'IT best field to explore new avenues'

18-Jan-2009

Ashan Kumar met Asanga Marasinghe, Manager Software Development IFS Research and Development to understand How 'IT' changed his life...

A naturalist and an adventurer with a desire to explore wildlife, spending his leisure taking part in safaris at the Yala and Wasgamuwa is how I can describe young Asanga Marasinghe who is currently the Manager Software Development at IFS Sri Lanka, a global enterprise solutions company.

He recalled his school days at Nalanda College, Colombo, where his aim was to become a civil engineer, following the mathematics stream, as advised by his parents. His father is a retired draughtsman and mother a retired teacher. "While I was schooling I haven't heard of the term "Software Engineer" said Asanga. He said "My life changed completely as I strived hard to get into Informatics Institute, after my A/Ls. I had to complete five tests to get into the application process. And I succeeded." He added "I aspired to become a software engineer, as this was the time the country was facing an Information Technology revival, the IT boom in Sri Lanka, made a vast change in my life".

He said "I completed my degree in information systems from Manchester Metropolitan University UK, and started working at Informatics as a trainee developer while continuing my studies. After a while with hands on experience I was transferred to IFS. The exposure from IFS is a little different from a software development company. Implementing business solutions is a daunting task, where I constantly need to think out of the box, and I love this challenge".

When I asked him why he chose Information Technology as his future he told, "There are many reasons, I found IT a very challenging area, you can learn very much as the scope is undefined".

I asked him the impact IT has made on him. He was onwared "Working in the IT industry for over 10 years has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Not only I think different, the way I speak and even the attire tells that I am an individual who's employed in the IT industry when compared to my friends".

"If an individual is driven by targets Information Technology is the best field to explore new avenues while building your traits. If you are committed for delivery IT will provide you with the best reward". Sri Lanka understands the necessity of IT, and ICT. We see a brisk development in many organisations in terms of IT adaptation and usage. companies, government organisations needs and will continue to research and produce established business solutions entirely IT integrated. I wouldn't be surprised to see in 10 years time children carrying a laptop to school instead of heavy school bags", he said.