[s-asia-it] The First Model e-Village in Sri Lanka Paves the Way for 24-Hour Connectivity in Other Rural Communities

["christine" <christine@apdip.net>]

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The First Model e-Village in Sri Lanka Paves the Way for 24-Hour
Connectivity in Other Rural Communities

http://www.apdip.net/news/lk-evillage

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In 2005, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri
Lanka, Horizon Lanka Foundation and Enterprise Technology (Pvt) Ltd was
awarded a grant by the Pan Asia ICT R&D Grants Programme to develop a
low-cost wireless broadband architecture for providing high-speed Internet
access services in Mahavilachchiya, Sri Lanka.

On 4 November 2006, Mahavilachchiya, a little known village 40km from the
nearest town of Anuradhapura and surrounded three sides by the Vilpattu
jungle with no terrestrial or mobile phone networks, became the first
village in Sri Lanka with 24-hour Internet access. Over 400 rural students
also received ICT education as part of the project.

Mahavilachchiya now has more than 50 PCs and a sophisticated multimedia lab.
The majority of the computers are located at the houses of the children
attending the Horizon Lanka Academy. These PCs are now connected by using
the "Mesh Wireless Technology" giving families direct Internet and email
facilities.

Mesh networking consists of a series of smart digital devices called routers
or "Meshboxes", which use infrared or radio waves, to carry high speed
wireless connection over a wide area.

This unique project sends an important message to marginal communities all
over the world. ICTA's Programme Manager - eSociety Development Initiative,
Chitranganie Mubarak commented, "Mahavilachchiya is an outstanding example
of promoting inclusion through the use of ICTs. This latest project, which
has given Internet access to poor rural families through a mesh network,
will certainly be an impetus to other villages."

At the launch of the e-Village, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the
President of Sri Lanka and Chairman, Telecommunications Regulatory
Commission commented that it is the government's intention to launch similar
projects in another 300 villages in remote areas of Sri Lanka.

In a related development on 16 November 2006 when Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse,
President of Sri Lanka, delivered the annual budget speech in his capacity
as the Minister of Finance, proposed to allocate USD 1 million in the year
2007 for the implementation of e-Villages replicating the Mahavilachchiya
project. It is expected that international donors and private sector will
make further contributions.

The ICT R&D Grants Programme is directed at encouraging original and
innovative ICT solutions to development problems. Grants for suitable
research and development (R&D) projects are awarded to Asia-Pacific-based
organizations on a competitive basis.

It is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme's
Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), of Canada, and the Asia
Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC). The Programme is administered by
the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and is overseen
by a Committee established by all Programme partners.

For more information, please visit http://www.apdip.net/news/lk-evillage