing broadband costs and improving data and internet services, he further said.
Following is the text of the speech:
I am indeed pleased to welcome you to this historic 50th Council Meeting and Annual Forum of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, being held in Colombo with the participation of the International Telecommunication Union.
Sri Lanka is glad to host this event because of our interest in the advance of telecommunications and because of our long and fruitful association with the Commonwealth. Having gained independence in 1948 Sri Lanka is one of the founders of this unique body of free and sovereign nations and has been closely associated with its work through more than six decades.
I speak to you today when Sri Lanka is in the midst of a new resurgence having returned to the peace that our land and people were denied for so long and moving fast towards reconciliation and understanding in which telecommunications and Information Technology play a major role.
Our record of success in the expansion of telecommunication is one that we can be truly proud of. In the past two decades and more despite the abuse of the new technologies in telecommunication and Information Technology by the forces of terror Sri Lanka has harnessed these resources both for the defeat of terror and the progress towards peaceful development.
For a country that has emerged from nearly three decades of brutal terrorism, Sri Lanka is today among the most widely connected countries and societies in the South Asian Region. Today there are more than 14 million mobile phone users in a population that is a little over 20 million, a reach of over two-thirds the population. And the numbers keep increasing each day. This is in addition to the nearly 3.5 million users of Fixed Line telephones both wireless and cable linked. If it is not so already we can soon lay claim to be the land with the most Broadband Connectivity in all of South Asia, and much of Asia too.
The growth in telecommunications is so fast and so vast that foreign investors have found this sector to be most profitable and the promise of success keeps growing.
My dear friends,
Moving in tandem with this growth in telecom is the growth in Information Technology which also gives cause for much satisfaction. In the short space of five years from 2005 to date we have seen computer literacy in Sri Lanka grow from less than 5 per cent to nearly 30 per cent. The projections for future growth are even more rapid. The policies that give priority to the learning of English and the spread of IT are key aspects of the new direction of economic growth of Sri Lanka.
We also want to be a tri-lingual nation by the year 2020. Improvement of Telecommunications and high levels of computer literacy will contribute towards realizing this vision.
It is a strategy of growth that aims at making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia where its emergence as the telecom hub of South Asia will provide a major impetus to growth in other sectors, too. What we envisage is making Sri Lanka a focal point in this region in Shipping and Marine Activity, Airports and Aviation, Power and Energy, Trade and Commerce and Knowledge, all of which point to Sri Lanka becoming a significant center of communication in this region and outside it, too.
It is in achieving these goals that we see the relevance of your theme for this Annual Conference - "Towards a Digital Commonwealth ---- Broadband Connectivity for All". Sri Lanka is today an active participant in the digital revolution that is sweeping the world. Yet, we are also aware of the dangers of the digital divide that can lead to new divisions in society. It is this awareness of the prospects and threats of the digital era that has made us pay special attention to having a society that is rich in its digital capabilities.
My dear friends,
Having understood the needs of the digital society that we aspire to be in the future we have taken computer literacy and Information Technology to the villages to the vast rural areas where the bulk of our people and especially, the majority of our youth live. We have in the past five years established 600 plus Nenasalas or Wisdom Outlets our brand of rural tele-centres which are important rural business and knowledge sharing centres spread in all provinces including those recently liberated from terror. This number will exceed one thousand by 2011.
There are also nearly 270 Vidatha or Science and Technology Centres in the country also being rapidly expanded. Our schools are encouraged to provide computer literacy to a generation that is eager to benefit from the fruits of new technology. We have been able to set up computer centres in three thousand five hundred schools across the country, which is one third of our school system. And we encourage the private sector both Sri Lankan and Foreign to be partners with the State in moving on this new path to progress.
It is this recognition of the importance of connectivity for all that has led to our setting up a National Backbone Network with capacity to provide broadband connectivity to all households in Sri Lanka within the next three years thus reducing broadband costs and improving data and internet services.
This is in keeping with the timely theme of this conference and it is in pursuit of this goal that we have created an environment for healthy and welcome competition in the field of Broadband technology as it would best serve our society.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sri Lanka has a great tradition of learning and education coming down from history. This tradition is now enriched with the spread of Telecommunication and Information Technology. These are providing added skills to new generations that will be facing the future in a world that is so different from what we have ever known a world of Broadband Connectivity in a Digital Society. Sri Lankans who are proud of their history of mastering the sciences of irrigation construction architecture and design in the past are rapidly acquiring the new technologies that will take our country on the path of rapid progress as the new Wonder of Asia.
The presence of so many delegates from more than 50 member countries of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization as well as the International Telecommunications Union with a commitment to achieve a "Digital Commonwealth and Broadband Connectivity for All" will find this conference a great opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and exchange of experience as we move beyond the threshold of the new Digital Society.
Sri Lanka had the honour of being a Vice Chairman of the CTO this year. We retain our commitment to enhance global connectivity through new technology. We see in this the path to rapid progress among nations that are rich in skilled human resources although lacking in the economic strength in today's competitive world. I trust the new Forum elected at these sessions will continue the good work of the CTO and see the early realization of the goal of a Digital Commonwealth, with Broadband Connectivity to All.
I extend to you my warmest good wishes for an enjoyable stay in Sri Lanka discovering the beauty or our land, the richness of our culture and most of all the well known friendship of our people.
I wish your deliberations all success and congratulate the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka for taking the initiative in hosting this event that is of such importance to connectivity in the Commonwealth and beyond the borders of its member nations.
Thank you.