I would like to reflect for a moment on what has transpired since a message
was first posted to the GKD on April 23 about the Kothmale Radio Browsing
initiative. The issue has stimulated responses from a good number of people
in various parts of the world. Several of these people have themselves been
from Sri Lanka. At least two of these Sri Lankans who still have
connections with their home country will be travelling to Kothmale shortly
and be lending whatever assistance they can, taking advantage of their
knowledge of local conditions, customs and legal aspects. The original GKD
discussion has now moved on to an independent direct discussion among the
most interested parties. Issues such as regulatory and legal aspects that
make it difficult for the Kothmale initiative to become sustainable have
been identified. In other words, these issues are being given an airing
that appears to be homing in on the root problems. And this is being
spearheaded in large measure by Sri Lankans from abroad as well as at home.
I would like to encourage Sri Lankans and the Sri Lankan Government to
devise a made-in-Sri Lanka solution for the problems that are inhibiting
the Kothmale Radio Browsing initiative from achieving sustainability. The
attention of community oriented development practitioners worldwide has
been drawn to your efforts. A successful outcome would serve as a very
poignant and useful example for the rest of the world where sustainability
has eluded a large number of community based ICT initiatives.
As a final note I would like to highlight the important role that the GKD
and the Internet have played in so quickly bringing this issue to the fore
and in stimulating such an active and optimistic discussion around it. Many
are hopefully awaiting a successful outcome to the search for
sustainability for the Kothmale Radio Browsing initiative as an example for
possible emulation by other community-based ICT initiatives..
Gerard Kenney
CIDA
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