World renowned IT symposium in Sri Lanka

DISCUSSION: Heralding a revolution in the perception and usage of IT in Sri Lanka, Microsoft will present its acclaimed symposium Tech-Ed 2006 to the local IT industry. Delegates will be able to experience and discover a range of path-breaking products and technologies due to be unveiled by Microsoft in the coming months.

Held in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year, Tech-Ed 2006 will take place at the Waters Edge Golf and Country Club, Battaramulla from October 25 to 27.

Tech-Ed is Microsoft's flagship annual technology conference designed to expose IT professionals to educational and networking opportunities and face-to-face access to industry experts and peers. It focuses on sharpening the skills of IT professionals to enable them to build, deploy and manage IT solutions in a competitive business world.

The symposium encompasses aspects such as technical training, information and awareness on current and soon-to-ship technologies, and community resources.

The symposium is brought back to Sri Lanka following the overwhelming success of Tech-Ed 2005, where over 500 key delegates participated in sessions held under the theme "Learn, Solve and Grow".

The event proved to be the most successful IT event ever held in Sri Lanka and was evidence of the demand for large scale IT events in the country.

Network Administrator of International Water Management Institute Shaminda Illangathilake speaking of last year's event said, "Tech-Ed 2005 offered my colleagues and me a rare opportunity to participate in an IT symposium of international standard.

The exposure and learning experience we received at Tech-Ed 2005 have had a direct bearing on propelling our awareness of the latest technologies to a new level - we were able to experience hands-on, the technologies that would otherwise have reached us much later. Symposiums such as Tech-Ed are essential if Sri Lanka's IT industry is to gain recognition on the global IT footprint and Microsoft must be commended for its commitment to bringing its global event to Colombo."

Microsoft says plans are underfoot to ensure that this year's event achieves even greater success; it is expected to play host to 750 participants this year. Over 25 of Sri Lanka's leading ICT companies will also showcase their latest technology at the event, enabling delegates to experience the best of today's technology and the most exciting and promising innovations in the pipeline.

Speaking about the upcoming event, microsoft's Country Manager in Sri Lanka, Sriyan de S. Wijeyaratne said, "Microsoft is pleased to bring Tech-Ed back to Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year and we pledge to make this year's event a bigger and better one.

Tech-Ed is an unparalleled opportunity for IT professionals to gain new insights and experience into new technologies and trends, which will in turn empower them with the skills and knowledge needed to develop state-of-the-art solutions for the modern business world. The tremendous response we received last year was an endorsement of Microsoft's faith in Sri Lanka's IT industry.

The vibrant IT ecosystem in Sri Lanka and its potential to reach global recognition was in evidence during Tech-Ed 2005, which attracted not just IT professionals, but members of the business community, government and students who actively participated in the learning experience offered by the symposium."