First-ever ‘Nenasala’ ‘Arivakam’ outlet opened in Kilinochchi

Implementing a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the 615th ‘Nenasala’ ‘Arivakam’ or wisdom outlet was declared open by Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa in Kilinochchi on 20 July 2011.

Explaining the origin of the Nenasala concept, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) Chairman Prof. P. W. Epasinghe said: “The ‘Nenasala’ ‘Arivakam’ tele-centre or wisdom outlet is a brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Under this ‘Nenasala’ project, 1,000 ‘Nenasala’ ‘Arivakam’ wisdom outlets will be set up islandwide to serve as the nerve centre of ICT facilities in the relevant area.”

Elaborating on the objectives of the ‘Nenasala,’ the ICTA Chairman said that it was to provide the optimal benefits of ICT to the community. He noted that ‘Nenasala’ must act as a resource centre to the community and that the services offered by the ‘Nenasala’ were varied and adapted to the needs of the milieu.

These include information on Government services and information for farmers and fishermen with regard to livelihoods and help the youth in the community to find employment opportunities and start self-employment, etc.

The centre is located in the Kilinochchi town and therefore easily accessible to the public, ICTA Project Manager Gavashkar Subramanium said, reporting from the site. Giving further details, Gavashkar said that this was the first ‘Nenasala’ or ‘Arivakam’ wisdom outlet in the Kilinochchi District, the sixth in the Northern Province and the 615th in the island.

The centre will be managed and operated by the Tharunyata Hetak (Ilagnanarkalukkaana Naalai) youth organisation. This ‘Nenasala’ is fully equipped with personal computers, laser printer, scanner, web camera and broadband internet connectivity provided on WiMAX technology.