Supporting evidence-based policy making and implementation by governments in the emerging Asia Pacific is an important part of LIRNEasia’s raison d’etre. This support is extended in many ways. The latest is the acceptance of the Sri Lanka government’s invitation extended to founder chair Rohan Samarajiva to serve as Chairman on the countries apex ICT Agency. Rohan was a member of the original Board of the ICT Agency, which was established in 2003 to implement a pioneering integrated ICT development initiative called e Sri Lanka. He contributed to its design. LIRNEasia’s current CEO Helani Galpaya was among the first employees of ICTA.
LIRNEasia, based in Colombo, has ongoing research projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Many projects involve comparative research, which means that Sri Lankan policy makers and stakeholders can benefit from lessons and comparisons from similarly situated countries. LIRNEasia’s engagements with UN Global Pulse, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, UN ESCAP and many other international and regional organizations and networks constitute a rich source of knowledge for the Sri Lankan ICT sector. LIRNEasia’s CEO Helani Galpaya stated that LIRNEasia will continue to support ICTA’s mission as it has always done, but now in an enhanced manner because it shares the same Chair.
Rohan will continue with his part-time work on the boards of LIRNEasia, Communication Policy Research south, the Lanka Software Foundation and the advisory role at Sarvodaya Fusion.
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