Please continue discussion from Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 5, on this thread. This thread is devoted to diverse software issues discussed in the context of Sri Lanka. Please stick to the topic and keep the discussion civil.
Previous discussion is archived in the following threads:
211 Comments
Donald Gaminitillake
From SundayOberver Dec 3, 2006
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Poorly managed computer systems a risk in Govt institutions
by Gamini Warushamana
Organisations can improve their efficiency by using computer technology. Government institutions handling especially a large volume of data can use technology effectively to make things easy for people. However, bureaucracy, inefficiency and corruption coupled with lack of IT skilled top officials make things worse and the institutions lose valuable data within a few seconds creating serious issues in government service.
Pic by Chinthaka Kumarasinghe
The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) faced a similar crisis recently and the computer system in the department was paralysed for nearly one week bringing all work in the department to a standstill. Fortunately the data in the database had not been deleted as reported by some media, sources said.
After the crisis officers accused one another in the media and this demonstrated the lack of coordination and bureaucracy that prevailed in the department. According to media reports the IT personnel in the department attempted to blame the Commissioner and the Assistant Commissioner (IT) for it. The Sunday Observer learns that this was a result of many issues by various officials including IT personnel.
The DMT case is an example how poorly the government institutions use computer technology and the associated risk therein. The DMT is one of the main institutions that brings a large amount of revenue to the government and its data base is very important in many aspects including national security.
After the computer system failed, the DMT called for assistance from the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) of the ICTA. The SLCERT report said that the DMT was very fortunate to survive a major catastrophe, due to the early detection of the problem.
The report highlighted key issues in the DMT computer system. The report said that the system doesn’t have a firewall system or up-to-date anti virus protection between the client and the server. The anti virus application was last updated in December 2004. There are no policies with regard to information security such as password policy, shared access policy, backup policy and disaster recovery policy in the system.
The client machines can access the shared folders in the application server without any authentication. The report also highlighted the bureaucracy in the administration and said that there is a distinct lack of cooperation between the IT team and the management, making coordination of recovery activities difficult. There is resistance to change within the team, which impedes the introduction of a solution, the report said.
The report said that the viability of Windows NT use in the system needs to be re-examined by the DMT. Windows NT is an outdated platform and it has limited security features. Currently the vendor Microsoft does not support the Windows NT platform, it said.
The SLCERT team detected that the victim machine was infected by a Worm (CME-24). It attacks security applications and attempts to disable antivirus applications. CME-24 activates and overwrites files with the extensions on the third of every month at a time scheduled via a command.
Since the worm contains a backdoor to the infected system it may not be removed by an antivirus application or a removal tool. It spreads through file sharing over the network. It utilises aliases to confuse victims about its identity. It writes system registry keys so that any deleted files will be reactivated when the system is restarted, the report said.
Though the IT personnel of the department said that the virus infection came from the internet, the report said that the network is isolated and has no internet or email connection. The possible infection media could be USB drive, floppy disk or a CD.
The SLCERT has made the following recommendations to be implemented immediately.
* Remove all machines from the network, including the server. Install and run up-to-date antivirus software on the server and clients before connecting them to the network. Since the worm has built-in backdoors and other components that will not be detected by antivirus applications and highly recommended total system backup of the application server is necessary.
* Long and medium term recommendations of the SLCERT are important for all government institutions handling a similar network. It recommends to replace the Windows NT server with a current server platform such as Windows 2003 server. The report also recommends the installation of firewall and limits access between the clients and the server.
It also recommends obtaining genuine, licensed versions of Microsoft Windows for client machines and to formulate and enforce regular update policy. It is learnt that all machines used by DMT are assembled machines with no brand and the software running on them are copies.
* For virus protection, it recommended to formulate a software update policy and keep virus definition files up to date.
The DMT is a key government agency and if it maintains the computer system in this manner we wonder how other institutions fare.
The government is planning e-governance that computerises all departments and connects them to one network. The DMT case shows how poorly these already computerised institutions maintain their systems.
The DMT lapse also stresses the need for close monitoring by independent government institutions such as the ICTA.
Unquote
Donald Gaminitillake
The same topic is written in two news papers
see
http://www.akuru.org/images/full-rmv.jpg
Sinhala news paper comments on a “UNIX” system and the Sunday Observer comment on “Windows NT” OS
Truth is there is a Computer problem .
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It is learnt that all machines used by DMT are assembled machines with no brand and the software running on them are copies.
Unquote
This also prove the errors in the Tender system. Buying cheap unbranded computers with public funds and without any service contracts leads to these problems.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Double Digit
The RMV case is very interesting.
As usual everybody blames everybody.
Let us take the cases one by one.
First of all, we cannot rely on the newspaper reports. Sri Lankan journalists know hardly anything about IT, they never bother to cross check the information they receive, so they simply write what somebody else tell them.
That is why the reporter who wrote the Sinhala article says Unix is now obsolete. He seems to know nothing about the latest versions of Unix or Linux. Or he may be in the pay-roll of Microsoft.
It is very natural that when the system fails in the govt. organization the management always blames IT division, and IT division always blames management. The same happens here.
What is funniest is the ICTA’s response.
ICTA team goes and finds there is a worm in the system. They remove the worm and advice RMV to look after their system by introducing minor changes they suggest. Good.
I though the role we expected from ICTA was not to clean viruses from the systems at govt. offices. We expect it to play a much bigger role.
Computerisation of Department of Motor Vehicles has been identified as a key project to be implemented under the e-Sri Lanka programme. ICTA was supposed to do that. Implementation a system is not simply clearing viruses.
ICTA’s current vision is “To harness ICT as a lever of economic and social advancement, by taking the dividends of ICT to every village, to every citizen, to every business and TO REENGINEER THE WAY GOVERNMENT THINKS AND WORKS”
I suggest this should be changed to: “To harness ICT as a lever of economic and social advancement, by taking the dividends of ICT to every village, to every citizen, to every business and TO CLEAR VIRUSES FROM THE IT SYSTEMS OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPERTMENTS”
Shouldn’t ICTA take the full blame for not implementing a proper system at RMV for more than three years which was in their mandate?
Donald Gaminitillake
Thank you for the impartial comment Double Digit
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Shouldn’t ICTA take the full blame for not implementing a proper system at RMV for more than three years which was in their mandate?
Unquote
Why don’t we get a comment from the ICTA?
My worry is unbranded and installing Computers without proper agents in Lanka in Govt offices is a major future problem!!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
An Admirer
Donald is absolutely right here. But we have instances where even branded hardware vendors with all their local offices in Colombo and regional offices in all major districts jolly well neglect their duties after selling stuff. (They will have all the contracts signed properly but you know when you go to courts in this miserable country. All you can do is to change the vendor next time you buy PCs and go through the same bitter experiences.) When you inform them about the faults they keep delaying taking them to repairs and even after much delays they again delay delivering the repaired stuff in the repair centers for months. Eventually the warranty periods run out with the goods in stores. This is the procedure followed by all IBM, HP, Dell, etc. vendors in the country. So, the unbranded vendors make use of this opportunity and provide better service till they get a proper share from the market and when they do get a considerable market, they also start ignoring the costumers. Earlier good places like PC House, Kobian are the worst in the market now.
There are instances ICTA delivered unbranded goods for their projects as well. The agreements are signed with the ICTA and those vendors and the relevant project people have to go on a long process of first writing to ICTA and then ICTA writing to the vendors which eventually only kills time and give an extra advantage for the vendors. ICTA is yet another bureaucratic organization. It is not as transparent or energetic as it was meant to be when Milinda M formed it with extraordinary powers to operate. An ailing Dino in the big chair has introduced very old government administration which keep delays all the processes. It would need 100,000 Donalds to change the situation. One Donald will not serve the purposes. Since Donald himself got entrapped with the language issue, his voice also is ignored by many saying that he is a crazy guy. So, the good part of Donald is conveniently ignored by those wrong doers and the concerned citizens of Sri Lanka. We should start a movement to save “True Donald” from “Language Donald” for the betterment of the IT industry and the country. Donald loves both and we love Donald because of this. Not because of how he handle the language issue. Donald is absolutely right in language issue as we don’t have any solutions after spending billions of government funds unfortunately Donald mishandles his solution by making friends and supporters uncomfortable. Donald, please learn from the mistakes and be diplomatic. If you do want to thrash these idiots like Dino and the gang please do so in a live TV debate run in a prime time, not in a blog where only a very limited number of people read (and understand.) We love you. We admire your bravery in exposing how foolish these idiots are. So far everyone was worshiping these ‘dead stones’ blindly. Only you had the stomach to question their acts and credentials. Nobody else did it so far due to fear of losing a chance to do a presentation in an IT conference or losing an opportunity to travel overseas. Others do not have the luxury of an open battle with Dino and the 40 thieves as they have to defend the workplaces, jobs, etc. You are living on your own whereas the others have to feed their families, save their organizations being destroyed by Dino, etc. Only you have the luxury of enjoying freedom and you can attack openly.
We know you are correct in language issue. The only problem is you don’t have the right approach. This needs a good planning. Overcoming these official barriers is not easy in any developed country too, let alone a country like Sri Lanka.
Donald, please have some good rest. Travel somewhere without your laptop and cellphone. Do not read any newspapers for three months. Rest, rest and rest. If possible attend some meditation and come back afresh. Identify your enemy and that of the country. Then start your war. We will back up. The day we all will back you up in open stage is very close if you get your focus right. We all mistakes at one stage and we learn from the mistakes. We want you to learn your mistakes as well. All those who left you come back to you as long as the problem remains unsolved. Up to date the problems (Dino, language, etc) remain unsolved. This means you have the supporters scattered everywhere without a leader. If you come back with a plan, you can see these leaderless crowd supporting you. This is what Lenin, Mao, Che and Castro did. Identifying the enemy, getting organized and focused and fight. Please read this email 100 times and come afresh. We still have time to get rid of these enemies of the state.
Donald Gaminitillake
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neglect their duties after selling stuff.
Unquote
In sri Lanka we have the C A A (consumer affairs authority) where you can make your representations.
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Donald, please have some good rest.
Unquote
Sorry I will not rest. I will expose as much as possible. At least the facts will be documented for future use.
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Donald is absolutely right in language issue as we don’t have any solutions after spending billions of government funds
Unquote
At last there is someone who had understood the problem. Why not voice your views
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unfortunately Donald mishandles his solution by making friends and supporters uncomfortable.
unquote
I have not made anyone uncomfortable. If you say I have mishandle my Solution can you suggest the better way. Solution is for the pubic.
Have you seen the whole Sinhala SMS ads have been withdrawn!!! a total darkness over the Sinhala SMS!!! Why???
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
visit
http://www.akuru.org/images/interesting-sinhala2.jpg
I have marked in red. This is not proper Sinhala.
If Sinhala unicode is correct you cannot have bits like this.
Sinhala Unicode & SLSI 1134 is incorrect and incomplete.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
VK Bash
This thread becomes active only when someone bashes VK. People are not concerned about the issues, bashing VK is the only attraction here.
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear VK Bash
Even you have not answered the question that I have posted on 7. Please comment!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Sri Ram
“Mr. VK Bash” is correct to some extent. This thread becomes very live when somebody starts bashing VKS.
Did anyone ever wonder why?
Over the 10-20 years he has been active in the ICT industry VKS has consciously blocked the way of hundreds of young and talented IT professionals. In some cases he has badly harassed young individuals. In some cases he had even gone to the length of badmouthing to the bosses of the young professionals he did not like.(for no apparent reason!)
I know this has happened to so many young professionals working in the private sector. I know about a guy who got fired from a private firm because VKS badmouthed about him to the Managing Director of the company.
VKS had done this partially in jealousy and partially in fear.
The old man lives under constant fear that one day somebody will deprive him of the authority he has.
Whatever he likes to show, he has no expertise in any filed in IT. (Even in case of Unicode he knows nothing. It was the others like Nandasara who did the real work, though VKS unashamedly took the credit.) VK’s only tool to retain power is his authority. So the day he loses that tool, he will be a vegetable. He does not want to fall to that level. In addition to losing social status, this will also affect him financial, as he will find difficult to fund the studies of his son in USA.
However, in this process, naturally he has gained lots of enemies.
So if one says something negative about VKS, there are so many to add their own two cents….
I should not say this, but the sad truth is day VKS kicks the bucket, there would not be many mourners around…
Kidding?????
Hai Sri Ram,
You say “I should not say this, but the sad truth is day VKS kicks the bucket, there would not be many mourners around…” Are you kidding?????? When VKS kicks the bucket there are hundreds of ppl to mourn. His henchmen and the ppl who took huge advantages by offering bribes to VKS.. So, don’t think this dirty curse will ever be over.
Donald Gaminitillake
I have been invited to do a project report. I have included the problem of Sinhala and Tamil. Lets see the outcome of this in 2007.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Dino
Api baya wey oyage report walata!!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
The problem will be recorded & Documented.
More people will be able to read.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Anton Balasinghem
Dino Machang,
Mamath umba tharamma nethi unath jaathiyatame wina karapu ekek. Mamath ada walakajja gehuwa. Mama enawa umbath aran yanna ikmanatama. Lesthi wela hitapan. Api dennata aluth apayak hadala ethi.
Though not as you did, i have done huge damages to the nation. I kicked the bucket today. I will come quickly to take you as well. Be ready. They will have to make a new hell to us.
Anton Balasingham passes away
space
[Thu, 14 Dec 2006, 14:11 GMT]
Anton BalasinghamAnton Balasingham, theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has passed away in London Thursday. Mr. Balasingham has been associated with the Tamil liberation struggle for more than 30 years and participated as chief negotiator on behalf of the Liberation Tigers in almost all political negotiations, beginning with the Thimpu talks in 1985. He was diagnosed with bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), a rare and aggressive malignancy of the biliary system, in the middle of November.
Island
This may not be related to this topic directly. Still this is interesting.
Island Today.
Child abuse, wife abuse and language abuse
by Usvatte Aratchi
Many are the speakers now against child abuse and wife abuse. Handsome young men and pretty young women in chic clothing fill air-time on television fulminating against child abuse and wife abuse. But hardly anybody bothers about language abuse; sometimes an old and withered head does, often to be laughed at by the many. An abusive wife is different from wife abuse as abusive language is from language abuse. In wife abuse or language abuse, the victims are the wife and the language whereas an abusive wife and abusive language are instruments of offense against a second party. A wife is also different form language: language is a public good and a wife [as is a husband], in law, whatever the practice, is a very private good. A public good has a distinct characteristic. If malaria is exterminated you and I both benefit. I cannot exclude any one from benefiting from the elimination of malaria or the security provided by an increase in police personnel to patrol streets. In contrast, if I buy mangoes in the market, every one else has less mangoes to buy. Even a common law wife is not public property. An expressive language with a rich vocabulary is a public good in that nobody has to reduce her use of language because some one else is using more of it. English has a vocabulary of some 500,000 words in comparison with 185,000 in French and 100,000 in German. Because more people use English for more purposes than any other language, its usefulness is higher than that of any other language. [It is like telephones.] There was an adage in Tito’s Yugoslavia, where passenger buses run by government were used as if they were private property [to whatever purpose persons wanted] and abused as if they were other people’s property!
So seems the case with language, at least with Sinhala. Everybody uses it as each wishes and nobody cares to keep it in good repair. Like any other thing or person commonly abused, it deteriorates. Some would not agree. Language is essentially a social product. It is useful because persons use it to convey to another person what they want to say, whether in speech or in writing. It has no other uses. I might learn Akkadian because I want to read Akkadian poetry. The ancient poet would convey to me what he wanted to say, although I might understand it very differently from what he meant. Nobody would know. It has a very limited use. I might learn Chinese because another 1.2 billion people speak in that language. Apart from reading Chinese poetry, I would covey my meaning to many million people with whom I want to do business or exchange ideas. In fact, I might prefer to learn English because more than 90 per cent of all learned journals in Economics are written in English and none in Chinese. So, some would argue that if I can convey my meaning to another, language has served its useful function. Language is a product of usage and there is no more to do with it than to use it, however one likes. If any one were interested, she may study those usages and that is the core of the study of linguistics. Linguistics studies are fascinating and I, for one, am amazed how much one can learn by studying the uses of language [e.g. Richard Hoggart, The uses of literacy].
Three challenges facing Sinhala
However, there are three situations in which one has to care for the health and robustness of a language that one uses to prevent abuse. First, an existing language may be incompetent to give expression to new phenomena that one comes across. A language faces this situation when it `EBdiscovers’ new things and the existing vocabulary is incapable of giving expression to them. Professor D.J.Kalupahana, a pre-eminent scholar of Buddhist philosophy teaches us (in The Buddha’sPhilosophy of Language) that This doctrine [dhamma] is then summarized in two words, both of which were not part of the contemporary vocabulary, whether it be Vedic, Sanskrit or any other Prakrit known to be from this period. The two terms are idapaccayata [conditionality] and paticcasamuppada [dependent arising].’ Coming to more recent times, when English came face to face with the New World, it acquired new words like squash, wigwam, possum, enchilada, Yankee and waffle. Because Shakespeare wanted to say new things or old things in new ways, he invented thousands of new words. As new social phenomena developed, they found new words to name them: democracy, vacation, capitalism and trade union. The formation of new words grows faster as a language encounters new phenomena. Sinhala faces a massive need for new words as it comes face to face with whole new sets of things, ideas and attitudes. It has no time for words to grow from usage and hence the need for coining them.
The response in our society has been for government to employ university teachers to coin these terms. Independent scholars like Munidasa Kumaratunge, Aelian de Silva and Harischandra Vijayatunge have worked in parallel coining terms following their own logic. However, the public cannot wait. That is why we hear all those weird expressions over FM radio stations and in other places that raise the ire of those who observe the `EBetiquette of formal language’ [Stuart Pinker, The language instinct]. They want to say new things, not profound things but casual everyday experiences and the standard language does not meet that requirement. They improvise, which is the way languages change and grow. That is the second situation in which someone needs to look after the health and robustness of the language.
The third situation arises when a language comes into contact with another language over a wide front. Few languages grow in isolation and Sinhala has not. It has been fed and enriched by whatever language Mahinda brought here from Pataliputra, by Sanskrt, by Tamil, by Portuguese, by Dutch and now English. These inflows have not been small but massive introducing entirely new concepts in Buddhism [Pali], in poetics [Samskrt], in warfare and rituals [Tamil], in Christianity [Portuguese], in law [Dutch] and in law, commerce and science [English].
Since language is so pre-eminently an outcome of social processes, who looks after the welfare of the language? Does it need to be looked after? Some are convinced that it is both futile to attempt so and unnecessary. Until books got into print in the 15h and 16th centuries, it was infeasible to find on record uniformity in use. Each scribe wrote by hand the language as he knew best. [That most genial of scholars, M.B.Ariyapala, who died recently, consulted fourteen copies of manuscripts when he edited kav silu mina in 1965.] For English, William Caxton fixed the spelling and usage as it prevailed in London and the South East of England in late 15th century. When Samuel Johnson published his dictionary in mid-18th century, the meaning and usage of words were more firmly fixed. These two events, the domination of English intellectual life by the two medieval universities and class attitudes in English society lent a certain discipline to English as used in Britain, although it grew more willfully in the United States, in Australia, in Nigeria and in India. In Sinhala, the first complete dictionary came forth just ten years ago after massive labour over some sixty years. It is in wholly unmanageable 26 volumes, occupying six feet of shelf space. We need it in three or four volumes, the most, so that it can stand on a table top and we need a concise version, in one small volume, containing the most commonly used terms. It is still extremely rare for some one to tell me that she checked a Sinhala word in the dictionary and that the spelling and meaning were as given there. A usable dictionary is one certain means to fix the spelling and meaning of words and bring some order to the chaotic variation that befuddles us all now.
Grammar, providing the etiquette of written prose’, is more problematic. We did not have prescriptive usage of the written language until Kumaratunge wrote kriya vivaranaya and vyakarana vivaranaya .in the 1940s. Sidat sangarava codified usage in late 13th century by the learned [ sadarut vidi siyal- anuru se piyonan] mostly in writing poetry and was the guide to writing standard Sinhala until then. Kumaratunge code did not receive wide acceptance, especially in the highly influential universities, though some others welcomed it with enormous zeal. The government issued in 1969 recommendations for a standard language, but it did not receive universal or even widespread acceptance.
Universities our saviours?
Now who will take charge of the problems faced by the imperative of expressing new ideas in Sinhala, by the improvisation unguided by any standards and by the confrontation with an immensely powerful world language, English? One attitude is to let the language grow, any way it would. One cannot regulate its growth and development. One consequence of this may be the growth of a creole or a pidgin Sinhala, which one hears so frequently over radio and television. There is no creole or pidgin in which memorable literature or science has ever been written. Therefore to let Sinhala go to creole or pidgin will be to give up the life of a language, some 2,000 years old in written form. That does not seem a rational response to the problem we face.
It is natural to think of universities as the principal agent for nurturing the growth of language in this very difficult period of its life. Our universities are enormously powerful sources of language usage. University men and women are all over newspapers, radio and television. They are prominent members of the Arts Council who determine excellence in writing. It is not just current university teachers but also hordes of their students who dominate the world of Sinhala letters. This pervasive influence is all that they need to determine the way language will grow. Their good effort or neglect will make or break this language. It is a responsibility they cannot run away from. When Sinhala is dead, they will be certainly convicted of criminal neglect, the worst form of language abuse. Some will certainly use abusive language against them, in my judgment not unfairly.
Donald Gaminitillake
Island article is very appropriate.
As I mentioned in 12 Now I am faced with another problem
To find Sinhala terms for the English words used in the Printing Industry
Eg
“Ghosting”
“Picking”
There are about 1500 odd words to be translated into Sinhala!!
the words like “COOK” was renamed as “CHEF”
Likewise the many words in the printing industry too will have to be renamed.
“Machine Minder” to ////// into Sinhala
“Helper” to ///// into Sinhala
Standardizing an Industry is a difficult task.
Commencing from Sinhala lets see how far I could go!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Quote from Daily mirror wed Dec 27 2006
All this happens because we do not have a proper Sinhala character allocation table with proper Sinhala Dic . I have been telling this for years. All falls on the deaf ears because of a Dino.
The SLSI 1134 is incorrect and incomplete
Donald Gaminitillake
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/12/27/front/6.asp
Major errors in text books
By Kelum Bandara
A number of errors have been detected in the Grade 10 textbook in the Sinhala Language and Literature printed for the new academic year.
Three such errors have been detected in the ‘National Anthem’ and 37 in the first chapter of the book.
Sri Lanka United Teachers’ Association President Ven. Yalwela Pannasekara Thera said there were 64 mistakes in the seventh chapter, and therefore they brought the matter to the notice of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.
Presently, school textbooks are compiled by private publishers.
Educational Publications Commissioner N. Dharmasena said there had been such mistakes detected in other textbooks as well.
Mr. Dharmasena said he would appoint an expert panel to scrutinize such errors and correct them immediately.
“As a policy decision, we have now decided to take over compiling textbooks to the Ministry leaving out private publishers from the process. Then, we can avoid such problems in the future,” he said.
Mahinda maama
Errors in books happen for different reasons. Ignorance or carelessness of the authours, ignorance or carelessness of the editors, type setters, proof readers, layout artists or anybody who come in the production process, pure technical errors or typos etc.
Either only an extremely stupid person or somebody who tries to exploit the situation to his benefit can claim all these errors took place because of the lack of so called “Character Allocation table”
Donald Gaminitillake
Hey Maama you are just giving reasons of no value.
Whole process is depending on a incorrect system and a standard.
If we had a proper sinhala electronic dic and sinhala text data compatible across all platforms using a correct code points for all sinhala characters 90% of the errors could be avoided.
We have to correct the Sinhala :
the first step of this is a correct allocation table for all Sinhala characters followed by defining other issues of proof reading standard. Sri Lanka yet to define the proof reading ISO.
People should work with some responsibility not quibbling like the “Maama”
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Hey Maama why should the Government pay money for “Ignorance or carelessness” people.
Re print the books without any errors at the cost of “Ignorance or carelessness” people.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Mahinda Maama
Donald,
[quote] Hey Maama why should the Government pay money for “Ignorance or carelessness” people. [unquote]
You ask from the government. Why ask from me?
Donald Gaminitillake
Because you protect the “Ignorance or carelessness” people
You are incapable of giving a solution for the students who will be thought wrong sinhala.
I have given the solution and only I have the solution not you or DINO
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Mahinda maama
Donald,
Did you come from Angoda? Who protect the ignorance and carelessness of authours. In fact it was I who pointed out that in first place…
You might need to visit a psychiatrist soon…
If you have a solituion why do you waste your time like a typical unemployed?
Donald Gaminitillake
Why you avoid facing the problem and bring forward an answer like what I have done?
I will be taking this issue with the proper people
You should join hands to save the language sinhala we got to educate the young with correct sinhala using correct Sinhala text
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Interesting article in LBO
Hope they will do for Sinhala too
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
http://lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=1501389129&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=10
Tech Unsavvy
03 January 2007 15:37:56
By Gayan Ratnayake
Survey shows majority of Sri Lanka’s teachers lack computer literacy
Jan 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ministry of education says more than 60 percent of the teachers in Sri Lanka lack computer and English literacy skills that are needed in a modern teaching environment.
The Ministry of Education says a new government survey shows that only a third of the teachers or (32.5 percent) in Sri Lanka are computer literate.
“We hope to establish 35 centers that will teach ICT and English literacy to teachers,” Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.
“We have ten teaching centers already.”
The preliminary report of the Census on Computer Literacy of Teachers conducted among, government schools approved private schools and Pirivenas shows that Sri Lanka’s computer literacy among teachers varying within 30 to 40 percent across districts.
Ministry of Education says 2006 census says slightly more than half the teachers in schools and pirivenas at national level have computer ‘awareness’, which is the knowledge to use at least one computer for one purpose.
Ministry officials say literacy in English is also a factor contributing to teachers’ literacy in ICT where only 53.7 percent of teachers in schools and Pirivenas or temple based schools have the ability to read and understand documents written in English.
Of the 200,000 teachers, 28 percent are graduates, but they are not computer literate.
“ICT and English literacy subjects have been introduced as compulsory subjects in science faculties to increase the (ICT and English) literacy of degree holders,” Minister says.
“Around 45,000 teachers have completed training in ICT courses,” the Minster said at a press briefing.
From the facilities related to ICT, only 76 percent of schools and Pirivenas have electricity, 26.2 percent have telecommunication facilities and less than ten percent have internet facilities.
The ministry has already given 100 computer laboratories that run on solar energy to schools without electricity, and 500 are scheduled to be built in 2007.
Out of nearly 9,000 schools and Pirivenas in the census, only 17 percent had computer laboratories.
Sri Lanka has nearly four million students studying in 9,727 government schools and the students to teacher ratio stand at 18 to one.
Students to computer ratio stand around 137 to one, while the teacher to computer ratio stands at 7 to one, but students to computer-literate-teacher ratio is around 56 to one, which is three times higher than the student to teacher ratio.
Donald Gaminitillake
I wrote to the president of Sri Lanka Printers association regarding the errors in Sinhala text books
I received the following reply and posting it for your perusal
Donald
Dear Mr.Donald,
Thank you for your mail and the interest shown in the School book printing.
Major errors in text books are one of the few complications involve in the text book printing scenario.
The SLAP started addressing this issue six years back when the World Bank introduced the multiple book option for the Education Ministry of Sri Lanka. The terms and conditions being, the World Bank will sponsor the value added expenditure segment of the books provided that the Printing of School books will be offered to the World Market. A representative from World Bank explain the project to the executive committee of SLAP during the presidency of Mr.Ashoka Jayasinghe.
The Ex-co of the SLAP immediately recognized the dangerous of the said project and objected for opening the Tender Internationally. We manage to stop the international tender but the multiple book option went ahead.
What you have written now are the consequences of a stubborn decision by the officials of the dept. of Education six years back.
The reasons you have pointed out for the errors in Sinhala text is true. The Association would be very happy to welcome your suggestions and to assist you to achieve these three points.
The multiple book option does not leave room only for major errors, but also an unhealthy competition among the Principles of Schools, leaving room for many corruptions.
The good news is that the present authority of the Ministry of Education have abandon this multiple choice project. As a result it will be only one panel of Editors concentrating on one book which will result in much better text quality.
The burning issues are not only the corrections, but also the unfair distribution process to the Government printing authorities and insufficient time granted for the Printers. The SLAP is in the process of addressing the above issues.
A meeting with the commissioner of the Education Publications Dept. is already scheduled for next week.
Shall brief you and being touch with you in this regard.
Thank you once again for the interest shown in book printing.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
Kosala Tillakeratne
President
Permission
Donald,
Did u seek this gentleman’s permission before publishing his answer?
Donald Gaminitillake
Contents of the letter are for the betterment of the public.
We got to educate the children in Lanka using correct Sinhala text books.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
The points I forwarded to the President of the Sri Lanka Printers Association were
1. We do not process across all platform Sinala text data. Text data created by one application is not readable in the second application.
2. There are no e- dictionaries, OCR, e- Thesaurus, e- encyclopedias for Sinhala Language across all platforms.
3. There is no standard for error corrections among typesetters, proof readers, layout artists and anybody who come in the production process.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Interesting article in Daily News 8/1/2007
Donald Gaminitillake
Computer literacy of teachers
Dr. Amara SATHARASINGHE, Deputy Director – Department of Census and Statistics
IT: Computers offer exciting approaches to teaching that were not even dreamed of twenty years ago, but the extent to which the educational potential of computer technology will be realised remains to be seen. Use of computers can revolutionise teaching and learning and could bring advances that would improve education dramatically.
Ordinary students would make massive gains and bright students could meet greater challenges. Wherever illiteracy is a problem, it would be eliminated and handicapped students would have vast new vistas opened to them.
Teacher attitudes towards computer technology may be a significant factor in the use of computers in education. Computer literate individuals will reap greater benefits than their counterparts who lack that knowledge. To promote computer literacy of both teachers and students, the Government is investing considerably.
To evaluate the impact of these investments and thereby help ensure that the intended results are achieved, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy of students and teachers should be measured periodically.
The Department of Census and Statistics and the Education Ministry conducted a census on Computer Literacy of Academic Staff of Government Schools, Approved Private Schools and Privenas to find out the computer literacy levels of teachers and ICT related facilities and hardware available in schools. This census was conducted on Nov. 2, 2006.
This Census was conducted under the Census Ordinance of the Department of Census and Statistics. Under this Ordinance, respondents are required to provide accurate information requested by the Department. Department is bound not to divulge any information at individual level. Only statistics at aggregate levels will be published.
Therefore, teachers were requested to report their perceptions of their competencies and teachers were assured that information provided by them would not be divulged with identification information of individuals.
This Census was conducted countrywide. For three districts in the conflict-affected areas Jaffna, Mannar, and Killinochchi, completed census schedules are yet to be received. Of 9124 schools in other districts, 8388 returned the completed schedules. This is a very high response rate of 92 per cent.
However, the response rate for Mullaitive (48%) and Vavuniya (38%) are low and therefore results for these districts should be used cautiously.
In addition to the government schools, there are 652 pirivenas in the country. Completed schedules were received for 77 percent of them. The total number of approved private schools in the country is 79. The response rate for approved private schools is 80 percent.
Complete data covering all district and all categories of schools will be included in the final report. The preliminary findings of this Census have been released desegregated by district, category of school (National schools, Navodya schools, Other government schools, Approved Private schools and Pirivenas) and number of students (100 or below, 100 – 300, 300 – 930, 930 or more)
To use the ICT in teaching and learning process there are some basic ICT related facilities that need to be available in schools. Electricity is one such facility. The level of availability of electricity is very impressive. About three fourth of schools/pirivenas have this facility.
The institutions best served are the National schools (99.4%), Navodya schools (97.9%), Privenas (98.4%) and approved private schools (96.8%). In contrast, just over 70% of other government schools have electricity available to them.
Schools with smaller number of students are less likely to have electricity. Only half the schools with 100 or less students have electricity, while 99% of schools with more than 930 students have this facility.
The linkage of telecommunication and computes is behind the rapid developments in the field of ICT. To obtain information using Internent, schools should have a telephone connection. Availability of a land phone is at low level and only 26 percent of school/pirivenas have land phones.
Schools best connected to land lines are national schools (95%) and approved private schools (94%). This is followed by privenas (90%) and Navodya schools (67%).
In contrast, only 16% of other government schools have a land-line connection available to them. Only 15 percent of schools with 100 students or less have a telephone facility while 85.8 precent of schools/pirivenas having 930 or more students have this facility.
Internet facility and e-mail facility are available in very small proportions of 6.4 and 4.1 percent of schools respectively. Highest availability of nearly 50% is in national schools and equally in private schools.
Among the other government schools numbering 7639 enumerated, only 3% have Internet available to them. Internet is also more available in larger schools and almost not available in the small schools with less than 100 students.
Having a computer laboratory, a library and books/magazines on ICT is useful to encourage students and teachers to use ICT in teaching and learning processes.
Although 72 percent of schools/pirivenas have a library, only 17 percent of schools have a computer laboratory. Books/magazines on ICT are available only in 27 percent of schools.
Availability of hardware in schools/pirivenas was also assessed in this Census. Most of the facilities and hardware are more available in national and Navodya schools and to a similar extent in private schools.
Other government schools, which are also, the small student size schools are the least well equipped with ICT facilities and hardware.
Computer is a key factor in using ICT in schools. Nearly 30 percent school/pirivenas have computers and about 26 percent of schools have computer printers in working conditions. The penetration of computers varies by category and size of schools.
National (95.2%) and Navodya (90.1%) schools are better equipped with computers compared to other government schools (23.9%). Availability of desktop computers compared to other government schools (23.9%). Availability of desktop computers in Private schools (84.1%) is also considerably high. Only 17.0 percent pirivenas reported to have computers.
Larger schools are better equipped with computers than smaller ones. The percentage of schools with 930 students or more having computers is 88.5 percent.
Availability of computers in schools with less than 100 students, 100 – 300 students, and 300 – 930 students are 6.5, 17.7 and 46.5 percent respectively.
A widely used indicator on the infusion of computers to education system is students computer ratio. That is the number of students per computer. This ratio for schools/pirivenas now stands at 137. Teacher-computer ratio is 7.
Scanners and multimedia projectors are very useful but expensive hardware in using ICT for education to all students in schools across the country. For example teaching about pests in biology for GCE (A/L) students can be done in two ways.
One way is to use textbook where pictures of pests in black and white are given with several paragraphs written describing them. Here there is a risk of different students understanding these features differently.
The other method is to find colour pictures/video clips of pests from a book or by searching in the Internet and displaying it on a large screen using a multimedia projector. If this method or similar alternative method was used, the knowledge can be imparted more effectively.
This method requires that schools have scanners and multimedia projectors. Percentages of schools with scanners and multimedia projectors are 5.8 and 2.3 percent respectively. Only 0.5 percent of schools have laptop computers.
Three self-reported indicators on teacher’s langauge and computer literacy were assessed. Those were computer awareness, computer literacy and English language literacy.
Nearly 60 of the teachers of schools/pirivenas have the computer awareness, which was defined as knowing about at least one use of computers. This ratio for male teachers and female teachers are 63 and 58 percent respectively.
According to study conducted in 2004 by the Department of Census and Statistics, a much lower proportion of only 18 percent of people in Sri Lanka in the age group of 5 – 69 years, were aware about computers.
There could be a number of reasons for the difference in these estimates. One is the age group. The very young and the more elderly are less likely to be computer aware.
Secondly, teachers are among the more educated population and more likely to have access to technology.
On the average, about 28 percent of teachers in government schools are graduate teachers. The percentage of trained teachers is 68 percent. Their chances of exposure to computers during training and studies are likely to be high.
Self-reported computer literacy of teachers, which was defined as the ability to use a computer and do some work on their own, of schools/piriveans is 32 percent: male teachers 39 percent and female teachers 30 percent.
Development of technological knowledge of teachers is very important in using ICT for making revolutions in the learning and teaching process in classrooms. Students-computer literate teacher ratio is 56 and this is three times higher than the normal students-teacher ratio 18.
Percentage of teachers in schools/pirivenas who reported that they could read and understand documents written in English langauge is 54 percent: male teachers 56 percent, female teachers 53 percent.
A statistical test carried out on relationship between English langauge literacy, computer awareness and computer literacy shows that there is no significant relationship between English langauge literacy and computer awareness but there is a significant positive relationship between computer literacy and English langauge literacy.
Also as expected there is a strong relationship between computer awareness and computer literacy. Another statistical test carried out at district level revealed that there is no statistically significant relationship between computer literacy of teachers and availability of computers in schools.
This is a cause for concern. Having computers in schools alone do not improve the computer literacy of teachers.
Traditional teaching using blackboards and textbooks perhaps is the dominant mode of teaching still and teachers have little or no time to use whatever available ICT facilities to enhance their own skills or to teach. This points to the need for policies and action to promote the use of ICT facilities by teachers.
It is a worldwide-accepted fact that the use of ICT in education can bring about positive changes to the society, which requires infrastructure facilities such as electricity, telephone, educational software, Internet facilities and hardware such as computers, scanners, and multimedia projectors.
The levels of educational indicators such as enrolment rate, gender parity in education, primary education completion rate etc is very impressive in Sri Lanka.
But issues, such as poverty, unemployment etc are still persistent. This emphasizes the need to improve quality of education and providing equal education for all students across the country. ICT is influential in providing equal education for all students.
Even though all schools do not have required facilities, innovative thinking can bring solutions until the necessary facilities are provided.
For example, without expecting teachers of rural schools to develop educational materials, standard materials can be prepared with very user-friendly multimedia tools and copies burnt into compact disks can be distributed to all relevant schools.
This will promote providing equal education for all students. Covering these aspects, there is a need to prepare a ICT policy for the Education system of the country to obtain the maximum benefits of the rapid developments in ICT for teaching and learning process in the class rooms.
Donald Gaminitillake
Lakbima 7/1/2007 – Why Writers in Sinhala Language do not use a Computer? (written in Sinhala)
This article is uploaded into
http://www.akuru.org/images/lakbima-Jan-7-2007 2.jpg
Again and again I prove my point. SlSI 1134 and Sinhala Unicode is incorrect and incomplete
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
32 correction
http://www.akuru.org/newspaper.htm
and click
Lakbima 7/1/2007 – Why Writers in Sinhala Language do not use a Computer?
Donald
Image Uploading
Admin,
Can you enable the users to upload a related image to this discussion? Rather than pointing to some other sites, it would be great if you could enable us to upload images (you can define resolution, size, etc.) to this site itself. May be you can have a thumbnail and the interested visitor can click on the thumbnail and access the image. We can prove more points related to this topic, by giving us the opportunity to upload images. Not everyone has the luxury of having a dedicated site like Donald has for this purpose.
Donald Gaminitillake
Sinhala Drop Caps
One can use only individual characters with single code point like “KA” or “GA” as a drop caps
Not combine characters “Ni” or “Ki”
Again a point to prove SLSI 1134 and Sinhala unicode is incorrect and incomplete.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
samarajiva
Response to Image Uploading:
As you can see, it takes us several days even to respond. We do not have the resources to do what you request. We are a research organization and maintaining this blog is a low priority for us. Sorry.
If you can use what is here for your purposes, you are welcome. Otherwise, the discussion should be moved elsewhere.
Jayashankar
Image Uploading,
What you can do is you can upload images in Flickr and videos in You Tube and then provide the URL to those sites if you want to prove a point.
Donald Gaminitillake
Read todays Daily News (Jan 27 2007) page 25 an Invitation for Bids for a government department.
Items under — office equipment
10 units of English Typewriters (Manual)
390 units of Sinhala Typewriters (Manual)
5 units of Tamil Typewriters (Manual)
Even an old Pentium with a printer would do a better job than a manual typewriter
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Last night I met “”I”” a British National planing many Strategies to Blue Chip companies in SriLanka. He was talking big saying he has planed to do direct sales in Sinhala sending personalized Sinhala e-mails etc etc
I told him it is not possible to do that task in Sinhala as Sinhala unicode is incomplete.
Ian called his IT guy and found the truth. “IT” guy told him that he is sending JPEG images in Sinhala not Sinhala TEXT.
This fact disturbed “”I”” and he is going to take this issue soon with the top people.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Sometimes back some were boasting about Windows Vista OS and Sinhala
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx
Visit Microsoft system requirements
Basic (minimum)
* 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
* 512 MB of system memory
* 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
* Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
* DVD-ROM drive
* Audio Output
* Internet access (fees may apply)
or ‘
* 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
* 1 GB of system memory
* 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
* Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:
o WDDM Driver
o 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
o Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
o 32 bits per pixel
* DVD-ROM drive
* Audio Output
* Internet access (fees may apply)
Additional Requirements
Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and edition of Windows Vista will run on your computer.
What were the configs of the computers distributed to Nanasala’s and Schools around Lanka!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Filing Objections for re-appointment of Chairman ICTA – or extending the contract
I object due to the following reasons and facts.
1 Age of the Chairman (over Seventy years)
2 Natural diseases due to old age need healthcare
Apart from the above personal facts his overall performance in the past twenty five years is questionable. Today we are unable to use Sinhala and Tamil languages in a computer correctly and efficiently. He was in charge of this language issue for the past quarter century. He registered an incorrect set of Sinhala characters in the SLSI and Unicode Consortium. For Tamil Language nothing has been done. The grievances of people to use the two national languages have not been addressed. There was lots of grants and aid for this development but it has not been used on a correct path due to old age ignorance of the subject.
A number of errors have been detected in the text books in Sinhala Language and Literature printed for the academic year 2007. According to the Educational Publication Commissioner Mr. N. Dharmasena there had been such mistakes detected in other textbooks as well. Apart from these errors there is a strong communication gap between rural and urban sectors.
The reasons are as follows:
• There is no compatibility of Sinhala text data across all platforms. Text data created by one application is not readable in the second application.
• There are no e- dictionaries, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), e- Thesaurus, e- encyclopedia for Sinhala Language across all platforms.
• There is no standard for error corrections among typesetters, proofreaders, layout artists and anybody who come in the production process.
I am the only other person who has given a solution for Sinhala and Tamil. Published all my work in the web http://www.akuru.org. I am the only individual who placed objections to the SLSI. I have applied for patents for the solution. Patent is blocked by the authorities due to the pressure from this Chairman. My Domain word “akuru.lk” has been taken by the ICTA which is a very unethical act. The CEO of ICTA has not been appointed yet. I have applied for this post.
As his replacement you can select a person form the Public Enterprises Reform Commission. There are many professionals registered with the PERC. Public Enterprises Reform Commission chairman will be able to assist you to choose a suitable person. I am too registered with this institution and had done consultation work for PERC.
For the betterment of this country please do not re-appoint this chairman.
Yours truly
Donald Gaminitillake
Dino
Api bayawei oya liyum valata.
Donald Gaminitillake
I posted the letter to Mr Lalith Weeratunge and Mr P B Jayasundara.
They will be reading the contents.
Let them decide what to do.
I have made my voice.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
With the change of Ministries I wanted to get some news from the
http://www.gov.lk/index.asp
The contents are too old
Last update supposed to be
Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal
Best Viewed at 1024 X 768
Site Last Updated
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 1:31:51 PM
Almost five months old.
Can anyone in the ICTA give an answer for this type of work.
If you are unable to maintain even in English just close the site!!!!! Forget about ICT !!!
Please do not waste the public funds.
Chairman of ICTA will have to quit unconditionally.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
VKS
Mokada oya Laith Weeratungata kiyala mage valige kapannada?
Balamu kavuda dinanne kiyala.
I am Sam
Sam I am.
Donald Gaminitillake
Better stay on the job
Then I can make you to hold responsibility.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Wasantha Deshapriya
Dear Mr. Donald Gaminithilake,
Thanks for pointing out about not updating the ministry page in http://www.gov.lk and also writing to Mr. Lalith Weerathunga on the same. This list is updated only when new ministries are created or deleted. We have been updating the list until the last reshuffle but the site has a bug and not showing the last update date correctly. (We will fix that too). However there was a delay in updating after the cross over. The main reason for the delay was that we had to wait for the Gazzette which was published only yesterday. Now the Ministry list is updated in all 3 languages but no contact info for most of the ministries and you know why.
Thanks for your interest in http://www.gov.lk
Wasantha
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Wasantha
The Ministers was Gazzetted a week ago. Yesterday was the Gazzette notification on what comes under each ministry.
A good excuse of a “BUG”
I did not go through the whole list. But we do have more than 57 Ministries.
I checked just one. It is wrong
MINISTRY OF PORTS AND AVIATION – The Minister supposed to be Hon Mangala
and Ministry of Ports Development is – Hon Sripathi
Sorry I cannot check the Sinhala and Tamil as ICTA have not solved the Language problem compatibility across all platforms.
You need professionals to handle the gov.lk.
Thanks for the reply.
Donald Gaminitillake
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Dear Wasantha
Again you are wrong
Please visit
http://www.priu.gov.lk/Govt_Ministers/Indexministers.html
This list contradicts ICTA one
Sometimes back I pointed this issue is PRIU.gov.lk and gov.lk
Now we see the clear difference between the two.
Also this prove the weakness of the Chairman of ICTA.
The time is ripe for you all to pack up
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Rasaputra
Sometime ago you were talking that you are coming to ICTA
Now you are the big guy at the aviation
Congratulations!!
Have you dropped the idea of coming to Colombo!!! Else better move the ICTA to Katunayake!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Dino
Donald,
Are you kidding???? Rasa did come to ICTA but I chased him away. Read yesterday’s Sunday Times. He looks a smart guy and I only want a henchman here to work according to my rule. I will rule ICTA for another million years.
Abuddhassa Kale
Dear Dino Fans,
Is it true that Dino’s current contract ends next month? The man must be working extra hard to get it extended, on same or better terms.
How did the dinosaurs become extinct? Some say a meteorite impact finished them off. Other theories include a virus that spread around, killing them one by one. Unfortunately, one nasty specimen has survived…
No amount of ranting on this blog is going to rid ICTA and this country of the Dino curse. It will require some concerted action. For a start, the ICT industry people, independent academics and officials need to get rid of their mortal fear of this old dino, who is long past his expiry date. If enough people stand up to this big bad bully, he will soon be deflated to his real size. He can then go back to pottering around his university. We don’t care what we does there, do we? After all, he is emeritus, so they will be saddled with him till he, well, degenerates…
Meanwhile, where is a good virus when you need one? And what are the mosquitoes of Etul Kotte doing?
Mosquitoes of Etul Kotte
We, poor mosquitoes of Etul Kotte have found that the Dinos skin is 6 inches think and it is very difficult to penetrate through. We don’t believe that a meteorite will devastate Etul Kotte as there are innocent people there. Only thing we can expect is a huge thunder with lightening when it does not rain on the Dino’s dirty old head. He won’t survive that. He survived all the missiles sent by Donald and only a natural disaster can finish him off. Still his ghost will haunt ICTA, all IT related workshops, etc. like the slain King in Macbeth did searching for his chair.
Be Practicle
Guys,
It does not matter how think Dino’s skin is. This is all a simple question of survival.
If he go out of ICTA today who will pay the tuition fees of his son in USA? How can a poor retired academic with no other income source afford that? Just think.
So whether he likes it or not, Dino have to survive his position by hook or crook. He does all sort of dirty things for that, like axing people and awarding tenders under the table.
Therefore Donald, if you want him to go, better find him some other job where he can earn $ 3k per month without doing anything. Otherwise how dare you expect him to continue to keep his son in USA?
Till that whatever you do, Dino will not leave ICTA. Even if you hit him and pull him to the Narahenpita kunu ela he will come back crawling.
C.M Fernando
Aren’t these the two audit firms hired by ICTA for its all audits to evaluate projects and issue grants?
FINANCIAL TIMES http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/02/13/ft/03.asp
Letter
PWC and Ernst & Young should be more ethical
The Sunday FT highlighted that the ICA ethics committee is still to release their report on the alleged professional misconduct of these two firms. Obviously the partners of these two firms are involved in the ICA and they would do what ever is needed to stall the investigation. We also know that Ernst & Young used an incorrect valuation method to value the Sale price for Sri Lanka Insurance.
COPE has highlighted this in their reports to Parliament. Ernst & Young should therefore be sued by the government of Sri Lanka for professional negligence and for the loss caused to the Treasury. The Partners of these audit firms talk so much about good governance but they have no clue about what professional responsibility is all about.
For the benefit of the Partners of PWC and Ernst & Young I like to tell them that the ethics and the social responsibilities of a professional impose on them an Obligation to practice his/her profession so as to be of service to the community. Audit firms in this country enjoy a fair degree of autonomy in defining its professional standards, values and responsibilities. Since the profession has failed to exercise their powers of self—regulation, the state should introduce regulation to protect the unsuspecting public who use their services and use their audited financial statements to make investment decisions. Therefore at least in the future professional conduct should be regulated by law in this country in the absence of self—regulation. Some of our top audit firms are known to show scant respect for professional values. Very often you find that audit firms like PWC and Ernst & Young while they do the statutory audit. Their associates do recruitment, restructuring, Salary Surveys and IT Audits for the same company. How can they be truly independent when do they are dependent on the same company for other fees and income? This is a gross violation of professional ethics and conduct. This conduct is totally frowned upon in the West. Moreover it is a slur on their International Principals. The Ministry of Trade must formulate a set of rules to prevent such abuse and misconduct and also regulate the affairs of the Institute of Chartered Accountants to prevent powerful audit firms from hijacking the institute for the firm’s benefit. In addition the International Federation of Accountants should investigate the affairs of such firms to protect the public interest and also ensure that the Accountancy profession adhere to high quality professional standards.
C.M Fernando
– Colombo 3
Spectator
Chandima Rasaputra is back in the airport and air services company????? Does this mean that he is not the CEO of ICTA anymore. There were stories on the air that he became the CEO of ICTA. Over to you Wasantha Desapriya, the only one who answers from ICTA.
Tiran thrown out of the Airport
(LeN-2007Feb12, 7.00pm) Tiran Allas who was the chairman of the airport and air services company that came under the purview of Mangala Samaraweera has been removed from his post. The deputy chairman of the company Chandima Rasaputhra has been appointed to replace Tiran.
Allas was criticized during the last Executive Committee meeting of the SLFP while Central Party members of the party also asked the head of state to strip Tiran from his posts. Tiran who is also a businessman has a good majority of shares of the “Maubima” news paper.
However he is one of those businessmen who spent large sums for President Rajapakse’s presidential campaign. It should also be mentioned that Tiran is a close ally of Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
Donald Gaminitillake
The CEO pf ICTA was advertised in News paper last year. Even I sent in my application.
Up to (today) 13 /02/2007 ICTA never appointed a CEO but an acting CEO was selected from the staff.
Mr R was never a CEO of ICTA but may be an individual who applied for the post.
To my knowledge Mr R was working with the in Aviation right through within the period of this bolg.
Donald Gaminitillake
Samara-naakiya
My dear Donald putha,
Why are you so jealous with me? Why do you want me out from the post of ICTA Chairman? What wrong I have done you?
Putha, I am like your father. Please do not do any harm to this old man in his old age. I do nothing wrong to everybody. The salary I get from ICTA is given for charity along with any commissions I get from Samsung.
I will pass your patent. Please meet me sometime to discuss. But please do not send any mails to anyone requesting them not to extend my contract.
How can this poor old man survive if he does not have a job? He has to beg in the street. Do you want that to happen?
Thanks you putha. I know you are a good boy.
Yours faithfully,
Samara-naakiya
Donald Gaminitillake
I have only one issue
-Sinhala character allocation table –
Accept that the present SLSI and Sinhala unicode is incorrect and incomplete
Get back to the SLSI 1134 objection level. All documented.
or amend the SLSI as per objections
Then We can correct it
Give me a call and meet me.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
No-Name
Dear Editor of Learn Asia
As a user of this website, I would like to state that Mr.Donald Gaminitillake’s posts on your sites are defomatry and damages goodwill of institutions, thereby creates a possible legal obligation for learnasia to be an accessory to his intentions to attack personalties using public internet resources,
I also request you to ban him from this site
No name – Just Reading Learn Asia Crap
samarajiva
Dear No-name,
This is a blog. It has no moderator, let alone an editor.
We do not moderate comments, except obvious spam that is missed by the filters. We reserve the right to delete posts that are obviously false, misleading etc., but have never done so except on one occasion when someone falsely announced a public hearing.
If you don’t like what Mr G posts, don’t read them. If you disagree with him, engage with him. Leave us out of it.
If you are reading crap, you should stop. No one is forcing you.
Helaya
I agree with Mr No Name. If Prof Samaranayake has done something wrong with public funds, he can well be taken into courts. There are hundreds of lawyers and law firms who will appear for such a case even at no cost since these law firms funded by NGOs to appear for public who has no money to pay. Mr Gaminitillake doesnt sound that poor in his postings. Still he can contact one of these law firms and make a strong case rather than asting his time and that of the visitors to the blog. Mr G’s only intention is to defame an icon like Prof VK Samaranaike who has done a yeoman service to University of Colombo, ICTA and nation for a long period of time whereas Donald is only parachuted into the field of ICT and behave like a Master Blaster. His intention is only to bring socially accepted figures down. This is something which an infamous group called “X – Group” did to prominent figures like Prof Nalin de Silva, some respected Marxists leaders and they didn’t even spare sports figures such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Hashan T and Arjuna R who bought a wealth of fame to the country.
But what Mr G has done for the country rather than ranting? If he has a strong case, why is he scared of the courts? He has evidence in his hands according to him even to ask for an enjoining order to prevent Prof Samaranike from serving the country as the Chairman of ICTA. He also can take the SLS Institute to the courts and prevent them from continuing in the capacity of officers as they are accepting wrong concepts and approving them as Standards
So, Mr G, all courts are open. You can go ahead and file a case against these prominent figures and see what happens. You will have to even pay back legal fees of Prof Samranaike and SLSI if you meet them in a court of law. This is why you are scared of law. You want to seek cheap fame on slandering on someone else’s hard work and come to the limelight. This is your hobby. You have been doing this stupid thing for the last year but you only wasted your time and our time.
Prof Samaranayake faced all your allegations like a lion and he will defy till he dies. You will become a big joke for the whole country. You have started writing to all decision makers it seems according to your posts. Don’t stop. Write to the General Secretary of UNO as well. Don’t spare George Bush, Condolisa Rice and Hilary Clinton and Mr Obama too. Write to them as well and harp on your stupid solution. You will get the whistles from the gallery of the ICT field but never any nodding or acceptance from the respected figures in the ICT field or the Government. They must have filtered your mails to junk by now. If you start snail mailing them, they will send the mails directly to the dust bin. You have become a pain in the ass for the whole ICT world.
If you have proof, meet Prof in a Court of Law. Take SLSI to the court as well. Take ICTA as well. But wait till someone is chosen to the post of CEO. Don’t worry any sensible person will not waste time even to read your CV as the CEO post will not go to the stupidest person that lived on this planet called Earth ever since the God created it. You will go down in the history with the most nonsensical ever person to be born on the planet.
You will never win. Stop all these stupid postings now.
Helaya
Donald Gaminitillake
Now all of a sudden court cases!!!!
There are no laws to settle even a simple domain conflict “AKURU” in Sri Lanka.
Before the case is over all of us will move to a different planet
I will always stand by the fact that the present SLSI 1134 and Sinhala Unicode is incorrect.
It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt
Also nice to Mr Manju’s photograph in the ICTA website as a member — board of directors!!!
Is this the correct story!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Last Nail on Donald's Coffin
Donald,
Feel very sorry for you. This must be the Last Nail on Donald’s Coffin!!!!! Read carefully.
FINANCIAL TIMES
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/02/16/ft/10.asp
Microsoft Windows Vista launched in Colombo
Sinhala software included in the latest products of Microsoft
Much pomp and ceremony ushered in the launch of Microsoft’s launch of the decade, Windows Vista, expected to touch 200 million people within the next 12 months showcasing its latest products: 2007 Office System, Windows Vista and Exchange Server 2007 which will give the customer to experience a whole new world of technology in Sri Lanka.
Microsoft Sri Lanka Country Manager Siryan de Silva Wijeratne who addressed the launch said Sri Lanka would join in billions of customers around the world in using these innovative products. “History is being made by Microsoft after just two and a half years of operations in Sri Lanka with these innovative products,” Wijeratne said promising that these products would influence the future.
He stressed the need for shaping Sri Lanka to adopt latest technology stating that it will give the opportunity to compete with other reasons in the region. “Sri Lanka has a lot to do in adopting new technology and the objective of Microsoft is to take Sri Lanka to greater heights in IT technology,” he pointed out.
While stating that Sinhalese has been included in software he said the local language has become usable in applications for the very first time in the history and it was highlighted that the new products will be marketed in the rural areas.
“There is no reason why the rural folk cannot have access to these products with Sinhalese being a language used in the applications and we plan to market it among them,” Wijeratne said.
The main features of Windows Vista include easy transfer, parental control which helps parents to ensure that children using PCs are safer online. It is the ideal edition for people who use PCs at home or on the go. Finding information, staying connected and interaction with the computer is easier in this application.
Microsoft Office 2007 comes with office e mail, office excel and word 2007. The email gives instant search of information, easy management of information and connects people easily.
Excel 2007 gives the opportunity to import, organize and explore massive data, gives professional looking charts with fewer clicks and 3D soft shadowing. Improved and powerful support for working with tables Word 2007 includes blinding blocks which will help to assemble documents and 3D graphics.
Donald Gaminitillake
Vista great!!!
What would be the minimum Hardware config to use Vista?
Are those computers given to Nanasala and rural areas can install Vista?
The question for you guys to answer is A Sinhala Text document done on Visa OS should be read by any application across all platforms. If you cannot produce that nail your own coffin.
You need not promote the excel 2007 etc These are known to everyone
Make use of Visa and try to sell more computers in SriLanka. More $$$$ for Dino!!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Visit
http://www.icta.lk/insidepages/ICTA/BOFD.asp
See Mr Manju is still on Board of ICTA. Today is Feb 15 2007!!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
Another Nail
Yet another nail in Donald’s coffin.
MicroImage shortlisted for their local language content in Mobile phones along with Dialog.
Microimage gets major recognition at GSM Global Awards http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/02/16/ft/09.asp
Barcelona, Spain, 15th February 2007 –
Sri Lanka’s innovative software developer Microimage became a finalist and received commendation from the GSM Association at the GSM global mobile awards in Barcelona, Spain.
Microimage who won the GSMA Asia mobile innovation award last year got short listed to this prestigious global award together with another 5 entries from USA and France. Microimage was the only company from an emerging market to get short listed for the innovation forum and the awards. The company presented its innovative products for emerging market localization at the GSM mobile innovation forum at the 3GSM congress in front of a mammoth audience filled with mobile operators, venture capitalist, technology partners and other industry giants. This event was sponsored by Ericsson. At the innovation forum, judges selected Microimage as one of the three finalists to be present at the gala awards night which took place at the National Palace in Barcelona, Spain.
Microimage received commendation from the judges at this prestigious award ceremony which is referred to as the “Mobile Oscars”. The CEO of GSM Association Rob Conway said “The 2007 Awards attracted the greatest number of entries in the 12 year history of the competition, and to be recognized for excellence at this level is an achievement of which you can be justifiably proud. My congratulations on behalf of the GSMA – we wish you every continued success.”
Microimage was the only company to showcase innovations for emerging markets at the innovation forum. Harsha Purasinghe CEO, of Microimage who represented the event as a speaker said “It was one of the greatest moments for the entire ICT industry of Sri Lanka as we put Sri Lanka in the GSM innovation map”.
“It was an excellent opportunity to present what young companies from emerging markets can do in terms of innovation in this space competing with global players who are backed by many top level venture capitalists and business partners” he further stated.
Damindu Jayaweera, Head of Strategy at Microimage said “The biggest win was to be recognized alongside other highly visible mobile revolutionaries, which essentially paves the way for Sri Lankan innovations to be taken beyond our own borders. Taking the next billion people on board the mobile revolution is the hot topic for this year’s 3GSM congress. We are glad that innovations for that next wave should come from the emerging market itself.” This recognition at a global event has put Sri Lanka on the map as a centre of ICT innovation.
Microimage developed the world’s first patented local language messaging and content browsing application to provide customized, local language support for entry-level applications on mobile devices in emerging markets. Some of the key strengths are highly user friendly key-input and advanced rendering mechanisms for complex scripts which are also used for content browsing applications supporting different screen sizes in handsets. The applications are already available for many emerging market scripts which include tamil, telugu, hindi, kannada, bengali, malayalam, thaana, Sinhala etc.
Incorporated in 1995, Microimage is a leading technology innovator and enterprise solution provider based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Microimage focus areas are enterprise software applications for Human Resources and Radio Automation and innovative mobile applications and solutions. The company pioneered mobile localization applications for emerging markets. The products are launched in indian sub continent with operators such as Airtel – India, Dialog Telkom Sri Lanka, Tigo-Sri Lanka & Dhiraagu Telecom of Maldives. Microimage has won both local and international awards for its innovative software developments throughout the past years.
Donald Gaminitillake
Good work but unable to send a SMS to Mobitel or v.v.
Text data is not compatible across all platforms
You guys are hitting the wrong nails in the wrong place.
Sinhala has to be compatible across all platforms no matter the application used
Monopoly is not permitted and it is a violation of applicable International laws
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Sinhala now on Microsoft Windows Vista Launch
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070218/FinancialTimes/ft331.html
ISSN: 1391 – 0531
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Vol. 41 – No 38
Financial Times
Sinhala now on Microsoft Windows Vista Launch
Microsoft Windows Vista was officially launched in Sri Lanka this week amidst a dazzling spectacle of lights, an array of colourfully costumed dancers and even elephants at the BMICH, truly fitting one of the most anticipated products in the IT world. It is being described as the biggest and most strategic launch in the history of Microsoft.
Three products were introduced to the public, those being Windows Vista, Microsoft 2007 Office and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
Microsoft Country Manager, Sriyan De Silva Wijeyaratne made the historic announcement that Windows Vista comes with inbuilt Sinhala. “This is a dream which many people in this country have been working towards,” he said.
“It has taken awhile and it has taken a lot of hard work but finally, Sinhala joins a selected number of languages worldwide. Something special is happening for Sri Lanka.” Microsoft wants to take this product as far into the rural areas of this country as possible. “There is no reason that any individual in this country should not have access to this technology.” Demonstrations and promotions are also being planned in the coming months.
Wijeyaratne continued that it was made possible with the help and support of people in the academic community. “Of course, we have more work to do. We have to fine-tune the product but the building blocks have been laid.” He added that Sri Lanka has a lot of work to do in fostering the right environment and is actively looking at how neighboring countries and markets have grown and should adopt their methods. The token handing over of the first three products of Microsoft Vista was accepted by the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka, Professor V.K. Samaranayake.
“It is just over two and a half years when Microsoft operations were started in this country,” Wijeyaratne said. “But every now and then, you come into a time in history which is the right time, which is a special time. My colleagues and I at Microsoft Sri Lanka have been really privileged to become a part of the Microsoft team.” He said that history is being made in Sri Lanka and across the world. Sri Lanka is joining millions of customers, friends and partners in different ways of celebrating and rejoicing the launch.
“We want to look at these products and understand how they work to influence our future. Sri Lanka will join close to a billion customers who will adopt these products over the next few years.” Wijeyeratne believes that in that sense, the country can galvanize to adopt these products and realize the IT potential of its economy.
Michel Gambier, General Manager of Information Worker Business for the Asia Pacific region who oversees development of the Microsoft Office systems was also present at the launch. With twenty three years at Microsoft, Gambier said he wanted to empower workers and organizations to reach their best potential. This is particularly important since more companies are operating globally. “This is the most tested product in Microsoft history,” he said, adding that millions have participated in creating the final product. Chevron, one of the largest multinational corporations and a global energy giant with operations in 180 countries was instrumental in testing and adopting the product.
Gambier said that most of the features of the older Windows edition are available in Vista but that the display has been altered to make it more accessible and easier to find.
There are several new features as well to help workers prepare documents, reports and presentations at the same time, managing time efficiently. According to Gambier, the goal is to improve operations, increase quality and eliminate extra costs.
“It’s all about achieving their greatest potential. This will change the way people work.” In an increasingly global environment, it is essential to have the knowledge and skills to serve customers on a global basis. These Microsoft products are aiming to streamline the way people communicate, share information and collaborate.
Donald Gaminitillake
Please comment the Sinhala Text of Vista
Is it compatible across all platforms?
Just copying and pasting of Microsoft ads without correct explanation mislead the public like the Sinhala SMS.
Sinhala SMS is not compatible across mobitel and Dialog or Nokia system
All three talks about Sinhala SMS. Just fooling the pubic on a monopoly program
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
For All Platforms
Donald,
Rome was no built within a day. Likewise, SMS will be compatible for all phone networks and all phones soon and Sinhala will be common to all platforms soon. Pessimists like you always were skeptical when WIndows XP came to the market saying that people cannot afford hardware configurations but look at IT field today. Majority uses XP. In the same way Vista will gather momentum. Hardware prices go down each year and all components like Hard disk capacities, RAM, VGA will go down drastically as the demand will be high. You look more like a Dino yourself now. Ailing Dino is going ahead with technology whereas you are going back to Abacus era. Face the truth. there may be mistakes in Sinhala solution and let’s get together and help solve them rather than saying your book is the only perfect one and all others are wrong. Don’t be a joke anymore. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Donald Gaminitillake
Quote
Sinhala will be common to all platforms soon
Unquote
This clearly confirm my argument that even your Vista coming to the market— Sinhala is not compatible across all platforms. But you have not given the reason as why it is not compatible.
Price if Vista compatible Hardware may go own in cost. That is not the issue here.
The computers given last year (2006) to the Nanasala and into the rural areas can they use Vista??
How many computers were given by the ICTA related projects in the year 2006?
Quote
there may be mistakes in Sinhala solution
Unquote
This also prove that there is an acute problem.
I have given the solution why not accept it
Once they accept their error we can plan to correct it. You have to come forward.
_-saying your book is the only perfect one___ I never said it is “the perfect” it is the correct path as all other languages have taken that path including the Latin script.
Come over to my side and progress the project. Join me.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
My Name
Hi All
I think the ICTA has appointed Mr. Chandima Rasaputra as the CEO see this link:
http://www.icta.lk/insidepages/ICTA/BOFD.asp
Baas Martin
Who are these people in the ICTA Board? The board of a government agency like ICTA should constitute of representatives from different stakeholders and not from the personal friends of the Chairman. Now what happens is Chairman appointing his personal friends to the board so that he could get away with any dirty work he does.
The mission of ICTA is said to take the dividends of ICT into everybody in the country with special reference to the people in the rural areas. Do we have anybody from rural poor communities represented in ICTA board? Or do we have a set of dinosaurs who knows nothing about development?
These animals should be sent to zoo.
Donald Gaminitillake
Only after I pointed the fact that Manju’s photograph was still on the board – ICTA change it to a list of names.
Welcome Rasaputra. He suppose to work at two places Airport and at Kirimandala Mawatha. (Colombo 5) Since ICTA is searching for a new location why not move it to the Airport.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Baas Martin
Donald,
The issue is not whether ICTA publishes the most updated photograph or not. Only fools like you are interested in such micro issues. The question is how strong and worthy this board is and whether they can deliver the goods.
All I can say is this is a completely useless board and the only reason why such a useless board full of dinosaurs have been appointed is only this type of a weak board will enable the big politicos to get the 10% share by awarding tenders without any proper evaluation. I think that is the sole reason behind reappointing VK. Otherwise any fool will understand his days are over and he is too old to work anyway. (Is it true that he is now permanently on wheel chair?)
Meanwhile people like you will just sit and watch this drama occasionally complaining about not updating a photograph or some issues about Sinhala fonts which nobody understands or is of no use to anyone.
If you really like to see ICT filed is being developed in Sri Lanka, why don’t you protest about this totally useless board of dinosaurs in the first place?
Donald Gaminitillake
Hey Baas Martin
If ICTA cannot update their own web site with correct details how come they advice and develop Sri Lanka?
You have not understood my issue of Sinhala. I never talk about a FONT. I talk more than a Font. a Sinhala Character Allocation Table or “SINHALA WAGUWA” I talk of deeper subject of Sinhala.
I have written to the top people.
Only very few have protested others just close their arms and wait.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Suraj
Hi Donal, just out of curiousity I read through the whole of this thread. As I understand you have researched well and have come up with a Sinhala C.A.T, based on usage (Similar to a research paper published by the gov of sl back in 1940s as a prelude to da Wijesekera KB). What is currently annoying you is the fact that no one is using this, and every tech company is putting out their own CAT! Right? So you think the whole community is going to miss out on one chance to get the Sinhala CAT right?
I feel very sorry for you. There have been thousands like you before… if you look at US patents on english kb, you will see many innovative allocations that actualy improves the kb utilization…. over the current QWERTY system. But alas… standards are not something you can impose upon. Standards are just things you can publish in organizations such as ISO. This is the era of consumerism. Consumers always have a choice.. and they will use what is available to them.
If you have a killer CAT solution that would improve the lives of sinhala users… put it to the market… If you proposal is good enough, the modern market economics will drive ure standards. If it doesnt add anything to what is already in the market, as per the perspective of actual users (not ure own)… then your CAT will be limited to arguments in places like this.
The way to get something across to the world is not to complain to the higher ups or complain about the market dynamics. Its to take it to the end users ure self… internet has democratized the distribution mechanics. Nothing apart from ure technical skills are going to stop you!
The world is changed not by ppl who complain in small forums or to the higer ups. The world is changed by ppl who make change happen at the roots. Thats how this world works.. be it in tech standards… or grass root democracy!
It will be a sad fact… if the final memory of Donald Gaminitillake is to be of a failed standard that he took with him to his grave.
You vision of interoperability/transportability is the right one. Its ure execution of that vision which is verging on being pathetic Donal.
Donald Gaminitillake
Suraj you are one of the few people who had got a hang of what I have written
This problem was came up in the SLSI I was the only individual who gave a different proposal and objected to the present one. My objections were steamrolled by the DINO.
Today Sinhala is in a mess (related to Computer )
No e- dictionary etc etc across all platforms
The reason is there is no standard CAT for Sinhala
We have to use both Wijesekera and QWERTY KB which is not a problem.
irrespective to the keyboard one would get the same readable TEXT across all platforms
The project is for the public and has to be given free of charge.
There are enough funding at the ICTA but Dino is not permitting as he will not get any credit.
I hope the NEW CEO will have the courage to step into this problem
Donald Gamnitillake
Colombo
HeWhoKnowBest
My two cents on ICTA Board.
The pioneers of e-Sri Lanka program, Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Mr. Eran Wickremaratne, Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa and Dr. Hans Wijesuriya wanted to make ICTA different from an ordinary government organisation. One main differentiation they wanted was ICTA to conduct all its transactions in a * transparent * manner.
I do not say Manju did everything transparent. He too dumped his friends like Riza at top posts without conducting proper interviews. However, as far as the major deals were concerned there was some sort of transparency.
The founder ICTA board consisted people from different backgrounds.
Things are different today. You find ICTA has become one of the * most corrupted * government organisations. The current board is there only to give blind support to the dirty works of the Chairman. The only honest person in the current Board id Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, who might seriously consider leaving as there is a big risk of losing his reputation being there.
However, VKS is not the only person to blame. He is only a small pawn in a bigger chess board. Those who appointed knew him well about his age and his poor health conditions. But still they appointed him because he was one person they knew would shamelessly cover up any dirty work they do for a sizable salary.
I have seen some of you have discussed the LGN deal.
That deal too happened in the same way every other deal in the country happened after November 2005. (I am surprised Sripathi Suriyaarachchi still did not bring this to the table)
Party A offered a 10% cut for somebody while Party B did not. The company that gave 10% got the deal. Simple logic.
VKS just signed on the dotted line as he was instructed. There is no point blaming the old man. After all, he has to make a living.
I also see some still have hopes about CR, the new CEO. I am sorry to burst the bubble but this is another member of the same mafia. He is there not there for his qualifications, but because he supported somebody in Kamburupitiya in an election. (See Lankadeepa today, Feb 25) How can one expect transparency from an individual like that?
Those who come from the back door will keep that open for others to come.
All I can say is current ICTA is very far from the dreams its pioneers had. It is exactly the one they *did not want to have*.
Had they knew its future, I am certain in 2002 Wickremaratne and Samarajeewa would have adviced government to continue with CINTEC instead of taking all this trouble.
ComputingInEveryLanguage
> Please comment the Sinhala Text of Vista. Is it compatible across all platforms?
Sinhala text in Vista and Windows XP is Unicode encoded text. As such it is portable to any OS that uses Unicode encoding…Linux, Mac, etc. … and to any device that supports Unicode text. The only problem is that your computer needs to know how to handle Unicode for your language when you receive the file.
Unicode allows for the unambiguous representation of text for every language. Thus, any document can have Sinahala, Tamil and English (or any other language) together without problems. With Unicode all character combinations for Sinhala can be formed.
Actually, since Unicode is the standard encoding for most web based technologies and protocols, there should be the ability for all sorts of cross platform exchange of data globally.
An e-Dictionary in Unicode format would be a great tool. Especially, if it were web based. Here is what one group is doing: http://www.kaputa.com/unilearn/
Happy computing in every language!
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear ” ComputingInEveryLanguage”
Sinhala unicode is wrong only a limited number of Sinhala characters are registered.
“Unicode allows for the unambiguous representation of text for every language.” this is correct but what SLSI registered with unicode is incorrect and incomplete
If you read Suraj comment of 78 (and every tech company is putting out their own CAT!)
There is no proper Standard to define all Sinhala Characters — you get a set of (encrypt type) unreadable sinhala when one uses the text across all platforms.
Only I (Donald) have published (C) this list.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo