ICTA and EDEX partnership to continue for Expo 2011

ICTA will strengthen its relationship with EDEX Expo as a strategic partner for Expo 2011, for the fourth consecutive time.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka is the single apex body involved in ICT policy and direction for the nation. Wholly owned by the Government of Sri Lanka, ICTA is the implementing organisation of the e-Sri Lanka Initiative. Major donors including the World Bank, fund a number of the agency’s initiatives.

ICTA’s vision is to harness ICT as a lever for economic and social advancement, by taking the dividends of ICT to every village and to every citizen in Sri Lanka, will be complimented by the EDEX vision to “empower youth to be globally competitive”.

“EDEX is the ideal fit in terms of ICTA’s goals and objectives. ICTA can utilise the EDEX platform to leverage its aim to proliferate ICT for Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development. It is also an excellent platform to create awareness of the potentiality in the IT/BPO industry,” stated ICTA COO Reshan Dewapura.

ICTA having established the Nenasala Programme Island wide currently has an outreach of 601 canters, which benefit rural youth in upgrading their IT skills. The Nenasala programme is part of ICTA’s objective to touch base with every citizen in terms of ICT awareness and the alliance with EDEX will further promote its vision of a prosperous e-Sri Lanka.

“EDEX 2011 will be instrumental in creating more awareness of the Nenasla programme, and how it can be used effectively in improving ICT literacy, plus showcasing ICT as a lucrative career. Most importantly the partnership with EDEX will direct and guide youth to availing themselves of the opportunities in the IT sector, thereby empowering them,” Dewapura added.

“Partnership with ICTA helped us to expand our outreach to mostly the rural youth through the Nenasala network. We are indeed very happy to contribute towards bridging the ‘information gap’ between those seeking higher educational, skills development and employment opportunities from rural areas and such service providers in the country,” said Kamal Abeysinghe, Chairman – EDEX.

EDEX is the pioneering higher education and careers exhibition in Sri Lanka organized by Royal College Union attracting the largest and most diverse number of local and overseas participants held annually in Colombo and Kandy.

The eighth EDEX Expo will be held on 22, 23 and 24 January 2011 at BMICH Colombo and on 26 and 27 January at the Kandy City Centre respectively under its theme for 2011: ‘Be Wise, EDEX-Wise’.

Further details of the Expo can be obtained from the EDEX Secretariat, RCU Skills Centre, Royal College Union, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 3091086 or 5521497. Email [email protected] or website www.edex.lk