Published : 12:24 am January 1, 2015
President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the 1,000th Nenasala (wisdom outlet) set up at the Galigamuwa Bisowela Rajamaha Buddhist Temple, victoriously completing the ‘1,000 Nenasala’ project.
This 1,000th Nenasala is equipped with modern ICT equipment and infrastructure. On this occasion a special first day postal cover was also issued to mark the completion of 1,000 Nenasalas.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Maheepala Herath observing the facilities at the newly set up 1,000th Nenasala at the Galigamuwa Bisowela Rajamaha Buddhist Temple being used by a group of young Nenasala users
Parallel to this inauguration, the Nenasala convention was held here with the participation of all Nenasala owners and operators island-wide under the patronage of Telecommunication and Information Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
The main aim of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in setting up these Nenasalas is to empower particularly the rural folk through ICT. Nenasalas have been set up covering all districts island-wide including the north and east, located in premises of religious worship, such as temples, kovils, mosques and churches and public places.
Participating in the observation tour of the 1,000th Nenasala, and addressing the gathering on the occasion, President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated: “People’s lives have become easy today, thanks to information and communication technology. Today professionals are being created in the information technology sector. Because of information technology, Sri Lankans have been able to go to foreign countries and do jobs that offer high salaries. Just as all this is good, there is also the possibility of the negative in these developments. A percentage of people in society, though a small percentage, abuse these developments in technology. Today even a separate unit has been set up at the Criminal Investigations Department for lodging complaints about such abuse. Nenasalas are set up in premises of religious worship because it is more fruitful to provide IT knowledge while motivating the youth to lead a righteous life.”
The ‘1,000 Nenasala project’ had been launched and conducted under the instruction and guidance of President Rajapaksa, who inaugurated the project with his launch of the first Nenasala at the historic Kataragama Kirivehera on 1 January 2005 when he was Prime Minister.
In a turn of events that brought high local and international plaudits to Sri Lanka the ‘Nenasala’ Project won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award for the Best Rural IT Project this year. This flagship project of the country for improving ICT literacy implemented by ICTA was adjudged the best out of 150 projects from 110 countries.
The Census and Statistics Department had in its survey reports revealed that Nenasalas had provided a massive impetus for the increase of the country’s ICT literacy.
From Daily FT: http://www.ft.lk/2015/01/01/nenasala-at-bisowela-crowns-1000-nenasala-project/
