Latest News
Strategic Roadmap for achieving US$5 Billion Digital Export Target reviewed with industry stakeholders
A national workshop titled “The Road to US$5 Billion” was held on Friday (31) at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, to review the strategic roadmap developed to accelerate the growth of Sri Lanka’s digital industry and increase digital export revenue to US$5 billion by 2030, while building consensus among industry stakeholders on its implementation.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and GovTech Sri Lanka, with technical assistance from the World Bank Group.
The opening remarks were delivered by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Senior Presidential Adviser on Digital Economy and Chairman of GovTech Sri Lanka, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, and Victor Antonypillai, Lead Industry Specialist of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
At the workshop, an assessment report on Sri Lanka’s information technology industry and the proposed strategic roadmap were presented. The report was prepared by local and international consultants from KPMG with technical support from the World Bank Group. The roadmap, further developed with contributions from the Ministry of Digital Economy, GovTech Sri Lanka and the Industry Development Committee, was presented for review and feedback from representatives of the digital industry.
Several thematic group discussions were also conducted, focusing on key areas including human capital development and future-ready skills, strengthening innovation and empowering independent professionals, expanding global market access and exports, and establishing the policies, investments and infrastructure required for sustainable growth.
In addition to reviewing the findings and recommendations of the assessment report, discussions focused on identifying existing gaps, new proposals, implementation priorities, institutional responsibilities, progress measurement indicators and the practical contributions required from relevant stakeholders.
Special attention was given to positioning Sri Lanka’s digital industry in the global marketplace, addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on business models and employment roles within the sector, developing high-value exports based on intellectual property and digital products, and creating pathways to take local innovations to international markets.
The strategic roadmap is expected to provide an evidence-based framework to enhance the international competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s digital industry, expand quality employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, enable local digital products and services to access global markets, and position Sri Lanka as a leading digital economy in the region.
The roadmap will be further refined by incorporating the recommendations and insights presented at the workshop. The next phase will involve preparing an integrated action plan that clearly identifies priority actions, responsible institutions, implementation timelines and progress indicators.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Waruna Sri Dhanapala, representatives of leading information technology and digital service companies, industry and professional associations, innovative entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors, independent professionals, universities and research institutions, government agencies, Sri Lankan professionals based overseas and international development partners.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
People living on the northern Pacific coast of Mexico are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Polo, which is forecast to make landfall later on Monday or early on Tuesday.
The category three storm, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph (185 km/h), is expected to move over the state of Baja California Sur, a region popular with tourists and home to the resort destination of Los Cabos.
Meteorologists at the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) have warned of heavy rainfall which could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
Residents on Sunday stocked up on essentials such as drinking water and food as the storm approached.
The NHC warned of the storm surge Hurricane Polo could unleash, which it said could be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
In Cabo San Lucas, famous for its natural rock arch, the authorities restricted access to the beaches. Some restaurants also closed in the town, which acts as a base for sport fishers and whale watchers.
The regional government of Baja California Sur has ordered schools to remain closed on Monday as a preventive measure.
Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío said temporary shelters had been opened should residents need to be evacuated.
The federal authorities have also deployed thousands of members of the navy and the army along with specialised machinery.
Polo has been slowly moving towards Mexico’s coast line.
Meteorologists said it was being fuelled by extremely warm waters caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
(BBC)
Like every year, Pushpraj Rimal, a tour planner and taxi driver in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, was looking forward to September for his business to boom.
But what he got instead was a series of cancellations by tourists after catastrophic floods last month killed more than 1,450 people and destroyed key highways, deeply impacting the Himalayan nation heavily dependent on tourism.
“It is still a lockdown kind of situation,” the 42-year-old told Al Jazeera nearly a month after the disaster.
Pushpraj, who speaks Nepali and Hindi, works on commission for several hotels and trekking companies in Kathmandu and the scenic town of Pokhara, known for its lake nestled in the Annapurna mountain range. Pokhara also serves as a base for Himalayan trekkers.
Nepal’s tourist season peaks after the monsoon ends in August and the skies are clearer. Tourism attracts thousands of international travellers, accounting for nearly 8 percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product and employs more than 1 million people.
Last year, Nepal saw more than 1.15 million tourists visiting the country, nearly a third of them during the September-November season.
But the floods this year, triggered by a glacial mountain collapse along the Nepal-Tibet border in the north, have pushed tourists away from the unaffected areas as well.
“I had rented two cars for two months, but I have done one fourth of the business I usually do in a season. Tourists generally start pouring in from September, but most of them have cancelled this year,” he said.
“I will get no commissions from the hotels or trek organisers, nor has the taxi business worked well. … I am now waiting for the season to end.”
Rimal has two children, Hema, 14, and Rahul, 12, whom he had promised a tablet this Dussain, a prominent Hindu festival that usually falls in October. “But it seems impossible now. I will have to break their hearts and my promise to them for the very first time.”
(Aljazeera)
World javelin leader Rumesh Tharanga lived up to his reputation to win Sri Lanka a highly anticipated gold medal, beating wet weather and track conditions at the Asia Games in Nagoya Japan a little while ago.
He took the lead with a massive 88.33 metres effort in his penultimate throw before sealing the contest with 88.55 metres throw.
He beat a strong field inclusive of reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. (Reemus Fernando)
Mexico’s Pacific coast braces for Hurricane Polo
Washout against Afghanistan sends India into semi-finals
‘Still a lockdown’: Deadly floods hit Nepal tourism as peak season begins
Tharanga wins highly anticipated Asian Games gold
Tharanga on cusp of Asian Games Gold
Rain threat looms over lopsided India vs Afghanistan quarter-final
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoMastermind Naufer Moulavi among 15 found guilty
-
Midweek Review6 days agoThileepan’s fast unto death: An authentic narrative that many missed
-
News7 days agoProtest against setting up of cement factory in highly populated area near BIA
-
Editorial7 days agoTrouble beginning in earnest
-
Latest News5 days agoShowers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
-
Editorial6 days ago
Big Bad Bills
-
News7 days agoPolice may seek clarification from US
-
News7 days agoGovt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation