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Inauguration of the
Advanced Digital Media Technology Centre (ADMTC)
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The Advanced Digital Media
Technology Centre was provided under the project “Human Resource
Development in Information Technology through capacity building of the
University of Colombo School of Computing” implemented by the Japan
International Cooperation Agency | ||||||
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The Advanced Digital Media
Technology Centre (ADMTC) of the University of Colombo School of Computing
(UCSC) was declared open by His Excellency Seiichiro Otsuka, Ambassador
for Japan in Sri Lanka, on the 23rd of September at 5.30 p.m. in the
distinguished presence of Hon. Minister Kabir Hasheem and other invitees.
This was followed by a Meeting at the UCSC Auditorium. | ||||||
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Prof. V K Samaranayake,
Director, UCSC, welcomed the invitees and made a presentation introducing
the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) and the Advanced
Digital Media Technology Centre (ADMTC). The University of Colombo School
of Computing (UCSC) was established on 1st September 2002, as a Centre of
Higher Learning of the University of Colombo by the merger of the
Institute of Computer Technology (ICT) and the Dept. of Computer Science
(DCS). | ||||||
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The inaugural screening of the
video entitled the "Lotus and the Cherry Blossom" which was produced to
mark 50 years of Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and Japan, was
shown thereafter. This was a joint production of the Sri Lanka Institute
of International Relations (SLIIR) and UCSC with the assistance of JICA.
Commenting on this video presentation, the Ambassador, His Excellency
Seiichiro Otsuka said that it was an excellent production highlighting
many important facts in relation to co-operation between the two countries
dating back well beyond 50 years of Diplomatic Relations that is now being
celebrated. He was quite impressed with the breadth and balance of the
contents. | ||||||
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Following the screening of the
video, Mr Kohei Kamigane, Chief Advisor to the ADMTC described the Project
briefly. Prof. Tilak Hettiarachchy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Colombo, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for
providing these excellent facilities to the UCSC. | ||||||
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This was followed by the speech of Deshamanya Dr P R Anthonis, Chancellor, UOC, who traced back the history of Japanese assistance to the University of Colombo dating back almost 20 years, when he convinced the then Ambassador, His Excellency the late Othaka, to assist in the very first Japanese Government funded Technical Co-operation Programme in IT. It was this Project that resulted in the establishment of the Institute of Computer Technology (ICT). Dr Anthonis also indicated that the three factors that led to the success of this co-operation were the enthusiasm and encouragement of the successive Vice-Chancellors; the unstinted support of successive governments of Sri Lanka and the dedication and hard work of the staff of the UCSC, led by its Director. | ||||||
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Mr Toshio Sugihara, Resident
Representative of JICA, congratulated the UCSC on the establishment of the
Advanced Digital Media Technology Centre (ADMTC) and said that JICA was
very happy to be associated with the very successful technical
co-operation that the UCSC has been involved in. | ||||||
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Mrs R S Athukorale, Secretary
to the Ministry assisting Foreign Affairs, read a message from Hon.
Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was unable to attend
this event. In his message, the Hon. Minister thanked the Government of
Japan for the generous provision of technical co-operation in this very
vital field of Information Technology, particularly during the period
where the two countries were celebrating 50 years of Diplomatic
Relations. | ||||||
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Minister, Hon. Kabir Hasheem,
addressing the gathering stated that the education system in Sri Lanka
needs drastic reforms so as to meet the challenges of the 21st Century and
thanked the Government of Japan for the assistance provided in this
respect. He stated that the Japanese Government was providing his Ministry
with consultancy to recommend changes to the tertiary education system. He
too thanked the Government of Japan for the excellent facilities provided
to the University of Colombo in the very important area of training of
trainers. The Minister also indicated that according to Darwin ' Those who
survive are not the fittest nor the most intelligent but those who can
adapt to change" thus emphasising today's need to adapt to change as very
well illustrated by this Project. | ||||||
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Making the final address to the
gathering, His Excellency, Seiichiro Otsuka, Ambassador for Japan in Sri
Lanka, stated that the UCSC is the only Training Institute in Sri Lanka
that receives high level assistance in the field of Information Technology
from Japan and that the Government of Japan has been very pleased with the
progress made by the UCSC since the inception of the Institute of Computer
Technology (ICT) in 1987. He indicated that this Project very
appropriately, marks 50 years of Diplomatic Relations between the two
countries and signifies the spirit of co-operation with which the two
countries have continued very friendly relations. He also congratulated
the staff of the UCSC for their dedicated work, in setting up the Advanced
Digital Media Technology Centre (ADMTC) and wished the Project all
success. | ||||||
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The Overall goal of the project
is to improve both the quality and quantity of IT related human resources
in Sri Lankan Industries and the project purpose is to ensure that the
UCSC increases its capacity in conducting IT training for IT staff in
universities, IT training institutes and industries so as to match the
needs of Sri Lankan Industries in a more effective and efficient
manner. | ||||||
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The Outputs identified are:
Organization/functions of ICT are strengthened, Counterpart personal
acquire necessary IT skills and technologies for the implementation of
WBT, UCSC provides IT training courses that meet the needs universities,
IT training institutes and industries and R&D capabilities relating to
WBT are strengthened in UCSC. | ||||||
The activities planned are:
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