Free WiFi Programme Unsuccessful, Harin Fernando Concedes

Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando conceded that the free WiFi programme initiated by the 'Good Governance' government has failed.

Answering a question by a journalist at a press conference yesterday, he said that the failure was due to a technical issue in the company assigned to carry out the project.

The Minister asked for more time to relaunch the project.

Under the 100 Days Programme, the then Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena had promised to provide free WiFi to Sri Lankans at selected public places. The project was launched at Fort Railway Station on March 30, 2015.

The locations where Free Wifi were to be available are: Fort Railway Station, Pettah Public and Private Bus Stands, the Temple of the Tooth Kandy, Floating Market in Pettah, Colombo Law College, Colombo Public Library, Dehiwala Zoo, Colombo Racecourse, Colombo Police Head Quarters, Galle Railway Station, Jaffna Railway Station, Fort Dutch Hospital, Galle Face Colombo, Battaramulla Foreign Employment Bureau, Colombo Museum, Karapitiya Hospital, Ratnapura Museum, Polonnaruwa Base Hospital, Matara Bus Stand, Polonnaruwa Railway Station, Matara Railway Station, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, Jaffna Public Library, Kandy Railway Station and Peradeniya Railway Station.