Sri Lanka: Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Harin Fernando said the government hopes to give iPads instead of text books for students above Grade 9. All the information in the text books will be included in them. All required equipments will also be provided. Students will be educated on coding which is required to use the I-Pads.
A pilot project is to be implemented with the participation of three thousand students in this regard. The minister also disclosed funds have been allocated for 64 projects as well. Networking of Sri Lanka using fiber optic technology is now being carried out. He also added that measures have been taken to link the entire country through submarine cables. The internet connectivity speed has gone up by six times. Therefore, Sri Lanka is placed 62nd in the Asian region. The government aims to increase it upto 26th place. At present only 30 percent of the country are using the internet. That number will also be increased in the near future. Minister Harin Fernando also urged the opposition not to look at government's decision to provide computers to Advanced Level students in a political perspective. The Microsoft Company has come forward to extend its free support to Sri Lanka due to the initiatives taken by the present government. The minister further added that the entire country will be empowered from modern technology.