Free Wi-Fi Service Launched With Hopes For Efficient mGovernment

Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harsha de Silva expressed hope that providing free Wi-Fi will provide for more efficient mGovernment in time to come.

“Free WiFi launched as another 100 day promise at 26 public areas across the country. I am at the launch at Colombo Fort Railway Station” Dr. de Silva said on his Facebook page on Monday (30) morning at the launch of free Wi-Fi across 26 locations around the country.

Sri Lanka's citizens will now be able to enjoy free public Wi-Fi in 26 locations across 8 districts. The Information Communication and Technology Agency said earlier that plans were underway to expand the service to 1000 public spaces across all 25 districts in the island.

De Silva also pointed out that ICTA and eSriLanka were launched in 2003 during the previous UNP government. “Nena Sela is only a name change to the original model named Vishva Gnana Kendra!” he added.

The locations where Free Wifi is 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.

Mobile Government or mGovernment refers to collection of services as the strategic use of government services and applications which are only possible using cellular/mobile telephones, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and wireless internet infrastructure.