Chief Operating Officer, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka Reshan Dewapura while giving a picture of ICTA's 'e-Sri Lanka' programme emphasizes that ICT is vital for the country to move forward |
|
Dr. Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy , Father of IT in India, Chairman and Mentor of Infosys Technologies Limited and famous icon of entrepreneurship in modern India said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken a very wise step by articulating the value of English and IT for the development of Sri Lanka by declaring the current year as the year of English and IT. Dr. Murthy made this assertion while participating as the guest of honour at a dinner organised to mark the Launch of the Year of English and IT last Friday.
The evening function organized by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) was also a gesture of gratitude to Dr. Murthy for visiting Sri Lanka and gracing the official launch of the current year as the year of English and IT by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat earlier in the day.
Gracing the event were several distinguished visitors including Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana and World Bank Country Director in Sri Lanka Ms Naoko Ishii.
Guest of Honour Dr. N. R. Narayan Murthy addressing the audience hailed the official declaration of 2009 as the Year of English and IT by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of Sri Lanka |
|
Referring to the official declaration of 2009 as the Year of English and Information and Communication Technology earlier in the day, Dr. Murthy said that the President had made a very wise move by making the declaration. "If an individual, family, organization, country or, for that matter, the world is to develop it must encounter the world of economic transaction by the genuine offer of goods or services or both based on truth and transparency", the holder of the honorary doctorate who set an example in transparency by stepping down at the age of 60 from being the executive Chairman of the world company admonished. "Truth, transparency, motivation, determination, perseverance and pragmatism are the keys to success", Dr. Murthy who built up his business with 10,000 Indian rupees got from his wife Suda asserted.
Giving an example of the pragmatism of successful l world firms the originator of the company with presence in 70 countries and 90 nationalities stated: "English is by far the number one business language of the world. Communication is vital for business. And English and IT are intertwined tools of communication. One has to be practical and that is why I say that the President of Sri Lanka has taken a very wise step by giving an important place to English and IT. Years ago I worked in France for a French Company. Even as early as that time when English was not that far widespread in the business world as it is now the company I worked decided to use English as its business language. The Japanese Companies too are down to earth and practical and so give top priority to English as a world business language."
Dr. Murthy with local IT proffessionals |
|
Chief Operating Officer, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka Reshan Dewapura gave a picture of ICTA's 'e-Sri Lanka' programme and gave anecdotes that motivated rising to the highest levels by determination and hard work. Mr. Reshan said "Vivek Kundra, may be a name unfamiliar to you, but he is the CTO, Chief Technology Officer of the city of Washington D.C.
This impressionable young man, now an American citizen, but originally from India - that great nation that our guest of honor comes from, the great nation that we are trying to emulate both in respect of IT and English - is also the principal advisor on ICT to President Barak Obama. It is widely expected that he will soon be appointed as the CIO of the Federal Govt. of the United States of America". Mr. Reshan concluded: "At the present moment of geo-political history of our country, we can all agree that we are at point where we can look to the future with renewed hope. Within this hopeful outlook there is acceptance that ICT is one of the only ways, to move forward a country that is facing many economic challenges, not mention the current global economic crisis". |
E-mail