BOI to develop new IT Park in Malabe

Colombo: Sri Lanka is currently engaged in establishing dedicated IT techno-parks, Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said.

“Technology can play an important part in changing the mindset of a Nation. The Government of Sri Lanka and my Ministry in particular, is committed to modernizing the national economy. We have earmarked the informational technology sector as one area for future growth. Currently we are working towards setting up dedicated IT techno-parks in the country”. Dr Amunugama expressed these views recently, which illustrate well the Government’s commitment to develop the IT and related sector.

It is in this context that the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) will be developing an IT Park equipped with all modern facilities and services for promoting Information Technology, IT Enabled Services, Business Process Outsourcing and other knowledge based industries in the country.
The BOI along with SLIIT plans to develop this endeavour as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) venture. PPP is currently widely adopted worldwide as a means to develop large-scale infrastructure projects.

The IT Park will be constructed on a 15-acre land within the SLIIT campus in Malabe. It will primarily cater to the growing demand in Sri Lanka for high quality dedicated Information Technology space.

The BOI has carried out a lot of research on how to develop IT parks. The proposed IT Park has been conceptualised with the latest know how relating to such parks and a special emphasis has been given to make the atmosphere appealing to those who will be working there.

The IT Park would be equipped with state of the art technology and would be providing high-speed data communication services including lease line connectivity and fibre optic networks. In addition, the park will also provide infrastructure facilities such as uninterrupted quality power, water supply, air conditioning facilities and parking facilities.

Comforts and amenities for those working at the IT Park will include Banking and ATM facilities and a Cafeteria within the IT Park. Furthermore they would also provide a high quality 24-hour security and maintenance services.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) is a degree-awarding institute in the field of Information Technology, recognized by the University Grants Commission. SLIIT was established in 1999 to educate and train IT professionals required for the fast growing IT industry in Sri Lanka and presently it graduates around 3000 IT Professionals a year.

This IT park is developed to attract world class IT companies, who will house their business operations in Sri Lanka. It is expected that this venture will be a stepping-stone for the future of the Sri Lankan IT Industry.