The objective of this program was to facilitate the Sri Lankan Citizens to be able to have access to Internet for a variety of purposes. The government's objective was to enable its citizens to engage in policy making of the government and contributing towards good governance. Citizen will provided with "free Wi-Fi" in specific locations across the country. The first 250 locations will be launched before March 31st, 2015, while the balance 750 locations will be completed within 60 to 90 days.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Telecommunication Ajith P. Perera said that "providing free Wi-Fi facilities to more than 1000 locations in the country during the next 30 to 90 days was more than a mere fulfillment of an election pledge. The citizens from all walks of the and from different parts of the country will now benefit from the Free Wi-Fi program".

Addressing a media briefing held at the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), the Deputy Minister further emphasized that in the current rapidly changing world, internet facilities were no more a luxury but only an utility service like water, electricity and gas. The Deputy Minister said that it was because of this that the current Government had changed its original plan and decided to provide speedier Wi-Fi facilities to a larger number of locations.

Recalling the past as one who belonged to the group of students who received school level computer education for the first time in 1983, the Deputy Minister said that he received that opportunity as a result of the action taken by current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as then Education Minister, which included the setting up of computer facilities and training the youth at village level.

Foreign Affairs Minister and Telecommunications Minister Mangala Samaraweera,proposed that all telecommunication companies must be part of this ambitious journey and the country must take pride of its adoption to the digital age. We must do a lot more to make the Internet to truly become people's consumer right. The Deputy Minister also said that the supply of free Wi-Fi facilities is just the beginning of the government's digital initiative. Creating Wi-Fi zones that supply free Internet facilities in every main city of the country is a presidential election pledge of current President Maithripala Sirisena.

ICTA Chairperson Chithranganie Mubarak said: "It is wonderful to note that social unity among the public and private sector has enabled ICTA to fulfill one of its key objectives of ICT penetration in the country.

"I am amazed as to how such a large-scale implementation can be achieved in such a short time. This clearly shows that the true benefit of this partnership to deliver such services was unimaginable before. I take this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders on this project,"she said.

Managing Director/CEO of ICTA Muhunthan Canagey said: "it was an ambitious dream for ICTA to spearhead such a telecommunication roll out within a period of 60 to 90 days. The telecommunication operators, along with the team at ICTA and TRC were able to drive such an ambitious and dynamic initiative".

"There were many technical and interoperability that needed to be finalized between all telecommunication operators, however the spirit of all parties were positive which enabled ICTA do deliver more than the promise made by the government at the last election," Canagey added.

(Dailynews)