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
Bravo!
and here i am, 30 km from colombo, using dialup , took about 3min to open this page
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.
Btw I’m not in china
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.
Guide lines have been set they will have to lead their own way
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
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. :-)
Kiyanna kese kiwath assanna sihi buddhiyen asiya yuthui
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
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.
Thanks spyguy
This is the Difference between Dino and Donald.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
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!!!!!
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. :-)
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.”
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..
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
Why don’t we start another thread on Nenasala? This is interesting and ICTA implementors should hear what people have to say about this.
“The cost of VSAT link to each “Nanasala” is Rs. 75,000 per month.” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can someone confirm this is true?
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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”.
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
test test test
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.
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
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!!!!
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.
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,
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.
I did had correspondence with Dr Hanna.
He did replied but later lost contact
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald,
Before anything else, wouldn’t it better for you to attend an English grammar class? :-)
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.
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.
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.