Recipient Institution:
Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Project Leader:
Manju Haththotuwa, CEO/Managing Director

Amount and Duration: US$ 27,656 / 18 months

Commencement Date:
December 2004

Abstract of Project
Internet access is largely perceived as a way to reduce isolation, provide educational and economic opportunities, and ultimately improve the quality of life. Unfortunately, high capital and operating costs have limited rural access to a handful of heavily subsidized and supported demonstration projects in Sri Lanka. An innovative integrated strategy, based on existing technology and rural social structures, could address a variety of barriers and ultimately help get large numbers of villagers on the Internet.

Mahavilachchiya is a part of the rural sector of Sri Lanka that still remains largely unconnected to the Web. Even though there is a high density of computers in the village, they do not have internet access nor are they connected to each other.