Comments on: “Building Sri Lanka’s Knowledge Economy”

By: Ismail Radwan

Ismail Radwan — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:04:16 +0000

@ Black skinner. As the major author of the report I just wanted to add that I worked to support Sri Lanka’s development objectives since 2000 and I lived in Colombo between 2005-2008. So I would hope to have some knowledge of the country, its society and customs. During that time I also worked closely with Prof. Samaranayake on the e-Sri Lanka project. So I am certainly aware of the tremendous contributions that he and others have made to this area for Sri Lanka. The report is not intended to give credit or take it away from those that have been active in the sector. The report was simply intended to provide some ideas of what Sri Lankan policy-makers and the private sector could do to propell the country forward. I am glad to see that Sri Lanka has since moved forward very well and is now ranked no 24 in the AT Kearney ranking of outsourcing destinations in the world. At the end of the report we also held a competition with several universities taking part including all those that mention to choose the best essay on the topic. I went around to all these universities making presentations meeting students etc. This was a very rewarding time. Finally I am originally from Egypt and a “black skinner” like you!

By: Viraj

Viraj — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:12:30 +0000

Thanx 4 info

By: local researcher

local researcher — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:33:12 +0000

I would like to kindly clarify a few points made in the comment by ‘Black skinner’. I was involved in the preparation of this publication, and incidently, a Sri Lankan. Firstly, I would suggest that you visit the Public Information Center at the WB office (DFCC building) and pick up a copy of this report. You will see a broad range of evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, that has been used in support of the arguments and suggestions made in this publication. Contrary to your claim that it relies on ‘a handful of research by local experts and completely depend on the inferior work done by foreigners, who have no in-depth knowledge about Sri Lanka, its society and its culture’, but to an extensive body of literature plus the latest data, using a comprehensive assessment methodology. Again, please read the report first.
Although specific persons involved in revolutionary ICT and ICT education projects in Sri Lanka have not been mentioned, any programs which were relevant to the issues highlighted in the report have been cited.
Should you have any suggestions, for example on the issue of consulting ‘CSSL officers’ in the preparation of this report, you should not hesitate to contact the relevant individuals at the WB and let your concerns be known. Again, contrary to your claims, they are very responsive to hearing from local experts and practitioners and they value diverse local input when preparing studies such as this.

By: Black skinner

Black skinner — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 06:22:13 +0000

I am surprised to see this report make references only to a handful of research by local experts and completely depend on the inferior work done by foreigners, who have no in-depth knowledge about Sri Lanka, its society and its culture.

For example, the report does not even mention the name of Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, whose contribution is immense in the ICT developments in Sri Lanka. Does this say a single word about Prof. Samaranayake’s capacity building exercises, or even about the introduction of the BIT degree program the first and perhaps only attempt to standardize the IT education in Sri Lanka? The authors seem to be unaware of the contribution of UCSC at University of Colombo or for that matter any Sri Lankan university, including Kelaniya, Motaruwa and Peradeniya. Can they be this blind?

Have they done a simple web search the authors could have found enough research material on the web. Prof. Samaranayake has done an excellent paper on the human resource development opportunities and achievements in Sri Lanka for a CSSL annual sessions and till recently it was available on the web. In addition, CSSL had conducted two surveys on IT human resources and the reports could have been purchased from the CSSL office. These are in addition to volumes of material available at CSSL, the only professional organization for ICTs in Sri Lanka. I cannot understand why the authors never referred to this vast amount of literature. Also I find no CSSL officer had ever consulted in this exercise.

This is another pathetic example of the World Bank work that completely ignores the local expertise probably because of the ‘black skin’.