US takes Internet to rural Sri Lanka

MATALE, SRI LANKA: In a new private-public partnership, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) dedicated a cyber-center that links international and local businesses to bring modern information technology to some of the furthest reaches of Sri Lanka.

The cyber-center, known as Easy Seva, the first of the 25 that will be launched over the next four months by the US-based Synergy Strategy Group (SSG) with support from USAID. Additional implementing partners include multi-national firms Qualcomm, Dialog Telekom and Microsoft, and local companies InfoShare, the National Development Bank, and Lanka Orix Leasing Company.

“Getting rural areas plugged into the internet and global commerce is enormously important for Sri Lanka,” said U.S. deputy chief of mission James Moore at the center’s opening. “It represents instantaneous access to the world.”

USAID mission director Rebecca Cohn said the center represents a new innovative business model to promote rural wireless broadband access that demonstrates the ability of technology to empower individuals and strengthen communities.

The centers will also help rural residents acquire employment skills through online training, search for new jobs, and receive micro-loans and other banking services in addition to calling relatives overseas at low rates.

“It’s the entrepreneurial drive that will ensure that this center is successful in meeting global needs and demands. From our corporate partners, we’ve received financial support, technology, software, technical expertise and know-how,” said Cohn.

The Matale center is operated by Matale entrepreneur Chamel Berenger.