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Sri
Lanka’s IT industry needs to establish a single umbrella
body
“Sri
Lankan IT workers are considered to be creative and culturally
adaptable – but, perhaps, less disciplined and persevering
than their Indian counterparts,” Sujiva Dewaraja explains
to LMD.
In the August issue of LMD, published by Media Services, the
Executive Vice-President and Head of IT at John Keells Holdings,
Sujiva Dewaraja, examines Sri Lanka’s potential for becoming
an IT hub.
Regretfully, he claims: “In terms of numbers and infrastructure,
Sri Lanka cannot compete with other countries that have established
themselves in the field and are global players.” But
on a more positive note, however, he adds that “Sri Lanka
does have the potential to become a significant niche player”.
As for the challenges faced by the sector, Dewaraja says:
“Sri Lanka’s biggest constraint is the relatively
small size of its IT workforce.” He notes, interestingly
enough, that this is the case even while the island-nation
continues to sit at the doorstep of one of the two countries
which are set to drive the world’s economic engine. In
this context, he points out: “Our focus should be to
attract high-end Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) businesses,
where the impact of these negatives is neutralised.”
But this senior IT professional cautions that “a precondition
to all this is a reversal of the negative image associated
with growing political violence and increasing human-rights
violations”.
“What policy changes would you map out for a dynamic
IT industry?” LMD’s Contributing Editor, Yamini
Sequeira, asks. “A single industry association, high-yield
offerings and one domain focus,” Dewaraja declares, without
hesitation. Furthermore, he adds: “At the political level,
peace and stability are high on the wish-list.” He also
goes on to mention policy changes which will produce a larger
number of better-skilled IT graduates and reduce the cost
of doing business in ICT. Inter alia, he underlines that the
need to adopt business strategies which capitalise on strengths
and downplay weaknesses is essential.
In conclusion, Dewaraja observes: “Sri Lankan ICT businesses
are struggling to retain the small number of skilled professionals
that we are producing.” And he emphasises that an integral
part of our country strategy should be vis-à-vis making
a targeted effort – and shaping related policies aimed
at – converting the ‘brain drain’ into a ‘brain
gain’.
Media Services – the publisher of LIVING, THE LMD 50
and MOST RESPECTED – is responsible for LMD. This widely
read business journal presents the weekly biz programme for
TV audiences, BENCHMARK. LMD’s August issue is now available
at leading supermarkets and bookshops.
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