Report of the Chairman to the members of LankaNet.
Background.
As you all know the general situation in the country continues to be deteriorating during the period under review. The Ceasefire agreement is now a dead letter. The government and the LTTE seem to work for a military solution ignoring the humanitarian tragedy taking place in the North and East of the country. More and more people in the East, where the internecine war is going on with intensity had to leave their homes seeking shelter in temporary camps where even basic sanitation facilities are lacking. Roads blocks and incessant security checks make the movement of people time consuming and at times risky endeavour.
With all these difficulties we were able to complete the training programmes for the Tsunami affected youths though somewhat behind the schedule. Problem was to get the participants from North and East. Training programmes for Ratmalana, Akurala, Galle,Weligama Matara and Tangale completed as planned. Trainees from Trincomallee also completed their training course with out any hitch. But The Samanthurai Akkaraipattu and Jaffna trainings had to be rescheduled several times because traveling from these areas to Colombo seems to be risky due the prevailing security situation in the country. But at the end we completed all the training programmes. Six youths including two girls from Jaffna completed the training at the end of October. It was a quite an experience for LankaNet. We had to write to the security forces to get the clearance for them to travel and to stay fourteen days in Colombo.
Most of them had not been to Colombo earlier. So at the end of the training we arrange them a sight seeing tour of Colombo. It was an opportunity to show our solidarity with the people of Jaffna who are undergoing hardships that are beyond the comprehension of people in the south of Sri Lanka.
Promoting LTSP.
The unsettled condition had a negative affect in our programme to promote Linux based terminal server system. We planned to introduce this system to Mannar Citizen Committee and Resources for Peace and Reconciliation (RPR) with the facilitation of the programme accompanier of CAFOD, Steve Alston. RPR taken over the system and their staff who had undergone a five day training at LankaNet are quick to grasp the Open Source operating system and the thin client net work system Another organization Future Peace, working to promote peace studies in remote rural areas, participated in our seminar on LTSP and enlisted our support to install the system in their training centres in Anuradhapura and Monaragala.
Future Peace, decided to purchase the equipment to set up two more thin client systems in their training centres. LankaNet undertook the setting up the system and the training of their staff.
For a successful installation of thin client system we need to conduct a need assessment of the client organization. This will enable us to sort out numerous technical problems in selecting machines for servers and thin clients.
Foss.
We organized a seminar to promote Free Open Source Software among NGOs and general public. We issued a press release and Lankadeepa, a Sinhala daily carried it in their business page and it was very effective. Though it was a rainy day there were twenty three participants and they were very keen to learn more about open source software. Dr. Pratiba Mahanama Senior lecturer Law Faculty University of Colombo gave a brief but very effective presentation on copyrights law and its application to ICT.
He expressed his willingness to participate in future workshops without any payments.
Out house training.
Three day residential training course was held at Chilaw from 12th to 14th February 2007. Earlier they have followed a course on basics of computer technology. This was a continuation as well as a refresher course for the participants.
Participants ( Six girls and seven boys) had passed GCE O level and school leavers presently working as animators with church based projects and programmes to uplift the living conditions of the rural poor. Objective of the training programme is to enable them to use ICT effectively in their day to day work.
Help Desk.
During this period our help desk received unusually large number of calls regarding the software problems. In most of the cases we had to reinstall the operating system and the software. Another point that we notice during this period is that majority of computer users forget to remove the telephone connections when not using the computer. In rainy days with thunder storms and on holidays it may damage the modem and other sensitive parts of the computer.
A fair number of organizations had net worked their PCs with our technical assistance. So there is a stream of telephone calls (five calls on certain days) on various faults. Net worked PC environment still a new experience that will take time to accustomed to. But sometime we found it difficult to attend to every caller as soon as we get the message. We know that will lead to frustration and tempers at times. But with small number of staff and limited resources we have to bear it with empathy. But we are proud that large number of our partners feels that they are getting a better deal which is not available with commercial enterprises.
Service Agreements.
In pursuant of the suggestion made at the last annual general meeting we entered into computer service agreements with four organizations and discussing with few more organizations. This is an area where there is potential for expansion.
Administration
Our Office assistant cum Finance Assistant Ms. Theja Gunawardana resigned from January this year. The Management Committee decided to not to fill the vacancy. Now the financial activities are handled by the coordinator. A part of the responsibility is assigned to the Office Assistant (Technical). Now we are in the process of computerization of the accounting system which will make the financial book keeping much easier.
As you know we have moved to more spacious office since last August. LankaNet was started as a partner organization of Resource Centre for Community Groups. It provided office space and other logistics for the takeoff of the LankaNet. But with expansion of LankaNet there was a need or more office space which RCCG couldn’t provide. So we had to move into the present location. We are thankful for RCCG for the initial support it has given and the Sarana Press and Publication for providing this building for rent.
Future prospects.
ICT is a very competitive and challenging field where new developments taking place adily. We have to learn, unlearn and relearn constantly to keep abreast with latest trends in the IT industry. Therefore we recognized the need of training and capacity building of the staff. In the current project we made an allocation for capacity building. Tharaka Weerasekara the System Administrator is now following a Red Hat Engineering course at DMS a premier training institute in ICT to acquire the academic and professional competency in the sphere of Open Source Software.
Other technical staff will also be nominating for training when suitable training courses are available.
Apart from the capacity building we need dedication and commitment from the staff to successfully fulfill the aims and objectives that LankaNet stands for. If we can inculcate a deep sense of steadfastness and a clear perspective in our staff I am certain that there is bright future for LankaNet. But it is a challenge we have to face.
I must thank the staff and the members of LankaNet for the cooperation given in achieving what ever targets we set for ourselves.
Mahinda Hattaka,
Chairman LankaNet