Please continue discussion from Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 6, 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:
213 Comments
Donald Gaminitillake
First birthday for this topic falls on the April 24th.
new comers can visit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528191@N04/
observe the images. See the text written in Sinhala.
Sinhala Solution given by the ICTA is incorrect and incomplete
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
sapumal
I really enjoyed with the length of this thread. I do not want to disturb the discussion. My idea is that DG and JC are trying to convince others that they have a acceptable solution for Sinhala computing, which is a myth. We had long conversations with both of them in LKLUG and Sinhala Unicode Group after which lot of people understood that there is no point of talking to a dumb. I just took time to type this because of the new people who do not know the history of the debate.
All the time I was respecting to other’s views and I do so now. But I need to mention that it is not valid for Mr. Donald’s. I will share a story with you. During the time we were having discussions on this matter on LKLUG mailing list I got a mail from a person named Sulochana Paranagama. He/She (Cannot judge by the name) was asking some clarifications about Sinhala Unicode. I replied with gentle language. But the mail thread which was only 5 mails, ended with these wordings;
“Baka pandithayas and kaalakannis like you only are the biggest enemies of the Sinhala language. PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY SINHALA LANGUAGE.”
I have seen the same words in Mr.Donald’s mails in the list. So I got to know that it is him who is writing to me using a different identity. Accepting that fact Mr.Donald has put the content of those mails in his web site (http://www.akuru.org/comments received.htm) stating that they are the comments he received.
I have several questions.
1) Why he used a different identity to talk with me?
2) How ethical is to publish mail conversations I had with him in public?
3) By using a name like Sulochana which is most probably be guessed as a girl’s name, does he expect me to be soft on her?
By looking at the comments he has made on Mr.Samaranayaka and the above case, anybody should be able to understand that this person is not somebody who can be called a gentlemen.
Thanks,
Sapumal.
Donald Gaminitillake
Today I had the privilege to visit the inland revenue department.
I never saw any samsung computers at With holding tax division.
Everything is done manually!!!!
I did had the paid copies of the With holding tax certificates.(2006/2007) year ending 31 March 2007.
The officers have no idea whether the funds have actually reached the Tax department. One officer will have to manually go through the piles of documents sent by various banks to locate my originals. I will have to wait one full week to find the answer.
Also I found out none of these internal departments are inter connected via computer
How many errors — could happen??? Piles and piles of documents bundled kept all over the floor. So many people around and sorting them into file numbers. A computer would have done all this work within in 10 to 15 minutes with a simple database.
What a beautiful employment opportunity for university graduates.( sorting ,counting, filing , re bundling,)
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
SAMSUNG BOSS ADMITS PRICE FIXING
Now Dino is in even bigger s**t.
Look what Samsung is doing elsewhere. So they have done it here too in LGN obviously.
SAMSUNG BOSS ADMITS PRICE FIXING
Friday, 20 April 2007
A sixth executive of South Korean firm Samsung Electronics has pleaded guilty in the US to charges of fixing the price of microchips.
Il Ung Kim, vice president of marketing at Samsung’s memory division, has agreed to serve 14 months in a US jail, the US Justice Department said.
The chip price fixing took place during the four years to 2004, and also involved Elpida, Infineon and Hynix.
So far the four firms have paid fines totalling more than $730m (£364m).
In all, 18 individuals have now been charged.
Under his plea agreement, Mr Kim will also pay a $250,000 fine, and agree to help the Justice Department with its ongoing investigation.
Washington has blamed the price fixing scheme for artificially driving up the cost of chips used in everything from computers to mobile phones and game consoles.
“We are committed to prosecuting executives who violate US antitrust laws and harm consumers and competition in the United States,” said Justice Department lawyer Thomas Barnett.
“Even when those executives conduct their cartel activity overseas.”
A Samsung spokeswoman said the firm was “strongly committed to fair competition and ethical practices”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6574581.stm
LGN Tender
According to the latest information available, ICTA has awarded the LGN tender to Samsung Networks Inc. even though that party had NOT COMPLIED WITH SOME OF THE MANDATORY AND PREFERABLE REQUIREMENT OF THE PROJECT.
We request Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, Chairman ICTA and Chairman, LGN Tender Evaluation Committee (against the accepted procedures of GOSL which prohibits a Chairman or CEO of a government agency to represent tender evaluation Committees), a frequent reader of this site (as he had admitted to many) to come up and explain why this tender was awarded to a company that did not meet such critical requirements.
Let me state some of the mandatory and other requirements that were not complied by Samsung Networks Inc.
1. To provide backup power supplies for the servers, it was mandatory for the bidder to provide power cabling at his own cost. However, Samasung Networks Inc. has not complied with this requirement. It has replied government has to bear the cost for this backup power line.
2. The scanners provided by Samsung were smaller ones which cannot scan paper of any sizes larger than A4. The other bidders on the other hand bid for scanner that can scan larger sizes such as legal etc.
3. For locations where PABX is not available the router should have IP PABX capabilities. This was a mandatory requirement of the LGN tender. Samsung Networks Inc. had failed to meet this requirement. Once pointed out it has point blankly said no to ICTA.
4. The existing analog/digital phones could have been used for the VOIP solution. If they were used the gains from not having to purchase new IP phone could have been used for some other purpose. However, Samsung Network Inc has failed to provide a solution that can use existing analog/digital phones.
5. The LGN Hub solution was required to have a web hosting area to host existing government web sites and application hosting area to host common applications. However Samsung Networks Inc has failed to comply with this requirement. It has replied to ICTA if the latter likes it can move its web servers to the LGN hub but in addition to that Samsung Networks will not be able to provide any web space.
So it is natural for any citizen to feel some sort of underhand transaction had worked in this particular tender. As the off springs of some of the senior members of the Technical Evaluation Committee are studying at foreign Universities with tuition costs cannot be practically borne by their poor retired academic fathers, it is the duty of Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, ICTA Chairman to explain why this deal was offered to Samsung Networks Inc., with these critical requirements Samsung Networks Inc failed to comply.
We will wait for the reply of Prof. V. K. Samaranayake.
UNP.lk sinhala seen as rubbish
The newly launched unp.lk Sinhala site is seen as rubbish
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528191@N04/
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Lakbima
XYW lAk`@v| pLmR m`r~ggw pRr~N prQgNk jAgm b#AkO @s~v`v mhjn b#AkO@vn~
qQvyQ@n~ pYmRKwm r`j& b#AkOvk~ vn mhjn b#AkOv @w`rwOr# w`k;N sAs~k^wQ@yhQ uprQm Pl @nlmQn~ XYW lAk`@v| pY}m vrt m`r~ggw pRr~N prQgNk jAgm b#AkO @s~v`vk~ a`rm|x kr a#w. o|n$m w#nk, o|n$m @v|l`vkqW o|n$m ayRrkQn~ b#AkO @s~v` s#lsWmt h#kQvWm @mm m`r~ggw pRr~N prQgNk jAgm b#AkO @s~v`@v| a#wQ sRvQ@X~;w~vy @v|. gnR@qnRk`r @s~v`vw~, nvWn w`k;Nyw~, ek~w#n~ krmQn~ nv& b#AkOkrNyk~ wOLQn~ gnR@qnRkr#vn~t uss~ @s~v`vk~ s#pyWm @mhQ armRN @v|.
@my jAgm kvRn~tr @s~v`vk~ @lsQn~q h#[Qn~ @v|. s`m`n&@yn~ b#AkO X`K`vk sQqE krnR lbn s$m k`r~yyk~m @mhQqWq sQqE krnR lbyQ. e~ anRv gnR@qnRkr#vkOt avX& s$m b#AkO phsRkmk~m @mhQqW lb` gw h#kQ awr, b#AkO X`K`vk @mn~ gnR@qnR ktyRwO sWmQw k`lykt sWm` kr @n`wQbWmq @mhQ a#wQ vQ@X~;w~vyyQ. @mhQqW slsn @s~v`vn~ nm|, @tlr~ yn~wY sh “@ptQ” phsRkm| nv gQNRm| vQv^w kQrm, mRql~ w#n~pw~ kQrm h` a`psR g#nWm, iwQrQ kQr@m| gQNRm|, jAgm gQNRm| s~}`vr w#n~pw~ a`qW gQNRm| ktyRwO @mn~m Ny phsRkm|, @X~;yn~ prWk;` kQrWm, an~wr~ b#AkO ktyRwO (mRql~ hRvm`r# kQrm) vQvQ{ @w`rwOr# lb` g#nWm (vQnQmy anRp`w q#n g#nWm), p`s~ @p`w~vl @X~;yn~ y`vw~k`lWn kQrm, b#AkO pYk`Xn lb` g#nWm h` uks~ @s~v` a`qQy @v|.
mhjn b#AkO@v| @w`rwOr# w`k;N @qp`r~w@m|n~wO@v| pY{`nW a`c`r~y dW.en~.dW. r`mn`yk mhw` @m| pQLQb[v aqhs~ qk~vmQn~ @mm m`r~ggw pRr~N prQgNk jAgm b#AkO @s~v`v wOLQn~ vQqElQ bly, qErkwn v#nQ phsRkm| @n`m#wQ gY`mWy jnw`vtq pY{`n ngrvlt sWm` vW wQbR b#AkO phsRkm| lb` qWmt h#kQvWm a`dm|bryt kr#Nk~ bv p#vsWy. dQjQtl~ w`k;Ny uprQmy @y`q` gnQmQn~ nQmv` a#wQ @mm jAgm b#AkOv @r`~q mwQn~ qEvn aAg sm|pRr~N b#AkOvk~ @ls e~ mhw` h[En~v` @qnR lbyQ.
mhjn b#AkO@v| a@lvQkrN h` mhjn ktyRwO pY{`nW qWp`l~ a@b|@s~kr mhw` @mm jAgm b#AkO @s~v`v b#AkOkrNy gnR@qnRkr#vn~@g~ @q`rkdt rF@gn y`mk~ @ls h[En~vyQ. s#m vQtm jnw`v@g~ b#AkOvk~ @lsQn~ ovRn@g~ nQs#k a@p~k;`vn~ itR krlWmt k#p vW sQtQn mhjn b#AkO@v| wvw~ ek~ s#b$ vR sQhQnyk~ @ls @mm @s~v`v qkQyQ. XYW lAk`@v| pLmR m`r~ggw pRr~N prQgNk jAgm b#AkO @s~v`v @my bv e~ mhw` pvsyQ. b#AkO kr~m`n~w@y~ @prLQyk~ a#wQ krmQn~ @w`rwOr# w`k;Ny wOLQn~ gnR@qnRkr#vn~ smWpyt yn @mm b#AkO @s~v`v nQs` gnR@qnRkr#vn~@g~ k`lyw~ XYmyw~ iwQrQ vnR a#w. gnR@qnRkr#vn~@g~ v#dktyRwO phsRvWm wOL ovRnt alEw~ vtQn`kmk~q ek~ krnR lbyQ.
JRJ
Donald,
A party that has a rubbish leader deserves a rubbish web site.
Ranil Wickramasinghe
Dear Donald,
Not only the Sinhala, though they asked me to launch the web, most pages are “UNDER CONSTRUCTION.” Just like the reforms in my party. These pages will never be completed. Like the bunch of idiotic set of lawyers I have, I have the same set of idiots as web designers. Even a schoolboy would have created a better website than this. We have billions of rupees in the party donated by big businessmen but my foolish advisers found this Mee Haraka as the web designer. Now Wimal W will hammer me with his big mouth. (Luckily I have that guy under control due to sexual harassment issue.)
Also see in one of the pages this Mee Haraka has mentioned it was UNP who brought Independence to the country. As you all know Independence was a result of collective effort of patriots.
I don’t know anything about website designing though I take a laptop everywhere to browse you-know-what. This guy at the web launch asked me to click a button and with my shaky hands – you know how i clap with them for Ithin Hadapu Api Aluth Ratak – and I must have clicked the wrong button. I always do.
I am sick of my advisers who made me a ridiculous Parakramabahu, made us lose CMC, gave false alarm saying that “Thou Wouldst Be King” before New Year. I am leaving for Croatia where I can be without these stupid advisers.
Dudley's ghost
For the last ten years or so web has been an effective medium in politics, than in any other field, but sadly only LTTE (TamilNet) and JVP (AsiannTribune, Lankatruth) have realised this. None of the other political parties, including the two bigger ones, do not even bother to maintain a web site continuously, let alone use it effectively in their election propaganda.
During the last ten year UNP have had at least 6-7 web sites on its own and so many others related to its cause (Release SB). None of them were functional for more than 6 months. Only ‘soda bottle’ type work.
A web presence is not something one starts few months before an election. (thinking all the voters will immediately reach it) It should be integrated with other channels, and it is essential that a web site is fully functional (with daily updates, space for comments etc) for at least 3-4 years before an election for it to be a critical force.
If UNP cannot realise these simple fundamental truths, it is good for them to remain in the opposition forever.
Dharshi Senadheera
Dear Mr. Donald Gaminitillake,
I can read the Sinhala pages in http://www.unp.lk without any problem.
It might just be an issue with your computer.
Milinda Moragoda
I will contradict with Dudley’s ghost as my personal website won an American award (Of course my Baappochchi is there) for http://www.milinda.org site. JVP & LTTE uses their websites for party gains whereas I use my website for personal gains. The whole world knows I am the number one crook and even SB is nowhere near me. But I look a very good, scholar, philanthropist on http://www.milinda.org. I fooled even America.
I wanted Ranil W to use me but the poor bugger was listening to fair faced guys only. This is why we ended up in the Chinthana Brothers Company Limited.
Only good thing I did was when I was in power chasing bad, ugly crook Dino away. I hope people will vote for me for that since I haven’t done anything good for the county rather than filling my Swiss bank accounts under the cover of money making sect of religion.
I don’t bother to increase my vote bank with my website. This is to win awards and get more funding. When I want power, i either jump from one party to another or “buy” votes and fanatical catholics also vote for me. These are the catholics who voted to release Barabbas and demanded Jesus be hung. Amen.
Empty
http://www.unp.lk/ is an empty website. Only few links work. Again some unprofessional writing and lot of Under Constructions pages. Ranil, may you be in the opposition for 100 billion years for showing you are this foolish. Ensure your designer was paid by Gota to sabotage your image. Grade 5 student can design a better website than your designer. Velu was right in ordering not to vote to a fool like you. How can you rule a country when you have an empty head?
Mahinda R also will be better of this VK in ICTA so that someone else can do the necessary work. This Seeya is too impotent and has no working knowledge.
Pinto
Apart from politics, that Milinda Pinto’s (aka Moragoda) site is a big flop. One of the worst sites I have seen. The web masters have virtually no creativity.
I am very surprised how such a poor quality site won awards.
Medamulana maama
If anyone does not know how to make political web sites, learn from me.
Have a look and count how many times my smiling photographs appear in the home page.
http://www.mahindarajapaksa.com
I also do not waste time in making Sinhala and Tamil pages, because I do not want Donald to say they look rubbish.
In fact, I do not even mind them taking English out.
I only want to have a space to publish my smiling photographs.
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Mr Senadheera
“It might just be an issue with your computer. ”
Nothing wrong with any computer. You must be using the computer that created this site. If so only you can read the stuff but not others.
The Text has to be compatible If one reads and other see rubbish there is a problem with the creation of the site. We are addressing that issue.
Use a different computer environment and post the screen image and a comment.
Donald Gaminitillake
Tikiri Banda
Donald uncle,
Why don’t you take you computer to the top floor of the World Trade Centre, tie it around your neck (with the power cable) and jump?
All the software problems in Sri Lanka will be solved.
Donald Gaminitillake
It hurt you and your group when I point out the truth.
Donald Gaminitillake
Dippy
Milinda Pinto has always been a perennial loser. This can be largely attributed to the overly dominating character of his mother. His mother has always treated and still treats her son as a little kid. That had prevented him from building self-confidence and achieving anything on his own irrespective of the education he has received.
Perhaps the only life achievement of Pinto jnr was his marriage to somebody who has close relatives at White House. These were the connections he had used to climb the political ladder.
The e-Sri Lanka project launched when he was S&T Minister was a big mess from the day one. This guy was too stupid to replace a permanent government agency (CINTEC) with a sunset organisation. CINTEC employees fought the compensation plan and the government had to pay them salaries for more than three years which they did not do any work (and while most of them working at other places.) Pinto jnr should be responsible for wasting all this public money.
The Pinto jnr appointed Manju H for the CEO post. Manju H. was the type of individual who should not be trusted to run even a ‘suruttu kade’ let alone a national agency. All he did was to waste public money even more earning a monthly package of Rs. 1.2 mil.
One big mistake Pinto jnr did was to neglect the national level personalities who had already contributed to the development of ICT. These professionals were purposely prevented from being part of the e-Sri Lanka program. It could be because Pinto jnr could not control them the way he liked.
Fortunately e-Sri Lanka is now on the right track. However Pinto jnr will ruin the tourism completely before long.
Donald Gaminitillake
Hey Dippy
“Fortunately e-Sri Lanka is now on the right track. ”
Above project was never on the right track.
We cannot use the official languages in Sri Lanka across all platforms.
Dealing with a company that has been fined in United States of America for price fixing. The case has been proved and the accused have been pleaded guilty.(See No 3 of this blog)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6574581.stm
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Gill Bates
I think Milinda kept VKS at arms length for a good reason.
When you offer a chair to VKS, he will apply a ton of super glue and then sit on it, so nobody could pull him out. Such selfish and egoistic behaviour is not favorable for anybody leading a national initiative.
Now see, VKS will never leave ICTA, whatever happens and whoever rules. Even after his death his ghost will haunt ICTA.
samarajiva
I was a member of government appointed selection committee that picked Manju Hattouwa, at that time COO at Millennium IT. The facts are given at: http://www.lbo.lk/fullstory.php?newsID=2146526699&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=24
It is noteworthy that the government advertised the CEO position after this column was published (I am not positing a causal relation). It is also noteworthy that the transparent selection process was aborted at the last minute for unannounced reasons.
Sengaunu Amutta at ICTA
Whatever said about Manju, even his worst enemies will agree that he gave his heart and soul to ICT. He was always there at ICTA and it was the only job he did.
Compared to him the new CEO is like a ‘sengaunu amutta’ at a New Year festival. Not many people had ever seen him at ICTA. Nobody knows what he does for ICT. Always missing in action.
Running the only international Airport in a country itself is a full time job, not a part time one. If one assumes a single person can look after both airport and ICTs, one should better check his psychiatrist.
Gill Bates
Let me reproduce two posts appeared in this blog on June 21, 2006. They may not be from the person who claimed to have posted them. They are self explanatory.
62 C. Rasaputra on Jun 21st, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Dear All,
According to the latest information, I hear Mr. Manju Hattotuwa’s contract as the CEO of ICTA has not been extended.
The vacancy had not yet been announced.
Nobody has been called for interviews.
But, you all can guess who will replace Manju in due time. (after a very transparent recruitment procedure, of course.)
Sri Lanka is a country that believes in transparency.
P.S: If you dont know me, I am a Information Security expert living in USA. (I have come to Sri Lanka on vacation.)
67 C. Rasaputra on Jun 21st, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Dear Concerned,
How can I tell you who is the CEO of ICTA in a situation where the vacancy is not even announced or anybody has been called for interviews?
Please wait ICTA Board will announce the vacancy in due course, and some idiots will apply. They will be called for interviews too and will be asked some stupid questions. Then the CEO will be recruited in a very TRANSPARENT manner. How can one tell this man is the CEO before completing this very TRANSPARENT process?
This is a very TRANSPARENT country. In this country no appointements are given through backdoor. No deals are offered to companies ones political masters want them to be given. No bribes are taken from Samsung. Vert TRANSPARENT.
Donald Gaminitillake
I did applied not once but twice.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Sumith Amerasinghe
Donald,
One definition of STUPIDITY is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results.
If I have heard correctly, over hundred people applied for the first time and only eight applied for the second time.
Thusitha
Prof. V. K. Samaranayake has been central to IT in Sri Lanka for the last four decades.
Prof. Rohan too is a protégé of Prof. Samaranayake.
When Prof. Rohan was badly looking for odd jobs in 1980-90 time, Prof. Samaranayake gave him his first assignment at CINTEC. That is how he started in IT.
It is not good to talk as if one were born yesterday.
samarajiva
Have I said anything about Professor Samaranayake in any posting?
It’s news to me that I was his protege, but that is not relevant for anything is it?
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Sumith
If only 8 applied for the second time. There are seven others other than me.
Why not the seven come forward and list their names.
All 8 of us could voice for justice denied.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Unbiased
Prof Samarajiva has never criticized VK in this blog. Nor has he criticized VK in other platforms as far as we know. VK may not be happy about this blog as this blog affected his God fatherly figure as the truth behind his mythical god fatherly figure was exposed in the blog. Prof Samarajiva wouldn’t have expected a VK bash even in his wildest dreams. It was Donald who opened the can of worms and the rest followed suit. This is a good opportunity for VK to stop his unethical intimidation and live rest of his life in a good manner. What VK got was as a result of Dhitta Dhamma Vedaneeya Karma.
As a matter of interest, where is Helaya now?
Donald Gaminitillake
I have sent the following mail again to ICTA
Donald
——————————–
Dear Chairman and the CEO of ICTA
As you are now aware that the ICTA solution for Sinhala is incorrect and incomplete.
I have made public presentations to the SLSI in the presence of Prof Samaranayake.
My voice was overturned by the SLSI and approved the incorrect Sinhala SLSI 1134.
I am asking you for the second time within this month for a public presentation at ICTA in the presence of the CEO and The Chairman.
I am the only person who has published a matrix for Sinhala characters (Character allocation table) which is registered as ISBN 955-98975-0-0. As per laws in Sri Lanka I have 100% copyrights over it.
With best regards
Donald Gaminitillake
Unbiased
Prof Samarajiva has never criticized VK in this blog. Nor has he criticized VK in other platforms as far as we know. VK may not be happy about this blog as this blog affected his God fatherly figure as the truth behind his mythical god fatherly figure was exposed in the blog. Prof Samarajiva wouldn’t have expected a VK bash even in his wildest dreams. It was Donald who opened the can of worms and the rest followed suit. This is a good opportunity for VK to stop his unethical intimidation and live rest of his life in a good manner. What VK got was as a result of Dhitta Dhamma Vedaneeya Karma.
As a matter of interest, where is Helaya now?
samarajiva
Thank you, unbiased.
As a matter of principle and pragmatism, we have a policy that we do not edit blog comments. We have repeatedly requested commenters to remain civil and to stick to the topics the threads.
Beyond that, we do not interfere. That means that we are not responsible for what people write, disregarding our requests.
I have never attacked anyone on this blog; and I would appreciate not being dragged into various personality-based discussions.
Donald Gaminitillake
I wrote the truth.
Latin script can be used in all platforms.
Sinhala is not. The reason is we have not registered the sinhala cractersin the SLSI or in the unicode. All these were done by Cintec and ICTA led by the prof.
He and his group for 25 years were not aware of number of Sinhala akuru.
All this have to be registered in the SLSI.
This error has to be admitted and corrected for the betterment of the country.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/04/26/news30.asp
Quote from above ……..
During the year 2006, the Government took certain steps to enforce the provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution exceeding any previous Government.
Firstly in accordance with our recommendations, new recruits to the public service are now required to have competence in the second official language. (Second Official Languages means Tamil Language for those competent in Sinhala Language and Sinhala Language for those competent in the Tamil Language).
The other is provision of some attractive incentives for persons already in public service to induce them to acquire proficiency in the second official language.
We submit that these two steps taken by your Government are of a decisive nature. In fact those steps should have been taken soon after the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Had it been done at that time there would not have remained a language problem at present.
The recommendations of 2006 in our belief will help solve certain problems relating to language which will subsist until the present steps taken by your Government achieves the end results.
The present recommendations envisage the creation of an institution for providing translations and interpretation on self-employment basis between Sinhala-Tamil. Tamil-Sinhala, Sinhala-English, English-Sinhala, Tamil-English and English-Tamil.
As you may be aware, there is a dire shortage of competent translators and interpreters in these languages.
As such there is need to obtain the maximum service of competent translators and interpreters serving in different institutions and elsewhere
…… Unquote
Today when we are not been able to use Sinhala and Tamil — Across all platforms (Computers) .
How do we implement the above project in SriLanka?
The SInhala and Tamil usage is a constitutional matter.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Ranwan
I am sure it is VKS who has written the post No. 25 under the name ‘Thusitha’. Who else has that kind of information on what happened on CINTEC in 1980s?
The biggest problem VKS has now is this blog. He is dead scared his contract will not be extended and will go to any length to stop this blog. I am not surprised if Donald had received any threats by now. Threatening people indirectly (he does not have the guts to do that directly) is the style of VKS.
I assume Prof. Samarajiva has better things to do in his life than wasting his time this old and allied totally useless man.
Only people like Donald who have nothing better to do, and enough time to kill are worried about this ‘jarajeerna mahalla’. Nobody else is bothered about him than they would worry about Dingiri Banda Wijetunage.
Donald Gaminitillake
I am not worried about this ‘jarajeerna mahalla’. .
I am worried about the Sinhala language and its “akuru”
Any “threats” better keep it for yourself.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
To ICTA Chairman
Dear ICTA Chairman,
Donald has raised some points about the Sinhala solution.
Few very relevant technical queries regarding the LGN Tender have been raised. (post 4)
When we raise these issues very relevant to the ICT developments in the country, instead of answering them why do you want to drag matters to personal levels?
If you have any concern for the ICT development issues in Sri Lanka please respond to questions raised by Donald and others.
Bandula
I fully agree with the sentiments in the above post.
We live in an era of transparency and openness. Consider the ‘Right of Information act’ in India. Under this act the citizens can rightfully request information about anything that concerns them. That is the culture towards we are moving to. We no longer live in a world some government bureaucrat decides what we want and do the things the way he thinks right.
Information and Communication Technology has always been a catalyst of creating this change. This is the mantra ICTA and its Chairman always preaches.
So why not ICTA follows what ot preaches? Why not ICTA Chairman answers the specific questions posed to him?
Donald might be a mad hatter, (That is how ICTA Chairman calls Donald) but even a mad hatter is a citizen of Sri Lanka. ICTA Chairman, as a government servant has an obligation to hear the grievances of a citizen of Sri Lanka. He cannot run away from it.
Why cannot ICTA Chairman answer Donald’s mails? If he says he does not have time to do so himself why cannot he assign a junior officer to do so?
Why cannot ICTA Chairman answer the questions posed to him in this blog?
What is the use of chanting the mantra that ICT encourages transparency and democracy etc., without ICTA itself not following what it preaches?
Over to you!
Donald Gaminitillake
Visit
http://www.lakehouse.lk/budusarana/
They have published the following comment
Quote
Due to limitations in publishing on the web in Sinhala, we are presenting the Budusarana in PDF (Portable Document Format). You will require an Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 installed. If you do not have an Acrobat Reader 4.0, download it……….
unquote
This clearly proves my point byeond reasonable doubt.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Chandani Kirinde
Bilingual skills needed, says Commission
By Chandani Kirinde
The Official Languages Commission has recommended the recruitment to the public service of a sufficient number of persons competent in Tamil and make Sinhala and Tamil compulsory subjects in schools up to the O/L stage as priority measures to be taken to meet the language problem of the country.
These recommendations are contained in the memorandum the chairman and members of the Commission presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.
Other recommendations include the training of translators and interpreters through the university system which has the necessary human resources and infrastructural facilities for such training and to convert the Official Languages Department, which already trains public servants in languages, to an independent institute capable of carrying out its functions more efficiently.
The Government has already taken two major policy decisions this year to expedite implementation of the language policy adopted nearly 20 years ago but not properly implemented till date. In February, a public administration circular was issued offering attractive incentives to public servants to induce them to acquire proficiency in the second official language – Sinhala language for those competent in Tamil and Tamil language for those competent in Sinhala.
Another circular is to be issued shortly under which new recruits to the public service will need to acquire proficiency in their second language within five years of entering the service.
According to available statistics, of the nearly 900,000 strong public service, only around 9 per cent are proficient in Tamil. The Commission said that if around 38 per cent of the public servants obtain some level of proficiency in the second official language, it would go a long way to make the public administration bi-lingual.
There is also a dire need for translators with only about 166 in the Translators Service according to available statistics. Of these only 44 are qualified in Sinhala/Tamil translation, 108 in Sinhala /English translation and only 14 in Tamil/English translation.
There is an equally bad situation with regards to interpreters despite their requirement to serve in multi-lingual elected bodies such as Parliament, Provincial Councils and local bodies.
The Commission has recommended the establishment of two separate professional services for them and that trainees should be drawn into the service from graduates who are qualified in at least one of the official languages. They should be taught the other official language for a duration of at least two years.
The Commission had arrived at this conclusion taking into consideration the failed attempt to train those with only a secondary education background as translators.
Blogger
Regarding Prof Samarajiva’s answer on (25) Thusitha’s comment and Unbiased’s explaination…..
What Donald (or others) who can do is starting a seperate Blog to bash VK. I recently found one about cricket commentator Ranjith Fernando. Visit http://ranjitfernandosucks.blogspot.com/ Why don’t you start something similar to bash VK. LIRNEASIA blog concentrates on more Asia-Pacific regional issues than bashing VK. I don’t think it would be a good idea to expose dirty issues regarding VK to the whole region at a time AI, Tigers, Human Rights Watch, etc. also are tarnishing the country’s image. So, the best thing is to start a dedicated Blog to bash VK as he seems to be the trouble and the curse in the ICT field in Sri Lanka. Let LIRNEASIA deal with more regional issues than a rotting Dino.
Donald has his akuru.org and can easily start and manage another site for a dedicated blog. There are a lot of free blogging software and sties these days.
Let LIRNEASIA concentrate on broader issues in telecom/IT industries.
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Blogger
The Language TEXT problem is an Asian issue. It is not only limited to Sinhala but to all indic languages. (40 or more)
Sinhala area was covered by the prof.He and his group is responsible. They will have to account for 25 years of payments taken by them to develop SInhala. Now we see Sinhala rubbish in the computers.
First we got to solve the Sinhala problem and then move the solution into other indiic languages.
This is named as “Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 7” Just one minor segment of Lirneasia
Why worry. You can commence blogs on other topics in the Lirneasia.
I talk of Software issues related to Sri Lanka. We got to use Sinhala and Tamil. Also need to use it across all platforms and on any Application.
Also we have hardware issue (buying inferior hard ware) , Browser issue, Translation of Language issue, Domain lk issue etc etc
All theses have to be exposed documented for the future generation.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
from
http://globaltechforum.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/it-happens-in-mahavilachchiya/#comment-70
Quote
Also please understand that Divaina.com only uploads few selected articles from the printed version whereas lankadeepa.lk uploads the full version of the newspaper as a PDF file and a JPG image. This solves font downloading problem as well.
Unquote
If we have unicode SInhala fonts why should the news papers need to produce heavy pdf files and jpg files for Sinhala Language???
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombi
Blogger2
Donald,
Rather than jumping from blog to blog start your own blog. It’s free and you can play havoc as you like in your own blog. Get your akuru.wordpress.com or akuru.blogspot.com before someone else does.
Donald Gaminitillake
I think Blogger2 knows nothing about ICTA, Sinhala or LK Domian’s Monopoly
Do you know that Akuru.lk taken by ICTA
Donald
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Gunathilake,
Thank you for valuble advise.The difficulties at the Singhala web site
would be rectified shortly.
Thanking you,
UNP Media Unit
********
I received the above mail.
First they have got my name wrong but lets see how they will rectify the site.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Extremely interesting topic “Unicode compliant browser in Sinhala launched” has been launched
Since the content is similar to this blog I will make more comments here.
Quote from No 9 of that
Quote from Harsha
“”ANCL/Microimage/Dialog has an understanding in place to get the content in their own Text format””
Unquote
This clearly proves that Sinhala Unicode is incorrect and the topic of the blog ““Unicode compliant browser in Sinhala launched” mislead the general public.
I always define Unicode and Sinhala Unicode as two different subjects. What Sri Lanka registered with this consortium is incomplete Set of Sinhala characters.
These people misrepresent the meaning of UNICODE.
The Sinhala TEXT is not compatible across all platforms.
You could see many examples
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528191@N04/
Further Mr Harsha confirms in his reply
quote
We convert that using a converter to unicode format.
Unquote
If Sinhala unicode is correct and complete why do you need several converters?
Do we convert unicode enable latin script or other language several times in order to read the text??
You guys are just fooling the public?
Give me the names of unicode fonts and how public identify a unicode sinhala font??
Also the code points in Unicode for “TU” “GU” “DU”
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Harsha Purasinghe
Mr. Gaminitilake,
Do I have to tell you zillion times!!! cant you understand english. ANCL is yet to move into Unicode that is not because it’s Incomplete or any other fantasy you have in your mind. ANCL is using it’s own font for sometime and will move into unicode in future. You check out with them why they are not moving to unicode yet!!! Maybe they are waiting for your Standard which is complete with DU, KU, GU and zillion code points.
We use converter because ANCL is still using their own font for the moment. Are you so stupid that you cant understand what is repeated all over again. Also can’t you understand that, there are mlillions of documents/content around developed using different proprietary fonts for many years and you need converters to convert them into Sinhala Unicode? Even if your so called fantasy standard comes into place does all other stuff automatically converts? :-) Yes, you once said it does isnt’t it. You dont need to worry about Microsoft, Google to all other developers as your standard automatically aligns to it. That’s the day I will retire from this industry!!!
Please go and make more quote’s and unquotes and sing your song as there will be few new faces to this blog who will dance to your tune!!!
Your famous song “Sinhala Unicode is incomplete”, where is ” DU, KU, GU” how to “Identify a sinhala unicode font”, All people including google, microsoft, Linux and others who have adopted Sinhala Unicode is fooling the public except mr.gaminitilake!!!
This is my last reply to your silly arguments as I have given up in earlier threads long time ago. I think you are right! people like us are fools to answer your stupid questions.
I dont think there is a cure for your language illness!! It will be difficult than finding a cure for cancer.
Harsha
Donald Gaminitillake
I do not talk about any font. I talk of a Character allocation Table for Sinhala /Tamil.
I only talk what Sri Lanka registered with the Unicode or SLSI 1134.
Font is a individual art of what has been registered with the unicode.
irrespective to the font the simple text has to be readable across any platform OS or Application.
Dear Harsha you are misguiding the public, IF one use a unicode compatible text it has to readable across platforms without any aid or filters or converters.
You have clearly mentioned that microimage/dialog and ancl have a special format for TEXT.Also an added converter. If ANCL can accept your special format of TEXt why cant they go in for the So called Sinhala unicode.
ANCL have clearly mentioned in web that there are limitations. I have published an image on the
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528191@N04/
You can visit their web site and check yourself. (budusarana.lk)
Also on flicker I have posted the SLSI1134 the character set registered as Sinhala.
I do not find “GU DU or TU” and many more.
This is the issue I am addressing.A proper Sinhala character allocation table has to be registered with the SLSI and Unicode. If there is a correct allocation table all software developers will be able to develop software which will be compatible across all platforms and in all applications.
One will not read as rubbish. Only I have published this set as registered in the ISBN 955-98975-0-0.(C). Before I published it I offered as an objection to the SLSI1134 but my table was over ruled by the SLSI. SLSI published the wrong and incomplete character set. Therefore legally I have the 100% copyrights on my one.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Harsha
“different proprietary fonts”
Yes even in English we do have different proprietary fonts. But if you do not want to purchase that font always it can be replaced by “Times” or any system default font. One can read the content not as rubbish as seen in Sinhala.
Why these different proprietary fonts could read across all platforms is they have made according to a standard Character allocation table which has been registered in UNicode or ISO. Sri Lanka never tried to register all the characters in the unicode or SLSI or ISO. We did registered a typewriter table which is incorrect and incomplete Sinhala.
Micorimage can have its own proprietary fonts. This is not a issue.
The issue is it is not made according to a standard character allocation table. THE SLSI1134 is lacking almost all the Sinhala characters other than a few less than 124.
This is the issue we are talking. If you have the courage why not publish the Micorimage character image like the SLSI 1134 or my allocation table what I have published as a jpg image.
I know that you cannot publish it because then you are entering into my area and admitting the full character allocation table.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Shilpa Sayura
How does this work if language problem is not solved?
Shilpa Sayura goes live at 20 Nenasalas
The Internet is a vast ocean of content, but special efforts are needed to translate and contextualize this content for consumption by rural communities. The lack of digital content in local languages is in fact a significant drawback that keeps a majority of Sri Lankans who cannot read and understand English from reaping the full benefits that Information Technology can bring.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), functioning under the Presidential Secretariat recognizes this and has, through its e-Society Development Initiative (e-SDI) grants programme, sought to encourage the development of content in local languages.
One of the projects to be funded by the Agency under this programme is Shilpa Sayura, a project by eFusion (Pvt) Ltd to create digital content related to the school curriculum in Sinhalese to help students in Grades 6 through 11. Computers and other basic IT infrastructure are not widely available in rural households, but are necessary in order to use this resource. The 380-strong Nenasala network provides a practical and efficient means of distributing the content. Therefore, Shilpa Sayura has now been deployed through 20 Nenasalas and will eventually be deployed across the entire network.
Shilpa Sayura provides an interactive means of self-study and could be particularly helpful as a teaching resource to children in remote, rural areas who do not have access to teachers. Even children who do have access to teachers can refer to Shilpa Sayura for self- study and to better understand a subject that is being taught in school. The content includes text, supported by movie clips, photographs, animations and applet based interactive exercises, totalling over 4.7GB. It can therefore go far beyond a textbook’s ability to impart subject knowledge. Furthermore, Shilpa Sayura also provides a platform on which students can interact with one another, share and exchange knowledge.
The content has been generated and reviewed by a panel of teachers from around the country and piloted with schoolchildren and teachers from 20 Nenasala communities. The feedback received has been used to further upgrade subject matter and improve its delivery.
It has also been demonstrated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the recently concluded Deyata Kirula exhibition at the BMICH quite apart from the National Institute of Education. The goal of the e-SDI programme is to pilot innovative ideas to spread the benefits of ICT to all members of Sri Lankan society.
The Shilpa Sayura project is one of many projects funded by the e-SDI that fulfills this goal. Those interested in working with the e-SDI to help take the dividends of ICT “to every citizen and every village” are invited to visit http://www.icta.lk/esdi or email esdi@icta.lk for more information.
Donald Gaminitillake
Please visit the unicode site
http://www.unicode.org/review/pr-96.html
This would explain why we get funny rubbish Sinhala
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528191@N04/
Title “copied from unicode consortium”
We got to correct the Sinhala character allocation table ASAP
That is why we read “C” images in computers
Donald Gaminitillake
Dino's site
Have you seen this?
Dino has started his own site.
http://vksamaranayake.blogspot.com
Donald Gaminitillake
Similar topic is discussed at
http://webalochana.blogspot.com/
Going in circles.
Donald Gaminitillake
Anandawardhana
Hello! I’m the owner of the above mentioned site, not Donald Gaminitillake. And I do not discuss similar topic on my blog as the above commentator says. I request the admins of Lirneasia to remove the above link which gives a wrong impression about my site. For more see this comment
http://webalochana.blogspot.com/2007/05/attention-people-who-know-both-sinhala.html#comment-5994697565889145705
Unbiased
Anadawardena,
I do not think you have to react this seriously, as all what Donald did was posting your link in Lirneasia site. He neither claimed ownership for the Web Alochana nor implied your support to him.
Donald very much has a point because if Sinhala is not properly displayed at least in section of the computers that does not serve any purpose. Donald has given enough examples how Sinhala is not displayed in different computers.
So what the Unicode advocators should do is to correct these (if they can) and not just explain why that happen.
drac tell us only half the truth. It was not Unicode who decided how to represent Indic languages according to their standards.
If you know the history of the standardising local languages what became Unicode was an already existing Devanagari standard. (That is from where we got the ZWJs and NZWJs)
The rest of the Indic languages blindly followed what was done for Devanagari.
For example, when it comes to Sinhala the research team did not even considered the idea of allocating a specific character for yansaya and repaya, because that was how things were done in Devanagari. The impact of this will be seen only when we try to do serious work with Sinhala rather than just desktop/web publishing.
Donald Gaminitillake
Not only in lirneasia I have given links through my Akruru.org
I can give links to any URL. There is no law to ban giving a link to any URL from a site.
I find that “http://vksamaranayake.blogspot.com” site has changed the contents
You all are so scared of Dino.
Donald Gaminitillake
Donald Gaminitillake
It has re appeared again. may be down for maintenance when I accessed it.
Thanks
Donald
Donald Gaminitillake
Unbiased is correct and Anandawardena too was so inquisitive to find out why Sinhala is correctly seen on one computer and not on another computer
Unicode Consortium gave an answer how it happen and why it happen.
It happens because of “joiners” get droped down the line
This also poses a computer security system
Quote from unicode — http://www.unicode.org/review/pr-96.html
it’s possible to misapply format characters such that users can create strings that look the same but actually contain different characters, which can create security problems
Unquote
What is the correction available? It is to follow the path of Donalds full characters theory.
If you have another option list technically do not rant.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
???
the unicode.org link says that sinhala is allowed to use zwj and zwnj . so is mongolian, khmer, malayalam and farsi.
why is donald publishing links that don’t support his akuru scheme? maybe because he did not read the whole document.
poojitha
Guys cool down,how about this,all you guys including unicode people develop your stuff,then release it to the public,let the public decide what to use.Its always better to have an alternative technology,like linux over windows.Both rivals but useful to the world,lets not behave like uneducated Sir Lank an politicians busy throwing mud at each other and nothing being done……….cheers
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear 56
you got to answer why one can read and other read garbage
“Zwj” get dropped and they have given examples (C)
If you have full individual characters like the Latin script This problem will never arise
Also they clearly say that there is a security problem.
Please be on the topic
Donald Gaminitillake
Donald Gaminitillake
I sent an email to the HE President with copies to Secretary , Wasantha, info Icta, VKS
You can visit the flicker for the example images
Donald Gaminitillake
Your Excellency,
The Sinhala SLSI 1134 is incorrect and incomplete.
I have posted an image from your own web site displaying rubbish sinhala.
We see Sinhala as garbage. (see image Sinhala1-3.jpg)
Unicode consortium admits that this type of display is inevitable.
http://www.unicode.org/review/pr-96.html
I quote from unicode
. To make matters worse, it’s possible to misapply format characters such that users can create strings that look the same but actually contain different characters, which can create security problems
unquote
I have been publishing this problem for the past 5 years and always falls into the deaf years.
Hon Sir I have been asking time for a presentation at ICTA but the chairman refuses to give me a public hearing with media present (Rupavahini & private media)
I have written to your secretary several times.
I want the ICTA chairman and the CEO to be present when I give my presentation.
If I can get it at your secretariat it will be more effective.
Hon Sir Please correct the SLSI 1134 standard and save the Sinhala Language.
Only I have done the research work and published the solution (character allocation table for Sinhala).
With warm regads
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Poosa
මම වින්ෙඩා්සි Xp Service pack 2
පරිගණක කිහිපයකට යුනිෙකාඩි
සිංහල install කලා ඒ හැම
පරිගණකයකම ෙකාමිබුව කැඩි
ෙපන්වයි උදාහරණයක් වශ
ෙයන්ම ෙමම ප්රශ්නය ටයිප්
කර අැති අයුරු බලන්න ෙමම
යුනිෙකාඩි වල ෙදා්ශයක්ද
නැතිනම් ෙසටින් වල
ෙදා්ශයක්ද යන්න පැහැදිලි
නැත ෙමම ෙදා්ශය නිවැරදි කර
ගන්ෙන් ෙකෙස්ද
Donald Gaminitillake
Dear Poosa
Why it happens is explained in
http://www.unicode.org/review/pr-96.html
The solution is My Character allocation table.
use individual character code points. I have done and published
ICTA will have invite me to perform the task.(C)
Donald Gaminitillake
Airport
Q: Do you know why they close the Airport at night?
A: Because Chandima lokka who dobles as the ICTA CEO, but never have time, can then have a look at the ICT needs of the country.
Flickr images
To all those who wants to publish Flickr images.
When you publish Flickr images next time, please tag them with the key word ‘Sri Lanka’. They will be then automatically captured by sites like kottu.org and available for a wider audience.
Unicode Support
Poosa,
The reason is you have not used the keyboard driver to type the Kombuwa. If you use the keyboard driver then kombuwa will render properly. http://www.fonts.lk contains the free keyboard driver where you can type all this. So, there is nothing wrong with Sinhala Unicode.
Also you can post your future issues in
http://groups.google.com/group/Sinhala-Unicode
You would be able to get assistance for any unicode related problems on any platform as this group consist of linux, windows users.
Dino
Bohoo! Bohoooooooooooo!!!!!
Nobody thrashes me in this thread now after Donald started http://www.vksamaranayake.wordpress.com …… I feel sorry. I prefer if you strip me furthur in this blog too. Because this where it all started. I need to worship LIRNEASIA for stripping me naked. Please continue. Don’t stop. My wife also shouts at me when there is nothing interesting for her to read here…….
Donald Gaminitillake
I have only one site
It is http://www.akuru.org
I do make comments or leave comments on other sites and do have given links from Akuru
Also in some site they refer me to a Doctor or Dr.
I hope they will correct this error
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
most intersting comment I've seen
Quote
Yes Anuradha, And why is McDonald so worried to take IT in SL to newer heights? crazy ha?
Posted by: Manzi at February 1, 2005 10:32 AM
Unquote
The foreigners accept my concept. Except the local educated pundits incl Dino — why?
They only talk to bridge the digital divide. In practice they want the divide!!!
Donald Gaminitillake
above quote is copied from
http://manzi.weblogs.us/archives/024430.html
63. 18 per cent had failed
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/5/14853.html
Quote
Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe reveals that over 51 per cent of students have failed the GCE (O/L) this year. Over 5, 25, 000 candidates, including 2, 96, 358 school candidates, sat the examination and of them only 48. 7 per cent have qualified for the G. C. E. Advanced Level. ……….
…………About 258,975 students had sat the English language paper and of them 63. 18 per cent had failed. About 259,263 faced the Mathematics paper and of them 57. 37 per cent had failed, while 258,948 students sat for the Science paper and of them 51. 65 per cent had failed secure even a simple pass. ……………..
Unquote
How come you make these students to learn IT in English? We need proper Sinhala in the computers. We need to correct the SLSI as soon as possible
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
VK's son
Dear Dad,
I am so happy. I saw you have started a new blog at http://vksamaranayake.blogspot.com.
I also saw your name appearing in today’s Rawaya.
I think this is a grand occasion for our whole family. We should celebrate tonight. I will join you online from USA.
I am so proud of you, Dad. Keep it up.
Donald Gaminitillake
http://www.akuru.org/images/Rawaya_20_may_2007.jpg
Please visit the site to read the contents
Contents are copyright of Rawaya News Paper
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Sandun Gunaratne
I am a post graduate (masters) student in IT. I have carried out a small research study on “Software Issues blog in LIRNEasia site”. My initial findings are published at
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgmqz3c5_1dxh7m7
This has some interesting finding such as
“Only 47 bloggers (including Donald Gaminitilake, in all 6 threads) have used their given names* representing 752 blogs (58% of total 1296 blogs in 6 threads). Out of those 752 blogs, Donald Gaminitilake has written 413 blogs which is 55% form all blogs by bloggers with given names and 32% of total blogs.”
In conclusion section…. “This proves that the LIRNEasia blog has not been able to provide a platform which can attract genuine contributors to the discussion. It has also lost the interactivity as people whose names are mentioned here are not presenting their sides. Therefore this forum has failed to become a platform for supporting the development of ICT in Sri Lanka”
I would appreciate your views in order to finalize my report.
Lanka ICT literacy rate at a low of 10% -
Who should be responsible for this — Dino
—————–
Quote
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/05/21/ft/14.asp
Lanka ICT literacy rate at a low of 10% – Prof. Vitharana
By Dilrukshi Fernando
For a country that boasts of a high literacy rate of 92%, its ICT or Information and Communication Technology literacy rate is as low as 10%, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana emphasised.
“This could be a factor which hampers development in our country”, said Vitharana, addressing the certificate awarding ceremony of e-Journalists trained under a programme initiated by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) held on Thursday.
The keynote speech aptly titled ‘News Goes Digital’ was delivered by AFP Bureau chief for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Amal Jayasinghe, who emphasized the need for journalists to be technologically savvy if they are to be on par with the fast paced world of today.
“Today with the advancement in technology and freedom of expression, we have to compete not only with rival media institutions but also with our readers”, said Jayasinghe adding that to overcome this competition, some international news networks include a place for the citizen journalist in their organization.
“However credibility is the vital resource that journalists have which makes the public place their trust in us, which is both an honour and a challenge to live up to,” he concluded.
The 30 new e-journalists who received certificates at the ceremony were the second such batch to be trained under the ICTA, which was conducted free of charge under the e-Sri Lanka initiative, mainly funded by the Government of Sri Lanka and World Bank.“This is a small step in our long journey toward achieving a fully fledged concept of e-Sri Lanka”, said Reshan Dewapura, the Chief Operating Officer of ICTA; adding that this national development is not merely about technology rather it is a tool for socio-economic development. These journalists will be the tool that can simplify this complex message and convey it to society.
Commending the e-journalists who followed the course, Dewapura noted how most of them who were unaware of web based journalism prior to the training had managed to grasp basic ICT skills which will assist them in procuring news from websites, typeset their stories and even put a layout by themselves.
Wimal Ruwanpathirana of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation who spoke on behalf of the new batch of e-journalists, suggested that more courses of this nature be conducted for the journalists by the ICTA and develop it to the qualification of a Diploma.
Dissident eJournalists expose broken ePromises
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/05/21/ft/15.asp
Dissident eJournalists expose broken ePromises
Moments before the awarding of certificates took place a dissident group of e-journalists, led by ‘Ravaya’ reporter Lasantha Ruhunage approached the head table and demanded to be allowed to voice the injustices faced by some of the participants at this program.
“We are protesting for valid reasons”, said Ruhunage, explaining that their batch had initially been promised that, the journalists who successfully complete their course will receive computers.”
Another cause for the dissidents to voice their opposition was the decision of the ICTA to hold their certificate warding ceremony at a five star hotel instead of using that money to purchase them computers. Yet the group had been informed that the funds utilized for the ceremony were not sufficient to buy PCs, and were told by the ICTA that the computers can be purchased with a discount of 50%, according to a letter distributed at the ceremony by Ruhunge and his allies. This course of action led to a state of disorder with several e-journalists refusing to receive their certificate and gift tokens from the Minster, despite being present at the ceremony.
I wished him
To day I called the Professor
Prof: Hello
Donald: May I speak to Professor Samaranayake
Prof: Speaking
Donald: I wish you a happy Birthday. I am Donald.
Prof: Who is it?
Donald: Donald
Prof: Donald Who?
Donald: Donald Gaminitillake, I have sent several E-mails When can I meet you?
Prof: (said something not audible) I received…….. e-mails……..(said something not audible)
Hung up!!!
——————
He could have given me an appointment to discuss the SLSI.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Shilpa Sayura
http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/06/busi6.htm
Quote from Shilpa Sayura
“”
The lack of digital content in local languages is in fact a significant drawback that keeps a majority of Sri Lankans who cannot read and understand English from reaping the full benefits that Information Technology can bring.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), functioning under the Presidential Secretariat recognizes this and has, through its e-Society Development Initiative (e-SDI) grants programme, sought to encourage the development of content in local languages.
Unquote
When Sinhala is not compatible across all platforms how can you do content development in Sinhala
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Noam
What happen to JC Ahangama,
I remember he was objecting to Unicode saying it may not transferable across networks freely and many people in here laughed at him too. Even I my self was little skeptic about it (Sorry JC). But we all high minded tech geeks should have given him little more consideration to his point. If any of the real geeks are still around here please go see , “Unicode Encoding Flaw Widespread”
http://it.slashdot.org/it/07/05/22/0117203.shtml (If you are a gee you must already have seen this because slashdot is already in your RSS list)
I just wanted point out that, that old gentleman had a point then.
Donald Gaminitillake
Thank you giving a credit to JC
I emailed him about it
Noam why don’t you give a comment on
http://www.unicode.org/review/pr-96.html
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo