Microsoft founder Bill Gates has told President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka’s growth would be boosted by the use of software and power of IT.
In a special audio message, Mr Gates while congratulating the President for his leadership in making the benefits of ICT accrue to the people, lamented that “only about a billion of the roughly six billion people in the world have regular access to sophisticated forms of Information Technology.”
He said Sri Lanka has an advantage though, with a government that’s committed to investing further in IT, as outlined in the President’s vision statement.
“Like President Rajapaksa, I am optimistic that the country is poised for greater economic growth and development, and much of that will be fuelled by the use of software and the power of IT. Sri Lanka’s high literacy rate, at over 90%, and its high standards of education and healthcare give it a strong economic foundation,” he added.
Pledging all support for the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka through IT, the Microsoft chief said: “For its part, Microsoft stands ready to fully support the initiative and Sri Lanka’s broader IT-objectives over the long term.”
Mr Gates said Microsoft has invested over Rs 450 million in Sri Lanka and plans similar investments over the coming years. |
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