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Sri Lanka’s IT industry veteran passes away
View(s):Dr. R.B. Ekanayake, one of the leaders of Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, passed away on Friday.
He was the founder-President of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) established in 1976 by a group of dedicated professionals including Dr Ekanayake, for the purpose of promoting ICT and professionalism among those engaged in this field. The CSSL said in a statement that Dr Ekanayake continued to support and advise CSSL as a fellow member until his death.He has been involved with the industry for over 45 years, beginning his career at the State Engineering Corporation, deploying the first main frame computer in Sri Lanka. He was associated with the Banking industry for over 30 years, driving IT deployment in that sector by heading the IT divisions of Bank of Ceylon, Sampath Bank and the Commercial Bank. For his longstanding contributions in the field of Information Technology, the Sri Lanka ICT Association (SLICTA) presented him with the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
The CSSL said Dr Ekanayake was a member of the Presidential Committee which drafted the first National Computer Policy for Sri Lanka in 1983, and was a founder Council member of CINTEC in 1984.
CSSL President Ajith Salgado said that, “this is a great loss to Sri Lanka’s ICT industry as well the entire nation. We all should be thankful for the services Dr. Ekanayake rendered to Sri Lanka over many decades.”