‘IT Mastermind’ telecast begins

Saturday, 22 June 2013 03:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sponsored by ESOFT

The telecasting of the IT Mastermind-2013 Quiz Program organised by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) and sponsored by ESOFT Metro Campus has begun and it will be telecast every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through the Independent Television Network (ITN). The official launch of the program and the relevant press conference was held at the ESOFT Metro Campus Auditorium recently.

Speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka, Mahesh Perera said that the Computer Society of Sri Lanka is the only professional organisation representing the information technology professionals in Sri Lanka and it is organising several national level programs to develop the information technology field in the country. He further said that one such program is developing the information technology knowledge of school children and they have partnered with ESOFT Metro Campus because it is a reputed organisation that pioneered information technology education in Sri Lanka. Speaking about the IT Mastermind Quiz Program, the Managing Director of ESOFT Group of Companies Dr. Dayan Rajapakse said, “Our organisation is sponsoring this program as a corporate social responsibility program and this is our successful third year of sponsorship. We are continuing our sponsorship of this program with the objective of developing the information technology knowledge of school children and turning them towards the information technology professional field. This program is very popular among school children as proven by over 2000 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students of national and international schools from all parts of Sri Lanka taking part. This program has caused the information technology knowledge of school children and teachers to be upgraded.” Speaking further, Dr. Rajapaksa said that the Ministry of Education has already introduced information technology to the GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level curricula. “Earning revenue of US$ 1 billion from the development of computer software and increasing the computer literacy of Sri Lanka to 75% is the objective of the Government. To achieve these objectives, people with an inborn talent for information technology have to be attracted to this field from school age and the IT Mastermind Quiz Program does a great deal towards achieving these objectives.” The winner of the grand finale will receive Rs. 100,000 and his or her school will receive computer peripherals worth Rs. 150,000, the second prize winner will receive Rs. 75,000 and his or her school will receive computer peripherals to the value of Rs. 100,000. The third prize winner will receive Rs. 50,000 and his or her school will receive computer peripherals to the value of Rs. 50,000. Other winners will receive cash prizes and all participants will receive valuable certificates. All these prizes are sponsored by the ESOFT Metro Campus. The management of the ESOFT Metro Campus expects to offer full scholarships to the first, second and third prize winners to read for a degree in information technology.