Financial Times

e-Sri Lanka PC to enhance PC affordability for all
By Akhry Ameer
The Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) together with Intel Corporation launched the e-Sri Lanka PC programme on Tuesday. The programme aims to make personal computers (PC) more affordable to individuals by lowering purchase cost thereby icreasing accessibility to achieve the e-Sri Lanka vision.

Through this programme personal computers branded the e-Sri Lanka PC will hit the market in August at a cost of around Rs. 43,000. These computers have been specially packaged with an original chipset from Intel, licensed software, self-teaching tools, and Internet access for 120 hours. The machines are targeted at individuals and 100,000 units are expected to be made available in the first phase of the programme.

Prof. V.K.Samaranayake, Chairman, ICTA said a purely commercial approach through cost-cutting and bulk orders has been taken to achieve this pricing. Manju Haththotuwa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ICTA added they are grateful to all partners who have joined the programme to make this a reality, while efforts are being made to secure VAT exemption to reduce the price further.

Intel officials at the launch said they have extended a special pricing on their Celeron range of chips with the greater goal of enhanced PC usage within the country.

Yet another partner to this pogramme is RedHat, which opened its local liaison office during the week, offering its low cost licensed Linux Operating System and OpenOffice. The inclusion of open-source technology is a step-forward in promoting the use of legal software and reflects on ICTA’s commitment to promote choice of ownership between proprietary and open-source technology. RedHat also announced it would include complete versions of Sinhala and Tamil capability to these machines within the next 12 months.

Another unique feature of the programme is the 120 hour Internet access at a value of Rs. 500 where telecom operators Sri Lanka Telecom, Lanka Bell and Suntel have committed to absorb telephone dial-up costs, which is otherwise incurred separately on dial-up connections. Three local companies PC House, NEAT and Kobian have been signed to assemble and distribute the e-Sri Lanka PC through their networks.

The computers will be sold to individuals on production of National Identity Cards to prevent a mop-up by organizations or resellers thereby ensuring a true enhancement of usage among individuals in the country.

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