"Government attaches great importance to e-Asia 2009: it is an ideal opportunity to show the world that Sri Lanka can do things," said President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga.

Mr. Weeratunga made this assertion while participating as chief guest at a special ‘e-Asia 2009’ stakeholder meeting held at the Presidential secretariat recently.

Explaining at the meeting of top officials of the Government and local and international private sector institutions the great opportunities available for local and international organisations engaged in business especially in the ICT field Mr. Lalith Weeratunga said that the international community was already highly attracted to Sri Lanka as a high calibre performer in the ICT sector due to its huge achievements.

"It is indeed a great feat that this year the Government Information Centre, more popularly known as the '1919' project, won the WSIS award out of 20,000 entries from 157 countries", Mr. Weeratunga said emphasising that the time was ideal for showcasing Sri Lanka.

Elaborating on the ICT achievements of Sri Lanka Mr. Weeratunga pointed out: "Countries like India, Malaysia and Thailand also have made great strides in ICT but what is particularly remarkable with regard to Sri Lanka is that in Sri Lanka ICT has penetrated the rural area in a significant way. The ICT literacy which was about 5 per cent in 2004 has now hit the 30 per cent mark".

Participating in the function ICTA Chairman Prof. P.W. Epasinghe pointed out that Sri Lanka's choice as the host country for ‘e-Asia’ 2009 amidst stiff competition was a recognition of achievements in ICT by Sri Lanka.

ICTA's Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura recapitulated the work so far done with regard to e-Asia 2009 and the opportunities e-Asia 2009 offered especially for local and international ICT institutions.

The whole of BMICH will be available for the greatest ICT event of the region.