Sri Lanka‘s first outdoor wireless computer network is now up and running.
Surprisingly, it is not in Colombo. It is not even in any of the other key places. It was installed in Mahavilachchiya, a little known village, 40 km from the nearest town Anuradhapura, and surrounded three sides by the Vilpattu jungle.
Most of the villagers are either farmers or labourers with a monthly income of about Rs. 5,000 – 10,000 (US$ 50 – 100). Though there is electricity, it is not yet covered by any of the terrestrial or mobile phone networks. This means there is not a single telephone in this village.
On the other hand, Mahavilachchiya has more than 50 PCs and a sophisticated multimedia lab. Majority of the computers are at the houses of the children, who in addition to use them for their studies, design web sites of some of the foreign companies. These PCs are now connected by using the “Mesh Wireless technology” which gives them direct Internet and E-mail facilities.
Wireless was the only approach that could be used, as there were no telephone lines the distribution of the houses makes a wired network set up too expensive.
-as reported by Chanuka Wattegama
183 Comments
Sam
Bravo!
Malith
and here i am, 30 km from colombo, using dialup , took about 3min to open this page
Just Mal
What’s the point. These kids are not going to be anything more than farmers or soldiers. Samare, just use the money to bleach your kalu puka son.
Just Mal
Btw I’m not in china
Tuk tuk driver
I hear ICTA chairman, Prof. V. K. Samaranayake has very generously spoken about the Mahavilachchiya project on Radio yesterday, only short of saying the project his brainchild. He had praised Wanni and kids and also advised them not to be misled by “those who give assistance in one hand while trying to backstab them from the other.” (I am not sure whom he meant. May be Donald.)
Thanks Prof., for the advice. Yes, there are many who fall into the category you describe. (There are also people who use both their hands to backstab.)
Donald, how come I do not see you in any of the pics? I thought you were somebody who was keenly involved in this project.
Donald Gaminitillake
Guide lines have been set they will have to lead their own way
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Tuk tuk driver
Donald,
This may be your version. What I hear from others is that they have chased you off from Mahavilachchiya because they were so bored about your Sinhalisation theories. :-)
Donald Gaminitillake
Kiyanna kese kiwath assanna sihi buddhiyen asiya yuthui
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
SpyGuy
Dear Tuk Tuk,
What I hear is different. Guys in Mahavilachchiya have taken a bald decision to run the project with young people only. See, two of their directors are just 18. All are below 35. Still they are doing some remarkable work. Don’t they. I hear that Wanni too has plans to hand over the project to younger ones soon and play an advosory role. They have a good stock there. There are few more outgoing girls too which they have been grooming. Hope they too will be there in the board soon. Those gals are doing ALs now. I was there. Please be there and see the truth yourself. People there have high respect for Donald and his wife.
Donald Gaminitillake
Thanks spyguy
This is the Difference between Dino and Donald.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Tissa
Hope you guys read Saturdays Lakbima,
ICTA ad on mesh in Mahavilachchiya is published in Lakbima to ensure it gets the least readership. Another cap for VK. How smart you are!!!! There is other publications like Divaina, Lankadeepa and Dinamina which more readers read. I wonder why you didnt have the ad in a nursery related weekly instead of Lakbima!!!!!
Mihindu
Tissa,
Forget Lakbima. Have you see the ad on the Daily News? It might be the worst ad ICTA had ever published. ICTA as a rule always publish full colour ads (sometimes even without any clear reasons) but this ad was in black and white and it looked like a patch of black ink.
I am sure Dino did this purposely.
For Dino and ICTA, Mahavilachchiya project is now more like “Unu hinda bondath be, kiri hinda ahaka dandath be” type one. They do not want to give it publicity, but on the other hand they cannot avoid doing so too. :-)
Double Digit
From Daily Mirror, November 09, 2006
e-Villages: The future of development
The Mesh Network Project in Mahavilachchiya, Anuradhapura was launched recently at the Horizon Lanka Foundation.
In January 2005, Horizon Lanka Foundation and Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) received a grant from the Pan Asia R&D Grants Program for the deployment of a community mesh network for 30 homes in the village of Mahavilachchiya. Enterprise Technology (Pvt) Ltd (ETPL) was responsible for the implementation of the project.
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 type of networking is unique, and is currently used by local financial institutions such as banks to transfer data between their branches.
The Mahavilachchiya project signified the pilot project for ICTA’s e-Village concept. A small village in the North Central Province, with limited access to resources and few opportunities for its youth, benefited greatly through the introduction of ICT facilities. Through dedicated teachers, individuals and organizations working in partnership, the village youth were empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to access means for a better quality of life. As a result of these efforts the village secondary level students of the village are now being commissioned to design websites and currently earn more than their parents who are mostly farmers.
Establishing the Mahavilachchiya e-Village with its high density of computers marks a significant chapter in the ICT for development (ICT4D) field in the country. Over 400 rural students receive ICT education and it is the only rural Sri Lankan village with ICT connectivity 24 hours a day. This unique environment thus resounds an important message to marginal level 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.”
Internet access is largely perceived as a way to reduce isolation, provide educational and economic opportunities, and ultimately improve the quality of life. Common challenges such as high capital and operating costs have limited rural access to ICTs to a handful of heavily subsidized and supported projects in Sri Lanka. This innovative integrated strategy, based on existing technology and rural social structures, addresses a variety of challenges and could ultimately aid large numbers of villagers to gain this vital access to information and knowledge.
Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, Chairman, ICTA said, “In keeping with His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s efforts to utilise technology to rapidly develop and empower rural communities, ICTA is keen on replicating this successful model in other villages across the country. Villages with limited resources and opportunities for their youth will be identified, and provided with ICT facilities for e-learning, e-commerce, and other services. ICTA will work in collaboration with partners to bring in a greater resource pool of expertise and services, to develop the village and allow for innovative social mobility amongst the members of the community. ICTA congratulates Horizon Lanka Foundation and its founder Mr. N. Wanninayake for their continuous efforts in realizing the e-Sri Lanka vision.”
janantha
It is indeed good to hear ICT improvements like this. But still most of colombo and its suburbs don’t have ADSL at all… My self in moratuwa had applied for adsl in 2004 and still no news! I think the major players in ICT business in Sri Lanka should also focus on the development of Colombo and Suburbs while trying to develop the remote villages..
samarajiva
The Mahavilachchiya project is supported by VSAT connectivity. It is project funded and not really part of the normal process of network development in LK. Its real test is how it survives the end of the project.
I think the meaning of focus is to pay greater attention. It is quite clear that the telcos are paying greater attention to Colombo and similar areas, not to rural areas.
On a different thread, Divakar explained the reasons for slow rollout of ADSL in Colombo and suburbs.
Correction
Mahavilachchiya is NOT covered with VSAT. LankaCom uses Radio Link to provide connectivity.
What is interesting there is, there are 7 WiFi enabled locations in the village where you can take a laptop and use internet. How many places in Colombo have WiFi??? This is in addition to 30 mesh connected computers in the village.
samarajiva
Thanks for the correction. VSAT or radio link does not really change the nature of core issue. It is still a project driven, externally funded link that is essentially outside the market process.
Will LankaCom continue to supply the link at no cost after the project ends? Does Mahavilachchiya have the resources in place to pay the bills if LankaCom does not? These are the key questions that need answers if Mahavilachchiya is not to be another pilot project like Kotmale Internet Radio.
Correction
“These are the key questions that need answers if Mahavilachchiya is not to be another pilot project like Kotmale Internet Radio.”
Prof, Samarajeewa,
Kothmala project was a funded project and the project team had to withdraw when the money exhausted where as Mahavilachchiya is the project driven by a dynamic group of youth and they have been there for the last 8 years!!!! So, anything won’t fail in Mahavilachchiya. When funding finishes, they always find some other means. See their work and they have been proving this.
Rather than funding short term money based projects I think you all have to provide assistance to a place like Mahavilachchiya.
Well Wisher
The cost of VSAT link to each “Nanasala” is Rs. 75,000 per month.
Do the 250 Nanesalas have resources to pay Rs. 75,000 each month after the project ends?
On the contrary, the radio link to MV costs only Rs. 24,000 per month. (As far as we know, ICTA bears this cost now. This was arranged by Manju when he was the CEO)
However unlike Nanasalas, MV has been trying to convert itself to a self sustainable project, which can stand on its feet. Already some ideas have been proposed and they will be experimented in the next few months.
One such idea (presented by Mr. Kithsiri of Bartleet) was to convert MV a knowledge centre to the pilgrims to Anuradhapura. This too will be tested for its feasibility among other ideas.
Infants cannot stand on their own. They need the help of adults. But they will do trial and error and one day stand on their own.
samarajiva
The Nanasalas are unsustainable. They will be another chapter of the unnecessarily long story of unsustainable telecenters.
To raise the question of sustainability is not to wish something ill. I hope Mahavilachchiya finds the answer (looks like the problem is more tractable for them becuse their link is lower cost). By raising the question now (after the celebrations are behind us), I am simply trying to focus people’s minds on it.
Harsha Purasinghe
MV should utilize their infrastructure and resources as a great strength and should identify unique services which they can offer. Getting some work from colombo companies who’s willing to outsource or inshoring as it called. It can be digitizing documents, graphics, web sites etc. However they should now start marketing themselves offering their services and strengths. Once they do that am sure they can easily start generating revenue and become a self sustaining entitiy.
Knowing the people am sure the they will make it happen and go great heights. And I agree with above comments we should focus and also meantime help them as well.
Prof. Samarajiva – If you have not visited MV, it would be ideal if you can visit this place and share some of your valueable ideas/experiences where MV will really appreciate. Am sure with your busy schedules it’s tough but when you get a break for holiday MV via A’pura would be ideal thing to do and learn and share with these wonderful people.
I am someone who has seen them growing from 1 or 2 computers and working under a tree conducting classes. Even when we visited the prize giving of MV – Horizon happen under a tree but in grand style.
Now MV is a role model for e-village and gone great heights and i am someone who’s really admiring their journey. It’s a long journey hence all experts should always motivate them and share ideas so they will make more aggressive progress in future.
Donald Gaminitillake
Quote
The Nanasalas are unsustainable.
Unquote
Other than the cost what are the other elements or factors for Nanasala’s to be unsustainable
Let us know only about your opinion. Has anyone done a research?
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
samarajiva
Sustainability is generally understood in terms of ability to cover costs, including depreciation, and make the the necessary improvements. I do not understand a concept of sustainability that does not include costs.
My opinion has already been stated. It is not based on research conducted in Sri Lanka.
As I stated, all the lessons about making telecenters had been learned well before e Sri Lanka was designed and well before the original intent of the program was violated by (a) the proliferation of Nanasalas, chosen by non-transparent means, and (b) the abandonment of the component intended to bring down telecom costs in a systematic manner.
For an example of a systematic study (one among many) of why telecenters fail, see: ip.cals.cornell.edu/commdev/documents/jdc-benjamin.doc
Nirna
There were so many examples for unsuccessful tele-centers worldwide, but “Nenasala” is the worst model one can ever think of.
The key fallacies of this model:
1. High cost of the VSAT Internet link. With that kind of cost the tele-centers can never make a profit even if they work 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and 365 days a year. (Unless otherwise one charges Rs. 1,000 per hour to surf Internet!)
2. Most of these are set up in temples. The priest of the temple is not an entrepreneur. What incentives the priest has to sustain the effort?
3. This model completely neglects the gender aspects. A temple is not a place a village woman goes alone. So the use of Nenasalas is indirectly restricted to males only.
4. One goes to a temple for a particular reason. One does not go to a temple to do business.
5. In a multi ethnic society like ours this is an obvious way to restrict people from other communities visiting the tele-centre. It can create more problems than it addresses.
Ideally Nenasalas should have been set up at the communication centers. There should have been a way to gradually make the tele-centers self sustainable. The funding could have been reduced gradually. Say 75% in the second year; 50% in the third year 25% in the fourth year and then the operation would become self sustainable in the fifth year.
I wonder why nobody ever thought about this before.
Donald Gaminitillake
Nirna thanks
1. Cost of Communications (Vsat)
2. Where Nanasala is located
3. Access and restrictions due to the location (gender aspect)
any other factors!!!
Donald
samarajiva
To Nirna:
All these things were thought of before. All one has to do is to look at the original documentation for e Sri Lanka, the procedures for selecting VGKs (the original name for telecenters) and the plans for regional telecom networks.
The changes occurred after the 2004 election.
Nenasala
Why don’t we start another thread on Nenasala? This is interesting and ICTA implementors should hear what people have to say about this.
Confirm
“The cost of VSAT link to each “Nanasala” is Rs. 75,000 per month.” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can someone confirm this is true?
Nirna
Thank you, Prof. Samarajiva for the explanation.
May I also know whether anyone has studied about the opportunity cost of Nenasala model. For instance, has anyone compared the benefits of Nenasala with similar sized non-ICT based projects? (eg. micro finance)
Let me do some simple calculations.
If the satellite link itself to a Nenasala costs Rs. 75,000, I assume with rent, depreciation and operator salaries, one centre might cost around Rs. 125,000 to the tax payer. I do not know whether they earn any income but let us keep Rs. 25,000 per month. So the cost to tax payer per Nenasala per month is Rs. 100,000.
In Sri Lanka, an average family in rural areas earn somewhere around Rs. 10,000 pm.
So the amount we spend to operate one Nenasala can easily sustain 10 families. So the cost of a total of 250 Nenasalas can easily sustain 2,500 families.
This is the opportunity cost of Nenasala. We keep 2,500 families in poverty to make them information rich. (Or do we?)
Ideally what ICTA could have done is, invite business proposals from interested entrepreneurs to establish tele-centers and offer them financial support as a low interest loan. This is the most sustainable model I can think of. The loans could have disseminated through a development bank or even a commercial bank. (“Gemi Pubuduwa” of HNB is something similar)
If that model is used Nenasalas would have been made self sustainable and would not have been a burden to the tax payer.
VK
Can you all shut up please? I know Nenasala is a big farce. Original VGK was the better model. But I have to secure my chair in here. I need to continue so. Country can go to hell but I need to be here. So, let’s not bother on this topic anymore.
Concerned
Are you sure the VGK model was better than Nenasala model?
Because as far as I know ICTA could start only six VGKs, in spite of their best efforts for about two years and they too were not too successful. Only a handful of users ever used VGKs. They did not come to VGKs because it was something entirely alien to them.
I think that was one of the key reasons to change it to “Nenasala” model. The idea behind it was to take tele centers to villages and link it with a key location in a village (like temple) where villagers would not have found them alienated. If gramasevakas can have their offices in temples (or by the side of temples) why cannot Nenasalas be in temples? I think it is the best place.
Some of the VGKs have been evaluated for their performance. The report is available at http://www.icta.lk/insidepages/downloadDocs/Nenasala/OutcomeEvaluation_of_PilotProjects.pdf
You will find even VGKs were not as successful as one would like to portray them.
harsha de silva
dear concerned
the six VGKs you are referring to are not actual VGKs, but ‘pilot VGKs’. there were a number of real VGKs successfully setup and run by entrepreneurs.
i am almost certain that ICTA did some evaluations on the VGK model vs. the nena-sela model, perhaps they could shed some light.
harsha de silva
Donald Gaminitillake
About a week ago I was in Kataragama
There was a Nanasala next to the main entrance gate of the Kataragama Shrine.
If this was located in the area where they have the pilgrim rests and the shops this nanasala may be used by many. Located in the worship area I wonder whether this was for the use for the Gods above to whom we pray.
Perhaps the locals in the foreign countries will be able o send a E-mail for a Pooja Vattiya!!!
What a beautiful “Angoda Chinthanaya” we have in the IT field!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Be Practical
All,
Go to Mahavilachchiya and learn. Even if you start a telecenter in Pettah bus stand people wont be using it if they don’t know about IT and internet. See how poor farmers read online newspapers in Mahavilachchiya. See how parents send emails to their children in universities from Mahavilachchiya. See how people talk to their relatives abroad using IM from Mahavilachchiya. See how they listen to online radio stations from Mahavilachchiya. The simple difference is that there people were given awareness first and then started introducing technology. Without this, all your efforts will fail. So, first put some money on proper training. Learn from Mahavilachchiya.
Donald Gaminitillake
Please do not elaborate too much on
1.parents send emails to their children (is it Romanized Sinhala? in Latin script like JCA ) If so why cant they send me one!!!
————-
2. talk to their relatives abroad (this is possible but how many are they in Vilachchiya?)
3 listen to online radio stations (This is possible)
Efforts fail because lack of language proficiency , trained people and funding to administer the project.
Simple example is the clock towers built by president Premadasa. Now none of them are working
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Tuk Tuk Driver
Friends,
Let us not boast too much about Mahavilachchiya.
After all, it is still almost fully donor funded (organisational or private) and cannot stand on its feet alone. It is more like an infant who still needs parental support to walk.(The cost of lease line is a minor issue, when you think about other costs the project has to bear.)
The challenge is not only to make it self sustainable but how best that can be used to develop the village as well.
First of all, let us not forget Mahavilachchiya is still an agricultural society. You cannot develop any society till it remains agricultural. If we were to bring the villagers out of poverty, we have to find out ways to take them out of agriculture to more economically viable livelihoods in the industry or service sectors.
If the older generation does not want to undergo this conversion from traditional agricultural society to a modern economic one, we have to at least find a way to convert the younger generation. (Hope nobody would name it “Unethical conversion”)
The project managers should explore how best the project and the skill set of the children trained by this project can be used for this purpose.
Tuk Tuk Driver
Donald is infamous for making stupid statements, but this is unmatched even by his own standards.
[quote] Efforts fail because lack of language proficiency , trained people and funding to administer the project.
Simple example is the clock towers built by president Premadasa. Now none of them are working [unquote]
So according to Donald, we need language proficient trained people even to maintain a clock tower!!!!!!!!!!!!
My foot!
This is not the reason why most of the clock towers do not function today.
President Premadasa erected clock towers as MONUMENTS and NOT for people to check time. What is the use of having a clock tower when anybody can buy a wrist watch for Rs. 100-150?
The maintenance of clock towers was assigned to garment factories. After the death of Premadasa, the garment factories saw no reason to maintain them because it was not their core business line.
Ideally, maintenance of clock towers should have been assigned to the Municipal and Town councils. That falls within their mandate.
Clock towers failed simply because a “ballage wade” was assigned to a “booruwa”.
Donald Gaminitillake
Hi Tuk Tuk
Who owns the land or who maintains it is not my concern
Even in Germany there are Clock Towers
Question here is the clock towers are not functioning.
Same will happen on IT projects such as (VGK) or Nanasala
You all are good at quibbling. Experts on that subject
Using internet Horizon can do better in agriculture. Can be the Agricultural products export village in Sri Lanka. I have given the guide lines longtime ago. Yet to follow. Wait until a paid consultant comes from a foreign country to advise them on that subject. By then they too have missed the BUS.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
test2
test test test
TTD
Ane Donald uncle! You have such a brilliant brain. You should not waste it by over usage. You should protect that for future generations. :-)
I guess MW is another agricultural village in Sri Lanka, no different from the rest, that produces products like rice, common vegetables etc.
Some pics at http://www.horizonlanka.org/news/vegetables/index.htm show few MW farmers with products like Pathola and Vetakolu.
You want to export Pathola, Vetakolu, Vambotu and Wattakka. Ha! Ha! Ha! I guess there is a high demand for these products from suddas. Pray tell me from which countries we have a demand for these vegetables. Can you export Pathola to USA or Canada or Europe?
These agricultural products can be sold only at the local market and the above web link itself says the farmers get very little. It is not just because the middlemen exploit, but also because these are produced without pre-planning, so during the harvest time the market is over flooded with products, so obviously the prices will drop.
There are only few ways MW farmers can further develop if they decide to stay in agriculture.
1. Process the fruits and vegetable and add value to the product. (ie. Instead of selling tomatoes, make tomato jam and sell that.) Use Internet to find about investors who like to invest money for such projects.
2. Instead of selecting common vegetables and fruits grow varieties of high demand. Use Internet to find information about varieties of high demand.
3. Grow organic fruits and vegetables. (which can be sold at a higher price) Again, Internet can be a source both to find technical information and buyers.
4. Try to build brand names for some select products so they can be sold at higher costs. (eg. Bibile dodam was exported sometime back. Malvane Rambutan are sold at higher prices than ordinary Rambutan) Internet can be used for promotional purposes.
However, all these have their own limits. While keeping these options open, it is always better to focus on the service and industrial sectors too, rather than confining themselves in agriculture.
Donald Gaminitillake
Quote
You want to export Pathola, Vetakolu, Vambotu and Wattakka. Ha! Ha! Ha! I guess there is a high demand for these products from suddas. Pray tell me from which countries we have a demand for these vegetables. Can you export Pathola to USA or Canada or Europe?
Unquote
If you do proper Harvest management you can sell your products Directly and export it
Markets: Maldives , Middle east & Urban consumers
You all like to quibble a lot.
You also can sell the products online to urban consumer as a product from Mahavilachchiya
Not only vegi’s you have good bees honey – fruits –
create a BRAND NAME – use Hi tech to develop the agricultural industry.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Budget
In yesterday’s budget proposals Rs. 100 million (USD 1 million) have been allocated to replicate the MV e-village project in other villages.
Congrats
Congrats!!!!
Beware!!!! VK must be getting ready to jump into this for cheap publicity. If you guys want to see something prodctive, keep VK out and ignore Donald. Both are equaly dangerous.
Hanna in town
This is not directly related to the thread but I think it is important.
I hear Dr. Nagy Hanna is in town doing an evaluation of the e-Sri Lanka program and ICTA.
Hope he reads the LIRNEasia blog about the BPOs, Nenasalas and Sinhala Standardisation issues.
If anyone wants Dr. Hanna’s e-mail, it is nagyhanna@comcast.net (I got from the web.)
Donald's Guide
Donald,
This is your chance. At least this time use your brain. Write to Hanna. CC your mails to this blog, whole WB team, government’s top officials, etc. If you need to put your cause forward, don’t miss this chance. Also send print outs of your mails to the relevant offices. People don’t throw papers out. They have to file them. Don’t act like a Bull in a China Shop as someone else mentioned before.
Donald Gaminitillake
I did had correspondence with Dr Hanna.
He did replied but later lost contact
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
TTD
Donald,
Before anything else, wouldn’t it better for you to attend an English grammar class? :-)
Donald's Guide
TTD,
This IS and WAS the problem with Donald. He plays the goat and nobody can promote him or his ideas as he mess up everything everywhere. You cannot take him in front of a decent crowd. He lets down even his supporters by these silly mistakes. he has to hire an English guru and a lawyer before sitting in front of his PC.
Donald's goat
I have tried to eat Donald’s Bible (The BOOK) a few times but even a tiny morsel of the yellowed parchment with KU and GU resulted in uncontrollable PU. So before he sits with an English guru and a lawyer he needs to burn the BOOK that has driven him round the bend a few times already.
But I must say that Master Donald’s masterful control over manure management has yielded bountiful harvest of Pathola, Vetakolu, Vambotu that is exported to goats all around the globe. Please excuse the days Master Donald misses out on his high fiber diet, its not his fault. Nanny goat and I are devising ways to stem his verbal motions.
VKS's son
The people in the forum still do not know about my Dad VK Sam.
Do you think just because you write to Nagy Hanna, he will present a genuine truthful report about the activities of ICTA and my dad VKS?
Wishful thinking guys.
For your information my, dad had already bribed Hanna, so whatever you say Hanna will submit a very rosy report about the activities of ICTA and my dad. He will never utter a word about the Samsung deal, which made my dad VKS a millionaire.
Hanna will also say Nenasala is a wonderful model and thousands are already using them.
Both Hanna and my dad VKs are in the same mafia. My dad had earned enough from the Samsung deal he can bribe not just Hanna, but Hanna’s appochchi as well.
What do you think? My dad VK Sam is not a fool.
I can cooly stay in USA for another 3 years, spending the Samsung money.
Donald Gaminitillake
At last you had come to my grammar
If you read through the blog there are grammar mistakes by every person
This is not an issue unless you make it an issue
So make it an issue.
My topic is in Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 5.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald's Guide
See, this man called Donald never learns!!!!! Pride goes before a fall. You are too proud to understand your mistakes!
Focus
All,
Can we stick to original discussion in this thread, “Village with a mesh network, but not a single telephone.” Please do not let Donald to play havoc here by distracting the contributors to this thread. If I had 100 million USD, I would give it to Donald so that he keeps his mouth shut and let others to work.
Donald Gaminitillake
Read and comment on 42, 52 also 151 , 152 on part 5
You can have mesh technology but without Sinhala and Tamil where are we heading?
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Be Sensible
You can talk about in the tread assigned to you, leave this page alone. The people in the village show how best they can use mesh. LEARN at least from them without barging into different discussions. You know what! You have become a big joke everywhere>
Donald Gaminitillake
Quote
The people in the village show how best they can use mesh
Unquote
Prove how they use the English language. What are the web links they access. To which blogs they write. What are they doing with the MESH technology. How do they make use of it for day to day life as a tool without Sinhala and Tamil.
If you can use the Sinhala language and Tamil freely across all platforms the productivity and the Mesh development will be a remarkable success.
You all get hurt when the truth spoken.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
jaliya j
from Horizon site http://www.horizonlanka.org/news/budget/index.htm
Ranjith Gunarathne (Updated: November 19, 2006)
Recently we launched the first ever mesh internet network in Sri Lanka in the village of Mahavilachchiya, marking what can be described as the most important step in the creation of first e-village in the island. We have been doing a lot to realize this aim. Training village community, children and adults alike, in the use of ICT and getting computers to their homes were top priorities in our project.
Most of the time we had to rely on donations from foreign individuals and organizations, and private companies in Sri Lanka for the funds needed for our work. Sri Lankan expatriates living and working overseas played a great role in providing necessary funds. Unfortunately, we got very limited support from the government sector so far. We badly needed the government to come forward to play a bigger and more active role. Our efforts had not been in vain because we succeeded in getting the due recognition for the e-village concept. Mrs. Chitranganie Mubarak Programs Manager for eSDI, ICTA said at the mesh opening ceremony, “We are thankful to Horizon Lanka because they are the ones who opened our eyes to what is possible at village level through the capabilities of the e-village.”
President Rajapaksha arriving at the Parliament to deliver budget proposals for 2007
Now it is with great pleasure we announce that e-village concept was fortunate enough to attract the attention of those who really matter at last; those who understand the real potential of it, who could do a lot to take this valuable technology to the poor villages in rural Sri Lanka. Namely, His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha and Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga. That is how e-village initiative got funds allocated in the budget for year 2007 to be replicated throughout Sri Lanka.
Mr Lalith Weeratunga at Horizon
President Rajapaksha sent his secretary to the opening of the mesh network in Mahavilachchiya, and Mr. Lalith Weeratunga came to Mahavilachchiya. He visited the village houses and the two public schools connected with the mesh internet network. Before leaving he made a promise. “There are many things that we could do and take my word; I will certainly go into this thoroughly.”
Mr. Lalith Weeratunga gave his word that day and he had kept it. “Very few people like that in the world you would see today, in that kind of position.” Those were the words Mr. Weeratunga used when he was talking about Dr Abdul Kalam, the President of India, which serves fine to describe the speaker as well.
It is not that he had taken a sudden interest in our activities just on that day we launched the mesh network. To quote Mr. Weeratunga, “I have known Wanni for a long period of time. Most of the time I knew what he was doing. He kept me updated all the time about the new initiatives”. President Rajapaksha also had known and had had a keen interest about our activities at Horizon Lanka in Mahavilachchiya. He had the need to popularize the ICT in Sri Lanka. Let me quote again, “We have a fantastic programme in Mahinda Chinthana called ‘Gama Neguma’, which is to ensure that the village is developed in the total sense. Had I known, or had Mr. Rajapakse known about e-village concept he would have definitely put it in ‘Mahinda Chinthana’, I am sure. Now that you have done it, it doesn’t have to be in that book but we can always copy we can always work with you. I don’t want to do something different; I want to learn from you. And then do it the way it has come through. This is not top driven, this is bottom driven. That is why it is a success.”
We sincerely thank the President for this history making decision to consider e-village concept worth investing on and make us proud of what we have done. We, at Horizon Lanka give our solemn promise to do our best to help replicate what we have done here in Mahavilachchiya.
Hem and Haw
From Horizon web site
http://www.horizonlanka.org/index.htm
President Mahinda Rajapaksha allocated 100 million rupees to replicate e Village model in Mahavilachchiya throughout Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksha proposed this in his budget proposals for 2007 in the capacity of the Finance Minister.
What the budget speech was
“3 E-villages
I propose to develop e-villages in selected rural locations as a pilot project to popularize computer usage to promote access to information to people living in distance locations.”
Correct the text of Horizon
CheeLanka!
Dear everyone on this thread,
Can we all try and rise above the Sam the dinosaur? You guys seem obsessed with this nasty old man, a spent force who was yesterday’s news and tomorrow’s footnote of ICT history (if that). There is a whole world out there that is no longer shaped by him, and already does not care who in the world VKS is! Ask the average Sri Lankan youngster hooked on ICTs (internet, mobile phone, video games, etc) and a majority will not even know — and certainly won’t care — who this man is. Neither should we.
The anti-globalisation activists in this world are dissipating too much of their time and energy criticising and attacking Uncle Sam. Here we are, the pro-ICT activists doing something similar being obsessed with Dino Sam.
We should all go get a life that does not have Sam. As the anti-globlisation activists are fond of saying, Another World is Possible.
A world that does not define itself by Sam. Uncle or Dino.
Think about, guys. Opportunities are being missed while we keep harping on yesterday’s news.
Newspapers
Listen to these young girls describing how their parents in Mahavilachchiya reading newspapers through web.
Internet is no more the property of Colombo 7 elite. It has already reached villages.
Rip Van Winkle
CheeLanka,
Who is this dino you talk about?
Is he the same old guy who was at CINTEC? I remember this grand father there, moving in a wheelchair, with a saline bottle and a catheter permanently fixed to his body for life support.
There was a time we saw his withered rectangular face frequently on TV. He had the looks of a cadaver right from the grave. He used to give “pora talks” about computers and we thought Bill Gates was his brother in law.
The after some time we heard Batty Weere kicked this guy out of CINTEC with his wheel-chair, saline, catheter and all. Have not heard about him since then.
My Gosh, I thought this guy was dead long ago. Is that man still living? What a surprising news!!
The medical technology has advanced so much today, it can even keep a half dead man alive for year and years….
Dino
My dear children,
I am so sad to see what you write about me.
I did everything for my country. It is not correct saying I did all this to send my son to USA. Now I do not earn anything, except for a nominal allowance of Rs. 500,000 per month.
I did not request bribes from Samsung. They only forcefully put that money to my Swiss account. I do not know how they learnt the account number.
I blocked young talented people to train them to face challenges and not because I was jealous.
I am so disappointed by what people write me about this thread and I am going to end my life by jumping to the Narahenpita Kunu Ela at Kirimandala Mawatha.
Yours faithfully,
Grandfather Dino
Sirasa
Sirasa says they will run a program on Mahavilachchiya at 10.pm tonight. And Horizon website says MTV is to run a live talk show at 7.am tomorrow. Hope VK wud be the main acotor!
Donald Gaminitillake
Yes Sirasa 10 pm News First Sinhala News reel ran the program
Donald Gaminitillake
Wanni on MTV
Wanni is on MTV Breakfast show right now.
I would have given anything to see VK’s face now. The old man might be burning with jealousy. Poor guy. Lets hope he would not get a heart attack today.
zafa115
yah yah yah its great man! PROUD to be a SRILANKAN
Videos
I found these video clips on youtube done by Mahavilachchiya kids. Look interesting.
Jaliya J
Another interesting report on Mahavilachchiya is here http://www.apdip.net/news/lk-evillage
Interesting post from Digidev
Wanni’s MV mesh network has send a message to the world on how marginal communities take advantage of ICT to stregthen them not being isolated anymore.
We all know what internet access means to knowledge and power of communications (what I am doing is exactly that, I am using internet to communicate with you all ).
Although I ve not been to MV I knew it from birth times… Only on two ocations I had fruitful conversations with wanni. But being in similar boat of local ICT development, I know what wanni has achived mean…
We would be decived if we see the Mesh Network Hardware and
connectity only,.. what underlies is the Human Network Wanni build in his village. We need to look at farmers, students, women and as families how they have developed their communication skills,language, farming etc..
Hope wanni will comeout with his experience as biography from which we can learn. We are Learning much with Shilpa Sayura Implementation, 21 locations rounding deep south 21 uniue communities. We have just being able to develop a Shilpa Sayura Network with 21 Nenasalas. about 6 locations have taken it well. more than half still learning.
We dont hear from several, need communications skills upgrade…
This is where we need wannis help, how to make people communicate, using exsisting infrastructure or added ones. How effiently we could use Rs. 100m make 300 villages communicate with each other and among the village.
e-Village is an idea where you will find many stakeholders, it’s new, everybody has an idea… It could be a broadbase knowledge strom, actually not theories , but those who have the experience in field, policies, finacing and ICT.
I can rememer How e-Sri Lanka was born, Think Tanks, participatory approch, quite learnings … hard ends .. the Jouney still continues. Thanks to All. There are beneficiaries including me..
What are the key problems a Village faces ex.1.They are not able get a better price for their products 2.They are isolated from information for knowledge improvement 3.They have lack of access to jobs, opportunities and services The moment I look at above 3 examples, I see a need of a e-village to e-Village network, that enable micro economics, education, jobs, opportunities and govt services
One major concern we should have is not to islolate e-village, this is an opportunity to bridge all nenasala, tele centers, vidata, as one network. Actually they are one network physically from the begining. What we dont have is a usable application and content network. Isolated Efforts made would have no contributing effect on
the big picture.
This is an opportunity to ICT intellectuals, content specialists, application engineers to workout a neat model of e-Village that can work on an exsisiting and added infrastructure. ..
The keyword in participative development.
The need is to prepare to learn, prepare to chage, and change dynamically. Because I belive that each village is unique…
I initiate this discussion to have open entry to e-village.
Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Project
http://www.shilpasayura. org
Sri Lankan News Sites
All,
Visit http://www.i4donline.net/news/top_news.asp?catid=6&newsid=6612
http://www.apdip.net/news/lk-evillage
I don’t know why so called Sri Lankan websites like TLA, Lanka Truth, Lanka Page, etc. keep ignoring this success story. How long can they keep this project from emerging? Before long, BBC, CNN, etc. will start talking about this wonderful project in Mahavilachchiya but our so called “Sri Lankan” news sites will keep ignoring. This is the real dirty politics we have.
News sites
Man! They have their own agendas than reporting itself. One needs to dance according to their tunes.
Siddhalepa Vedamahattaya
The so called SL news portals Lanka Academic, Lanka Page and Lankanewspapers are run by Sri Lankan Diaspora.
These expats think they are far superior to the “natives” living here, because they live in the comfort of the first world, while we in Sri Lanka, have to live in the middle of war, (not knowing whether we will be the victim of the next bomb) and facing constant hassles in our lives.
The expats who run these sites elaborate a story only either,
(a) if is about some sort of problem in Sri Lanka -it goes well with their superior complex. (See, you people take one hour to drive from Wellawatte to Colombo while we can cross a state in US by that time!)
or
(b) if it is a project financially supported by an expat – this is out of their sheer “sympathy” to “natives” (This village was devastated by tsunami and we expats built it back. Isnt that great? If not for us who will help these poor Sri Lankan natives?)
Any achievements of the “natives” on their own will find no place in these sites, because it is bad for their own mentality.
Ninety percent of these Diaspora have benefited from the free education system in Sri Lanka. If not for the free education system they would be planting manioc today.
The Sri Lankan public have spend at least Rs. 1 million to create each of these expats. It is with the hope that they would serve their motherland one day. But these selfish, self-centered b*****ds have conveniently left the country after benefiting from all these and now make mock at us.
I do not think MW project leaders have to worry about not been highlighted at any of such “Sri Lankan News portals”. It is bad for their mentality.
It will be only a matter of time BBC and CNN will be interested in them.
Well Done
Wel done! See this! http://www.mahavilachchiya.net/
Rivira
This appeared in Rivira about Mahavilachchiya. Oprn the link in IE http://www.rivira.lk/2006/12/03/rivinetha1.htm
Lakbima
http://www.lakbima.lk/special/spec 11.htm
Lakbima
http://www.lakbima.lk/special/spec 11.htm this is another article on mahavilachchiya. Earlier link is wrong
Accuracy
I read both the reports carefuly. But what I understand is both the articles does not carry the accurate facts about Mahavilachchiya project. For instance Nenasala project has nothing to in MV and the history of the project too is distorted.
Donald Gaminitillake
This is typical Sri Lankika attitude. Once you grow bigger people tends to shy to expose the accurate background. I was told to write the sociology aspect of Mahavilachchiya by a professor in the university.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Ryp Van Winkle
Donald,
Visit http://www.horizonlanka.org/media/index.html I had few long hours researching on the articles in this link after ACCURACY’s posting on accuracy of recent media reports about MVCH. See how distorted the story of Mahavilachchiya in each of these articles when compared with the first article on IPS. Journalists always distort the facts with good reasons.
There can be few reasons for this.
1. Being a journalist, I know myself that 90% of the journalists write what they want, not what the relevant people say or what should be written. This is due to arrogance of the journalist. “I know all and who cares about these bugghers attitude.”
2. It is very rarely a journalist goes to a place with homework done. These guys can easily read the MV websites and go handy with the facts and only get some first hand experiences at the site. This is not done usually by our journalists.
3. Very rarely journalists are given sound recorders by the media institutions. So the journalists who are not good with shorthand produce an article with wrong facts.
4. The written report is edited by an editor who doesn’t know anything about the story.
5. Most important parts are deleted to cut down space problems.
6. Journalist imagines a story which comes to his mind when he/she visits a place and he/she tries to support his/her mental picture rather than going with facts.
7. Journalists cannot remember logics behind a historical happenings of a process and they easily distort the history.
8. You provide journalist a press release and see what he writes. Still he will distort the facts.
9. If you want to see something on the press the way you want, open a newspaper, write the story yourself, edit it yourself, proofread yourself, typeset yourself and print yourself. :-)
Donald Gaminitillake
Again a very debatable topic and inside information of journalists!!!
Journalist will have to publish the facts. Based on facts.
Facts and truth without fear or favour
People who reads will have to take the decision
We got to voice for a change!!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Daily Mirror?
Donald or anyone?
Was there any article on MV in Daily Mirror this week?
Man of the Match
To Whome It May Concern,
This is to inform you that, like it always happen, VKS has become the Man of the Match in evillage project as well. Wanni is totally out of this project. VK used all his 40 thieves to crush Wanni. Wanni, Fare thee well!!! Now wait for the bullet. Manju escaped unharmed but you will get the bullet on your head too.