Colombo: The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa last week inaugurated the 500th Nenasala center at Samanthurai in the Ampara district via satellite at a function held at the Presidential Secretariat.

Formally known as the Vishva Gnana Kendra Project, Nenasala that means meaning global knowledge centers is part of the country's e-Sri Lanka initiative and was launched in 2005 to spread ICT services to the rural and semi-urban population.

Implemented by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) the first Nenasala centre was set up at the Kirivehera Temple in Kataragama.

The project aims to meet the infrastructure requirements in order to address the information and communication needs of rural areas in all parts of the country through the establishment of Nenasalas, and the provision of ICT based services.

"Internet is a wealth of information and I am happy to see that our rural children who otherwise cannot afford such facilities can have access to a wider world of knowledge today through Nenasala centers", the President addressing the gathering.

When we were young we had only books to develop our knowledge. But today's youth have the opportunity to expand their horizons using modern technologies. 

President also said that the ultimate target of this project is to set up 1000 Nenasala centers island-wide with three centers at least in each divisional secretariat.

The Nenasala centers provide access to Internet, telephones and other information services to the public in rural communities in the country.

It also provides the rural community quick methods of transferring documents through fax or email.

Besides, the centers are also used to impart IT literacy in the country and bridge the digital divide by providing IT training for rural communities at a minimal cost.

The e-Sri Lanka initiative aims at using ICT tools to develop the economy of Sri Lanka by reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for its people.
—iGovernment Bureau