Rs. 725 m IT centre boon for Central Province

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Project Work Engineer W. Abeyratne

Information Technology (IT) plays a major role in this highly competitive modern world as almost all activities are closely linked to it.

Having understood its value, the Central Province has taken steps to assist the public by establishing an Institute for Information Technology along with a modern library to widen their knowledge on IT while making a knowledgeable society. The IT centre will also be used to link with the world.

”Setting up an IT centre will fulfil a long felt need of the Central Province. Moreover as this is a knowledge-based society, IT plays a major role. Having considered the value of IT, on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government has given special attention to the development of this sector. In line with the ongoing activities to develop the sector, the Government has taken steps to establish a Presidential Task Force to upgrade IT and English skills in the country,” Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

The building being constructed. Pictures by Samantha Weerasiri

Accordingly, a four-storey building for an IT Institute and a library is being constructed in Peradeniya close to the Botanical Garden and the ancient Gatambe Temple at a cost of Rs. 725 million. Ninety five per cent of the construction work is over. It is scheduled to to completed by the end of this year and the IT centre and the library will be commissioned by January next year.

The new IT centre and the library will play a prominent role in upgrading knowledge as it will be a boon not only for the Central Province but also for the whole country because such a facility is not available now in the area. Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said.

The IT centre will have modern facilities such as as internet and e-mail. Moves are also under way to conduct lectures and courses for students interested in IT.

The new facility is vital for all as we are living in a technology-based society. Peradeniya University students, tourists visiting Kandy and the Botanical Garden in Peradeniya, tourists and others can benefit from the IT centre,” Chief Minister Ekanayake said. b”The building has four storeys. Each storey is around 700 square metres. It has been scheduled to establish a hi-tech library on the top floor.

It is a calm and quiet place when compared with some other public libraries in urban areas,” project’s Work Engineer W. Abeyratne said.