FITIS launches INFOTEL–2016 ICT exhibition

The Information and communication Technology Agency  (ICTA) making a token presentation to signify its role as the national partner of the INFOTEL – 2016 exhibition, to FITIS, the event’s organizer. (From left to right) Secretary, Fitis,  Pujitha Rajapakse, Chairman, INFOTEL Main Organizing Committee, Sudath Amarasinghe, Chairperson, ICTA,  Chithrangani Mubarak, Chairman, FITIS, Vasantha Weerakoon, Minister Harin Pranandu,  Secretary, Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Vasantha Deshapriya, Deputy Chairman, Fitis, Kithsiri Manchanayake are in the picture

The premier ICT exhibition INFOTEL–2016 organized by the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) was officially launched at a ceremony at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo recently. The biggest and most prestigious Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exhibition in Sri Lanka and the whole of South Asia, INFOTEL – 2016 will be held from November 11th to 13th at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

FITIS is organizing this landmark event in the ICT calendar for the 15th consecutive time. The theme of this year’s exhibition will be “Empowering Digital Citizens”. A significant turnout of around 100,000 visitors, including executive officers of local and foreign companies in the ICT sphere, eminent professionals, policy makers, entrepreneurs, educationists, students of schools, educational institutions and universities, teachers, lecturers and members of the public, are expected to view this premier exhibition.

A key highlight of the event will be the showcasing of new and innovative products and services and novel ICT solutions by exhibitors in the field, in addition to a series of special features, which will add color to this eagerly-awaited annual happening in Colombo. It will also serve as a lucrative platform for new business opportunities. FITIS played a lead role in organizing INFOTEL – 2016 with the active support and patronage of a host of government and private sector institutions. 

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training are the government organizations which extend their support to this biggest annual event in Sri Lanka’s ICT calendar. The Information and Computer Technology Agency (ICTA) is the national partner of the exhibition, while Sri Lanka Telecom is the main sponsor.

The Chief Guest at the official launching ceremony of INFOTEL–2016 was  Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Harin Fernando. Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Vasantha Deshapriya,  Chairperson, Information and Computer Technology Agency (ICTA), Mrs. Chithrangani Mubarak, Chairman, FITIS, Vasantha Weerakoon, Deputy Chairman, Dr. Kithsiri Manchanayake, Secretary, Pujitha Rajapakse,  General Manager, Chadika Yahampath,  Chairman, INFOTEL Main Organizing Committee, Sudath Amarasinghe and Chief Marketing Officer, Sri Lanka Telecom, Ajantha Seneviratne, were amongst the large and representative gathering present on the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the official launch of this prestigious annual event, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Harin Fernando said the theme of the INFOTEL– 2016 exhibition is topical and absolutely relevant in an era where the entire world is swiftly going digital. The objective of the government is to provide digital facilities to every citizen of the country. “The government is making an indefatigable effort to develop digital infrastructure to make this vital facility easily accessible to the people across the country. I believe that achieving the goal of total digitalization will translate into productive and viable development which will reflect positively on the lives of the masses”, he stressed.Chairman, INFOTEL Main Organizing Committee, Sudath Amarasinghe, said that elaborate plans have been made to elevate the latest edition of INFOTEL–2016 to an international level. 

“Foreign ICT companies have been particularly invited to participate in this year’s event and their response is already encouraging. This will serve as a bridge and offer a viable window of opportunity to Sri Lankan companies in the ICT sphere to explore possibilities of securing global markets for their products and services.  This can also be viewed as a good opportunity for local players in the industry to seek foreign investments to develop their businesses, he noted. He said that arrangements to host the proposed exhibition have already got underway and further support and patronage from more government and private sector institutions is being anticipated to contribute towards the greater success of INFOTEL – 2016.”