Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
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s an international-level computer program-related competition, where more than 250 students from 80 countries participate. Sri Lanka has been an active participant of this competition since 1992. The responsibility of preparing Sri Lankan participants for this outstanding event in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sphere was earlier shouldered by the Council for Information Technology (CINTEC), but since 2004, the UCSC and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) also teamed up with CINTEC in a joint collaboration to organise this competition.
UCSC Director Prof. Gihan Wickremanayke, explaining the core objectives of this competition said: “We organise the Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad and International Olympiad in Informatics on the basis of achieving a multitude of key objectives and set targets. Primarily, it is our aim to generate avid interest and enthusiasm in ICT amongst young school children. It is our intention to pave the way to recognise, honour and reward the talents, capabilities and innovation of students at an international level. Our core objective is to put Sri Lanka on the global ICT map and ensure international honour and recognition for the salutary achievements of our students.’’
“During the 1994-2014 period, many students who represented Sri Lanka at the Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad brought honour to the country by clinching coveted awards. At the 2014 event held in Taiwan, the Sri Lankan team won three Gold awards, seven Silver awards and 16 Bronze awards. Through this feat, the Sri Lankan representatives were way ahead amongst other participating countries.”
At the 2014 Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad held in Taiwan, Mudith Nirmala Vitharama, a Year 11 student of Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda Madhya Maha Vidyalaya performed exceedingly well and emerged as the highest scorer in the Sri Lankan team. Outlining his experiences on the international ICT platform, student Mudith Nirmala Vitharama said: “I participated in this competition through the UCSC. Initially, the UCSC conducted a workshop and students who excelled were selected and given the opportunity of following an online ICT course. Thereafter, an interview was conducted and those who scored top marks were shortlisted. This group which excelled was then given a long, comprehensive training on innovating computer programs.
“After the conclusion of this training session, another interview was conducted to handpick the team of students to represent Sri Lanka at the Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad. The 2014 event was held in Taiwan. The wide exposure and experience I gained by participating in the Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad – 2014 was a big boost not only to my ICT-related educational activities, but also to my future career prospects. As students, it also gave us motivation and an impetus to hone our skills, sharpen our talents and also further develop our capacity for creativity and innovation.
“We were able to share our experiences and exchange views and ideas with students from other participating nations at this competition. It is my view that whether a participant wins or loses is not what matters. What is vitally important is the overall exposure, hands-on experience and training and the value-additions to our educational activities and future career prospects. These factors are of immense benefit and of immeasurable value to our lives.”
Parents and students can obtain more information by visiting www.ioi.lk.
The UCSC is the pioneer in ICT education in Sri Lanka. As a leading institution in the ICT sphere, the UCSC successfully conducts diploma courses, higher diploma courses, internal and external degree programs, postgraduate degree courses and degree programs on philosophy. Thousands of students who had successfully completed ICT study courses at the UCSC during the past 25 years are gainfully employed in the ICT sector both in Sri Lanka and overseas. They have made a significant contribution to the ICT sphere plus the Sri Lankan economy as a whole. The UCSC is committed towards continuing the task of identifying clever students with creativity and innovative concepts in the ICT sphere on an island-wide basis and guiding them to the international arena to recognise and reward their efforts through the Sri Lanka National Informatics Olympiad.
