Sri Lanka
has the highest
literacy rate in the
South Asian region
and even in global
standards (92
percent). As far as
ICT personnel are
concerned, it has
increasing resource
pool of skilled,
adaptable and cost
effective IT labour
force. Annual out
put of potential ICT
personnel are
concerned, approx.
1375 personnel are
passing out from
public universities
and training
institutions.
Approx. 4000
personnel are from
the private sector
ICT related
institutions.
English is the
business language,
which is widely used
in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has the
most liberalised
telecom industry in
South Asia
comprising with 3
fixed and wireless
local loop
operators, 4 mobile
operators and 5
public phone
operators with up to
150 Mbps through
satellite or fiber
optic cable. Sri
Lanka also has
advanced
infrastructure
facilities in Ports,
Airports and other
logistical aspects.
Presently there are
about 75 software
development
companies are in
operation in Sri
Lanka where
estimated exports of
software and related
services of Sri
Lanka in year 2003
was US $ 70
million. Currently
Sri Lanka act. as an
off-shore
development center
for USA, Ireland,
UK, Australia, etc
and joint venture
development center
for Sweden, Norway,
USA, Japan etc.
Consolidating the
government backing
to the ICT sector,
Sri Lankan
government has
recently launched an
initiative to use
ICT to develop Sri
Lanka’s economy,
alleviate poverty,
improve the quality
of life and the
opportunities for
all Sri Lankan
people, which is
widely known as
e-Sri Lanka.
Several
transnational ICT
companies have
invested in Sri
Lanka. Some of them
run their R & D
departments in Sri
Lanka. Sri Lankan
software runs in
some of the stock
markets, such as
Boston-USA, Croatia
etc. Air lines such
as Emirates, UAE,
Burton-Scandinavia
also used Sri Lankan
software.
Sri Lankan software
also has name in HRM,
Telecom billing,
etc. Sri Lankan
software companies
are presently doing
outsource contacts
for USA. Europe, &
Japanese markets.
Communications
Infrastructure
Sri Lanka has
multiple providers
telephone services,
including three
Basic, four Cellular
and six pay
telephone services,
making the industry
one of the most
competitive in Asia.
The number of fixed
telephone lines
installed increased
by 84% between 1997
to 1999 due to the
entry of two wire
less local loop
operators led by Telia AB of Sweden
and GTE Nortel of
the USA. Global
telecom giants such
as NTT, Ericsson,
Telstra, Hutchison
Wampoa and Malasiya
Telecom are other
major operators in
the Sri Lankan
telecommunications
industry.
Deregulation has
also resulted in the
country's largest
ever privatization
initiative, with NTT
of Japan purchasing
35% of Sri Lanka
Telecom for US$ 225
Million.
Labour Force
Of a population of
19.2 million, the
total workforce is
approximately
6,7000,000. The
population growth
rate averages 1.2%
per annum, ensuring
a steady pool of
man-power resources
for both existing
and new industries.
The government
provides free
education from
kindergarten to
University. Sri Lank
is also ranked
amongst the East
Asia tiger
economies, and first
in south Asia, on
the Human
Development Index.
The competitive
advantage of Sri
Lanka's labour
force:
A solid mathematical
background that
translates into a
solutions driven
approach to software
development.
Competitive wages,
creativity,
hand-to-eye
coordination, prove
precision and manual
dexterity.
Indicative Labour Costs
| |
Systems Manager: |
US$
300 - 850 p.m. |
| |
Systems Analyst/Engineer: |
US$
250 - 650 p.m. |
| |
Systems Operator/Hardware
Engineer: |
US$
200 - 600 p.m. |
| |
Programmers: |
US$
150 - 300 p.m. |
| |
Computer Operators: |
US$
100 - 250 p.m. |
| |
Data
Entry Operators: |
US$
70 - 200 p.m. |
| |
Trainee: |
US$
60 - 150 p.m. |
Key Associations/Organisations
Sri Lanka Export
Development Board
The Sri Lanka Export
Development Board (SLEDB
commonly known as
the EDB) is the
premier state
organisation dealing
with the promotion
and development of
exports. It was
established in 1979
under the Sri Lanka
Export Development
Act No. 40 of 1979,
and now functions
under the Ministry
of Internal and
International
Commerce and Food.
The Chairman is the
Chief Executive who
is assisted by the
Director General and
the Additional
Director General.
Its day-to-day
functions are
carried out by
several divisions
each of which is
headed by a
Director.
Web site:
www.srilankabusiness.com
Board of Investment
of Sri Lanka
The Board of
Investment shall
facilitate the
creation in Sri
Lanka of a platform
for competitive
value addition in
the South Asian
Region.
Web site:
www.boi.lk
Information &
Communication
Technology Agency (ICTA)
of Sri Lanka
The Information
Communication
Technology Agency
of Sri Lanka (ICTA)
function of the
single apex body
involved in ICT
policy and direction
for the nation.
Wholly owned by the
Government of Sri
Lanka, ICTA is the
implementing
organization of the
e-Sri Lanka
Initiative. ICT is
an increasingly
powerful tool for
participating in
global markets,
promoting political
accountability,
improving the
delivery of basic
citizen services and
enhancing local
development
opportunities.
Address
: 160/24, Kirimandala
Mawatha, Colombo 05,
Sri Lanka.
Tel :
94-11-236 9099
Fax: 94-11-236 9091
E-mail:
info@icta.lk
Web Site: www.icta.lk
Sri Lanka
Association for the
Software Industry (SLASI)
The Sri Lanka
Association for the
Software Industry (SLASI)
is the national
representative for
the country's
software industry.
The association was
established in 1992
with the support of
the Sri Lanka Export
Development Board (EDB)
and the Council for
Information
technology (CINTEC).
In January 1996,
SLASI joined hands
with the Sri Lanka
Computer Vendors
Association (SLCVA)
and the Association
of Computer Training
Organizations (ACTOS)
to form the
Federation of
Information
Technology
Institutions.
Address :
51,Marcus Fernando
Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
e-mail:
infotel@sri.lanka.net
Tel: 94-11-2665261
Fax:
94-11-4713821
Web
site:
http://www.slasi.com/
Contact Person: Mr
David Dominie /
Executive Director
Contact:
slasi@infotel.com.lk
Software Exporters
Association (SEA)
In 1999, the
Software exporters
Association (SEA)
was formed under the
patronage of the Sri
Lanka Export
Development Board
and the BOI with the
principal objectives
of increasing export
earnings, driving
growth through
cooperative effort
in marketing
software and
services, and
attracting new
investments to the
IT industry.
Address:
C/O
Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce,
No 40, Navam Mawatha,
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
E-mail:
thusani@chambe
Tel : 94-11-242 1745 to 6
Web site:
http://www.islandsoftware.com/
The Association of
Computer Training
Organizations (ACTOS)
The Association of
Computer Training Organisations was
formed in January
1991 with fourteen
founder members
under the auspices
of the Council for
information
Technology of Sri
Lanka (CINTEC).
There are presently
sixteen members in
the association.
Education standard,
training and
facilities offered
by member
organizations are
continuously
assessed by the
technical Standards
Committee of the
Association in order
to provide high
quality education
and training.
Website:
http://www.slasi.com/
Contact:
slasi@infotel.com.lk
The Computer Society
of Sri Lanka (CSSL)
CSSL is the
society of the IT
professionals of Sri
Lanka. It has been
playing a major role
in promoting IT and
professionalism in
those engaged in the
field of IT in the
country. This
society was
inaugurated in 1976.
Address: Professional Centre, No 275/75,
Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7
Tel: (94)
1 - 2592762
Fax: (94) 1 - 2508009
Web Site:
www.cssl.lk
British Computer
Society of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan section
of the British
Computer Society.
Address :
51,Marcus
Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Web Site:
www.bhccolombo.com
Universities
School of
Computing ( UCSC) -
University of
Colombo
The oldest
campus in Sri Lanka,
the University of
Colombo is a
sprawling complex
occupying over fifty
acres of prime land
in the heart of the
city.
The Medical and
Science Faculties of
the University are
not only the oldest
in the university
system of Sri Lanka
but are also
arguably the best in
terms of Faculty and
resources.
Student life is
enhanced by a
plethora of
extra-curricular
activities offered
on campus. The
beautiful playground
and the modern
gymnasium offer
sportsmen and women
the opportunity to
exploit and develop
their abilities to
the fullest.
The location of the
University affords
the student
population all the
advantages of a
"metropolitan
university" in easy
access to
international
information/resource
centres, libraries,
theatres, sports
complexes etc.
Today, the
University of
Colombo with a proud
history of over 115
years continues in
its endeavor to
meet the challenge
of maintaining its
position as the
"metropolitan
university, modern
and international in
outlook and
character".
Web Site:
www.ucsc.cmb.ac.lk
University
of Moratuwa
The
University of
Moratuwa, is one of
best technical
universities in Sri
Lanka, comprising of
an Engineering
faculty ,an
Architecture faculty
and an Information
Technology Faculty.
It presents a rich
variety of social
and cultural
activities, student
services, clubs,
organizations and
sports. This vital
community of around
3000 students from
all around the
country, with every
imaginable interest,
emphasizes respect
for the rights and
individuality of
each student.
Web Site :
http://www.mrt.ac.lk/
University of
Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is the
heir to the oldest
university tradition
in Sri Lanka as the
successor to the
University of
Ceylon, the first
institution of its
kind in the country.
The university
consists of seven
academic faculties.
About 1800
undergraduates enter
the university
annually, to make up
an undergraduate
student population
of 6600, and the
total number of
postgraduate
students registered
is over 1200. Out of
the total
undergraduate
student population,
about 5100 are
provided
accommodation on and
around campus.
Web Site:
http://www.pdn.ac.lk/
SLIIT (Sri Lanka
Institute of
Information
Technology)
The Sri Lanka Institute of Information
Technology (SLIIT) is the leading Degree Awarding Institute in the
field of Information Technology recognized by the University
Grants Commission under the Universities Act. It was established
in the year 1999 to educate and train Information Technology (IT)
Professionals required by the fast growing IT Industry in Sri
Lanka. The establishment of the SLIIT was spearheaded by the then
Ministries of Education and Higher Education, Finance and Planning
and the Ministry of Internal and International Commerce and Food.
Website:
http://www.sliit.lk/
Contact:
info@sliit.lk
Country watch: Sri Lanka
