FROM LEFT: MOBITEL CEO RANJITH G. RUBASINGHE EXCHANGING THE SPONSORSHIP CHEQUE WITH SLASSCOM VICE CHAIRMAN AND JAFFNA IT WEEK CONVENER, MANO SEKARAM

The National Mobile Service Provider Mobitel announced that the company would be the Official Mobile Communications Partner of ‘Jaffna IT Week 2014’, a youth-friendly initiative to boost the IT/BPM sector in the rapidly developing Northern region of Sri Lanka and to encourage further progress in the region.

Organised by SLASSCOM with the support of the Export Development Board (EDB), Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), Ministry of Education, University of Jaffna and the Yarl IT Hub, the initiative is set to kick off from December 3rd to 6th. The programme would comprise a grand line-up of career programmes, entrepreneurship workshops and export forums while concluding with the biggest IT Conference to ever be held in the Northern region.

The programme would showcase a wide range of opportunities available for youth who would receive the rare opportunity to be mentored and counseled by leading IT professionals and industry thought-leaders, many of whom who have initiated successful software development and BPM companies. The event will also provide a platform for industry professionals to interact and build relationships with some of the best young talent in the region.

On day one and two of the programme, over 4,000 schoolchildren will be guided through the ‘Future Careers’ career fair, which will educate schoolchildren about the IT/BPM industry both locally and globally, and build awareness on the wide range of possibilities and job opportunities available within the sector.
The first half of day three of the programme would comprise a workshop targeting those who run small and medium scale enterprises, aspiring entrepreneurs and others who are looking to start out with their own ventures in the Jaffna Peninsula. Furthermore, the ICTA is set to conduct a workshop for new start up businesses and already up and running business ventures in Jaffna and around the country.

Meanwhile the final day of the Jaffna IT Week initiative would be conducted by the University of Jaffna, who would play host to undergraduates of other local universities. The conference would provide exposure to undergraduates on the core of Sri Lanka’s IT industry, giving them the chance to understand the skill sets and expertise required to be employable in the sector and to build and open up new avenues and opportunities.