Open data cu Sri Lanka - I
Sri Lanka should facilitate an open data culture, which will, amongst other things, foster products being built out of the public 'Big Data' resources currently restricted by the government, according to Prof. Rohan Samarajiva.
The Founder/Chief Executive of Sri Lanka-based ICT policy and regulation thinktank LIRNEasia, Prof. Samarajiva also comsmented that additional problem areas that were a priority for Sri Lanka were slow broadband speeds, too-high latency times, slow international web accessibility, too much monopoly-type power vested with state-run Sri lanka Telecom in terms of pulling cable, etc and putting proper payment systems in place (including PayPal).
He also noted that one way the Sri Lankan government can truly help local innovators was by allocating pilot programmes for technologies they created.
He pointed to the example of MillenniumIT, which may never have got off the ground without the initial assistance and continued support from the Colombo Stock Exchange, despite several early teething issues. He also indicated that a country the size of Sri Lanka had the nimbleness and size requisite for pilot projects to do well.
Prof. Samarajiva made these remarks at a Business Times panel discussion on ICT innovation and awareness held on Wednesday at the newspaper office auditorium, where he was joined by ICT Agency Chair- person Chitranganie Mubarak and SLASSCOM Board Member Indaka Raigama.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mubarak stated that ICTA's vision was to bring technology to every citizen in every village, via ICT-based initiatives around areas like education, health, disabilities, etc. However, she noted that there was a very important, human element to all of these that cannot be done away with.
As an example, she highlighted a recent programme providing medical consultations to rural people via Nenasala telecentres that did not draw much interest.
She opined that, "while it works well on paper, a person might really prefer face to face interactions (with doctors). I feel this is the case in countries like ours where it is rela-