Microsoft

One of the key announcements at Microsoft's AAP 2011 in Singapore was the launch of Kavakatu, a web-based application for monitoring and evaluating civil society projects. This application which is set to be deployed in the next few weeks as a free Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering, for its basic functionality and at a minimal fee for a version more customised to client needs, has the added distinction of being from Sri Lanka.

HSBC, together with Microsoft Sri Lanka announced the successfully completion of an IT scholarship programme which sought to train youth in several parts of the country with basic IT skills.

Noratel International (Pvt) Ltd. became one of the first local companies to successfully deploy a fully fledged unified communication solution powered by Microsoft Lync®, along with - an integrated communication and collaboration system into their communications network. Almost a year since its introduction, MicrosoftLync® has revolutionized the company’s communications experience and helped dramatically cut down costs with its ability to create real-time, face-to-face meetings regardless of geographical boundaries.

Microsoft Sri Lanka in partnership with the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry announced a grant aimed at supporting the migrant worker community in Sri Lanka. The occasion was graced by Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Hon. Dilan Perera MP and saw the renewal of the organizations’ pledge towards empowering migrant workers through ICT.

Microimage’s Partnership and engagement with Microsoft Sri Lanka as a Committed Independent Software Vendor over the past several years was recognized at the recently concluded Annual Partner Awards event. Microimage is a leading technology innovator based out of Sri Lanka with market presence for it’s products both regionally and globally. The company’s core platform products are based on Microsoft technologies, and has been loyal partner throughout it’s history.

Intel® announced the 1Mx15 Health Program which will bring ICT training to one million healthcare workers in developing countries by the end of 2015. The program will enable healthcare workers with technology, education tools and 21st century ICT skills to help accelerate progress toward better health primarily for women and children. In collaboration with governments, private industry, development communities and academia the program will establish various country initiatives to increase the availability, affordability and usage of computers, and broadband.

At a colorful ceremony at Hotel Galadari, Microsoft recognized NETASSIST International with "Best Learning Solutions Partner award" for the year 2010-11. Since 2006, for the fifth time, NETASSIST International has been selected as Microsoft's Best Learning Solutions Partner.

Organized by Asia Events, Games Bandits MasterClass 2011 – a 2-days Hands-On Master class for game developers was held at Illuma, Singapore.

The first ever Colombo Code Camp was successfully worked off in Colombo recently.  The event brought together some of the best IT geeks in Sri Lanka in a highly interactive and informative programme facilitated by Ragnar Harper, one of the world’s most renowned architects on Microsoft based technologies.

Continuing to empower young people with knowledge based IT skills, HSBC recently handed out job oriented IT scholarships to youth in the North and West of the country, as part of the Bank’s joint Corporate Sustainability project conducted with Microsoft Sri Lanka and the Institute of Data Management (IDM).

In an effort to streamline the ever growing business requirements and the processes of Hameedias (Pvt) Ltd, Microsoft was picked out of many other top ERP solutions to facilitate the immense growth the company has seen in the recent past, as Hameedia expands within and outside the city, its need for information to manage the business more effectively had increased. Microsoft Dynamics Nav 2009 has been able to provide that extra edge by not only giving information but presenting the information in many dimensions giving the decision maker a 360®view of the present status before a decision, Nav also helps increase the company’s focus on innovation to continuously improve quality and customer service through this essential business tool which is best described as Simple, Smart and Innovative.

Microsoft Sri Lanka recently hosted the Connecting Communities forum for not-for-profit, social service organisations and charities across the country.

The forum was an opportunity for participants to learn and share ideas on how to make use of ICT tools and techniques to deliver better value to the communities they operate in and how ICT can help them be more productive.

SANASA Development Bank (SDB) recently entered into an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft, joining the ever expanding group of local enterprises adopting world class technology. The agreement, in partnership with Millennium ESP, the enterprise and service provider business of Millennium IT, and a Microsoft managed partner, marks a significant milestone for SDB in its journey towards becoming the apex bank in Sri Lanka’s co-operative banking sector with commercial banking status.

Microsoft Sri Lanka together with the ‘Tharunayata Hetak’ movement will provide 1000 schools with Multi-point computer Labs. These fully equipped MultiPoint labs will enable a classroom of 30 students or more to access a single computer. “With this we can see that students can familiarize themselves with computers from a very early age,” stated Microsoft Country Manager, Sriyan de Silva Wijeyaratne at the launch of the Gamata IT programme recently.

Team ‘PeraSoft’ from the University of Peradeniya emerged as the winner in the Software Design category of Imagine Cup 2011 Sri Lanka Finals. The winners, Team PeraSoft comprising of N.D.M. Samarakoon, S.A.L.D. Senadheera, H.M.P.L. Herath and J.M.M.U. Dasanayake will go down in history as this is the first time they have won in the competition making it a truly celebratory moment for the University of Peradeniya. They will represent Sri Lanka at the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals to be held in New York in June 2011, where they will face off with competitors from around the world. The winner will be propelled onto the global Microsoft Imagine Cup competition stage and along with it open up new windows of opportunities that could benefit their future career progression.

"The work done by Microsoft Sri Lanka is of value for Sri Lanka's future generations," Namal Rajapaksa MP said.

"We are thankful to Microsoft for joining with the Tharunyata Hetak Movement to bring ICT close to our brothers and sisters across the country. We know that it will assist them in their jobs and help mould future leaders of our nation. We look forward to joining you to go from village to village, city to city to educate more youth," he said.

It is that all-important time of the year again, when the entire IT student community in Sri Lanka sharpen their skills and wait to participate in a hugely anticipated event that comes around once a year.

Sri Lanka’s No 1 men’s wear specialists and retailers, Hameedia Mens Fashion ,joins the exclusive and elite corporate segment of Microsoft Dynamics ERP and LS Retail users. The new IT business solution offers Hameedia’s a deep level of integration across point of sale, store management, supply chain, merchandising and financials to address business productivity while enhancing customer service.

Continuing to empower young people across the nation, HSBC together with Microsoft Sri Lanka have renewed their commitment to provide information technology training to young people in several parts of the country, through the Unlimited Potential Partnership (UPP) programme.

Students can now access developers' software and e-learning programmes for FREE, simply by inputting their International Student Identity Card (ISIC) number on the Microsoft Dream Spark website. (www.dreamspark.com). Students should also look out for Microsoft's regular updates - they continuously add new software and features to this programme. Some of the free software includes Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008.

A teacher of Mathematics and Computer Science, Chamath Abeygunawardane of All Saints College, Galle has emerged the winner in the Asia -Pacific Regional Innovative Teacher Competition at the seventh Asia- Pacific Education Forum held during March 8-10 in Phuket, Thailand.

Microsoft Sri Lanka announced the launch of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program, targeting entry level skill development in the Information Technology Enabled Services and Business Process Outsourcing (ITES-BPO) industry. The initiative is a multi-stakeholder workforce development initiative by the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) – the national chamber for the IT and BPO industries – IDM Education Services, Infoshare Guarantee Limited and Microsoft. The JOBS Training Program delivers skills training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Workplace Communication and Soft Skills required for selected entry level positions at leading employers including Amba Research, Dialog Axiata, HelloCorp, HSBC, Innodata Isogen Lanka, MedSource and RR Donnelley.

Across the globe, Microsoft, along with many other Intellectual Property stakeholders, strives to protect its customers and partners from counterfeit and pirated software. The Organisation for Economic Development, based in Paris, France estimates that the value of counterfeit goods and pirated copyrights in world trade grew from US$ 100 billion in 2001 to US$ 250 billion in 2007. As a popular operating system used on computers globally, pirated Microsoft software can be freely bought in many countries.

Across the globe, Microsoft, along with many other Intellectual Property stakeholders, strives to protect its customers and partners from counterfeit and pirated software. The Organisation for Economic Development, based in Paris, France estimates that the value of counterfeit goods and pirated copyrights in world trade grew from US$ 100 billion in 2001 to US$ 250 billion in 2007. As a popular operating system used on computers globally, pirated Microsoft software can be freely bought in many countries.

The International Institute of International Software Economies, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IISEIE) in collaboration with The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) and Microsoft is conducting a High-Tech Survey of the Local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and is encouraging local ICT companies to participate in this High-Tech Survey that will provide a comprehensive overview of the local ICT industry in Sri Lanka.