“Smart Sri Lanka initiative becomes a white elephant”
Eric Weerawardhana, founder and former Director General of Smart Sri Lanka, has sent the following letter referring to the Business Times story on December 22 titled “Smart Sri Lanka initiative becomes a white elephant”, denying various sections of the story. His letter says:
“Smart Sri Lanka which is an innovative system was started in February this year and by the time the election was announced it has been just eight months old. So far it was only introduced in 10 districts. By today 42,635 students have been registered in the system and they have taken various services through this system. By today there are 88,284 local and foreign vacancies in Smart Sri Lanka Job Bank. A Smart Sri Lanka unit will be opened at every divisional secretariat. 960 computers have already been distributed for that. None of them are opened yet.
There are two main targets in Smart Sri Lanka. Firstly, to give career guidance to the Sri Lankan youth. There are around 2000 career guidance officers under several government institutions. But they didn’t have proper system and training for that. In Smart Sri Lanka software we have included all methods, information and guidance for those officers. And already we have given proper training for them. Using our centres and software, carrier guidance officers can guide youth to find their born talent and build their career on that identified field.
Secondly, to send all the information about jobs and business opportunities to youth in thousands of villages through our software. And we have included all the academic, vocational and professional courses in our software. Youth have been using these services in places where we have started centres.
There are no projects under Smart Sri Lanka. And Smart Sri Lanka is not a project, it is an established institute.
There is only one additional Secretary to oversee Smart Sri Lanka. I have no idea about the 20 career guidance projects mentioned in the story.
The Smart Sri Lanka system is going on and there may be some delays due to the changes in the new government. But none of the Smart Sri Lanka programmes has been halted. We have spent only Rs. 1.6 million for cut outs.”
Business Times reporter: The contents of our story was based on an audit report.