Technology and Cultural Festival in Kandiyapitawewa, Monragala to mark the completion of the ‘Shilpa Sayura’ pilot projectVenue; Kandiyapitawewa, Monargala Date; 9th to 15 June 2007 A digital self learning programme for students in rural Sri Lanka was a pioneering effort named ‘Shilpa Sayura’ or ‘sea of knowledge’. It was initiated and developed by E fusion (www.sinharaja.com) in February 2006 and was funded by the ICTA e-Society Programme (www.icta.lk). We believe ‘Shilpa Sayura’ could contribute to addressing the issue of the shortage of school teachers, especially in distant rural area one which continues to be a setback to the county’s educational system.

The ‘Shilpa Sayura’ e-learning package covers eight school subjects, in Sinhala from grade six to O level. Shilpa Sayura’s simple interactive means of self study caters to students in remote communities with no access to urban educational resources. Still in its pilot stage Shilpa Sayura now operates in 20 ‘Nenasalas’ or tele-centers located in distant villages and promotes the concept of self learning among students in these secluded communities.The ‘Shilpa Sayura’ pilot project has been a success story and is showcased in the Kandiyapitawewa village community, the programme now it needs to expand via the 380 Nansalas or rural tele-centers located island wide. The next phase would be the transformation of Shilpa Sayura into a National project to strengthen rural education and bridge the gap between rural and urban students.

A Technology and Cultural Festival is scheduled to be held from 9th to 15th June to commemorate the success of Shilpa Sayura E learning programme in the rural ICT community of Kandiyapitawewa in Monaragala. This seven day event will bring together ICT and Education Experts, Donor Agencies, Nenasala Operators, Students, Teachers and Media Personal.

Shilpa Sayura believes this event would usher in a new era and empower our rural communities through the use of ICT and would hopefully capture the attention of aid and funding agencies. We cordially invite all stakeholders to come and observe and experience this unique community ICT event. A festival of live folk music, art and dances and ancient folk drama "Sokari" has been put together for the benefit of all visitors and will be staged on the evening 15th June at Kandiyapitawewa, Visitors can acquire and share community ICT knowledge as well as enjoy sessions.

For further more information please contact the event manager and Shilpa Sayura Project Lead Niranjan Meegammana. info at shilpasayura.org www.sinharaja.com More about the event and the venue Kandiyapitawewa The focal point for this two day event is the Kandiyapitawewa village community. The venue selected for this event is the furthest Nenasala Village where the Shilpa Sayura Project was implemented successfully. Kandiyapitawewa is a beautiful village, on the Bintenne plain of Monaragala District. Visitors can reach Kandiyapitawewa after a 2 hour drive from Balangoda, Embilipitiya, Wellawaya or Thanamalwila. Kandiyapitawewa also is a great eco location by Udawalawe National Park.

Many Experts and Scholars from ICTA, University of Colombo, Sinhala Unicode Group, Agriculture Department, ICT Teachers and community ICT would be visiting Kandiyapitawewa during the Festival to share their knowledge with the Village Community, Students and Teachers. It would also be learning opportunity for the ICT Experts and Policy Makers. Special sessions and forums have been planed to build community ICT awareness, ICT for Youth, ICT for Women, ICT for Farmers, Community Technology, for Government Information also ICT in the school curriculum and ICT for Employment. A meeting of Sinhala Unicode Group will discuss future activities in community software development and localization issues.

The sessions will be in the local language to ensure a two way communication between ICT experts and the village people. The program would be broadcast via www.shilpasayura.org.It is not always that an IT event of this nature is held in a remote village with modest resources. It is special because it focuses on community development through ICT to empower the village. It's also not very common for ICT experts from different themes to travel voluntarily to a remote location to share their knowledge with a village community. It is our belief that Shilpa Sayura has become a success story not only as good software with digital educational content, but it has also begun building an ICT community network bridging rural communities ICT experts through participative development to empower the village using ICT.