On 25 February 2008, LIRNEasia held a public lecture on “Benefits of ICT applications to farmers with emphasis on transaction costs” and it has been covered in the Nation, Morning Leader, Financial Times, and Ravaya.
Rohan Samarajiva will make a presentation on the topic “More than voice at the bottom of the pyramid: Telecommunication for development in Asia” at the ICT&S Center, University of Salzburg on the 3rd of April, 2008. The presentation will examine the potential for the take-up of “more-than-voice” applications among the fast growing user populations in the lower socio-economic strata, or the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in emerging Asia. It will demonstrate the extensive use of telephones (mobile, fixed and public) by the BOP. It will look at usage by current owners as well as non-owners, and more the growth trends and projections for applications other than voice. Texting, payments, and voting are among some of these “more-than-voice” applications that will be looked at.
Proposals for a new education Act were prepared for the 2007 Committee to Formulate a new Act by the Sri Lanka Education Forum.