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Architectural,
engineering, construction, irrigation, port and healthcare services
that utilized indigenous and appropriate technologies within a supportive
socio-political structure have brought fame to this island nation.
Some of the techniques used successfully by early Sri Lankan service
industrialists are not fully understood even today. This country produced
the first recorded sky scraper (The Brazen Palace) as well as several
of the largest brick structures in the world. The fame of Sri Lankan
construction engineers spread even to other countries and the demand
was such that they were engaged in constructing a lake for the King
of Kashmir in the 8th century.
Today Sri Lanka has a large number of higher educational institutions
including universities, technical colleges and vocational training
institutes, through which over 5,000 graduates and technicians obtain
degrees and diplomas in such fields as engineering, architecture and
surveying.
Professional training is normally provided through employment, principally
in government institutions, for example, the Irrigation Department,
Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, State Engineering Corporation,
Survey Department. Fields such as architecture and computer software,
have a strong supply base within established companies.
Sri Lankan experts have worked with international specialists on large
construction projects such as the Bowatenna Hydro-Power Project, funded
by the Asian Development Bank and Maskeliya Oya Hydro-Power Project.
Availability of cost effective technology, expertise, skilled manpower
and construction material makes Sri Lanka competitive in the global
market for services.
Services available from Sri Lanka include the following.
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| Professional
services such as: |
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Accounting, auditing and book keeping
services |
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Architectural services |
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Engineering services |
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Healthcare and Para-medical services |
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Computer-based services |
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| Business services
such as: |
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Management consulting, placement
and supply services of personnel |
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Services incidental to manufacturing
and packaging |
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Printing and publishing |
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Construction and engineering-related
services including surveying |
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Power generation and distribution,
particularly solar electricity |
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Tourism and travel-related services |
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Port construction and development |
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Maritime transport services including
maintenance and repairs of vessels, craft as well as pushing
and towing |
The Sri Lankan software industry is blessed with a highly literate,
easily trainable and intelligent workforce. Almost all the tertiary
educational institutes in the island offer up-to-date curricula in
computer science.
The latest cellular phone services, data communication services, radio
paging and internet services are available in Sri Lanka.
The government has recognised the significance of the IT industry
in the export sector and therefore selected computer-based services
for priority promotion. |
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With the world's
leading computer equipment manufacturers well represented in Sri Lanka
and the latest computer technology available, the Sri Lankan software
industry offers a wide range of services including:
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Consultancy |
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System integration |
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Software systems design (for business,
communication, development tools, utilities) |
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Programming |
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Software maintenance and support,
services including remote support |
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Conversions |
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Body shopping (of programmers, systems
analysts/engineers, for micro, mini and main frame computers) |
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Software documentation (i.e., operations/user
manual preparation) |
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Data entry services |
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Training |
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The Sri Lankan software industry has accumulated experience in software
engineering across all popular platforms including DOS, Windows, Unix,
OS/400 and VMS.
Technical expertise in languages includes 4GL/RDBMS and other popular
languages and tools such as C++, J++, Visual Basic and Delphi.
Sri Lankan software development companies offer a wide range of software
applications and services, including the following:
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Internet and intranet products including
security |
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Instrumentation |
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Real time data acquisition and process
control |
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Intelligent building management |
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Construction project management |
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Office automation |
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Message management |
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Stock trading |
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Automated cheque clearing and banking |
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International credit cards |
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Time and attendance systems |
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Cellular telephone billing |
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School and examination management |
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Hotel management |
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Clinical information and patient
management systems |
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Sri Lanka software developers use Object-Oriented-Technology for Client-Server
type of developments and prefer high value software products of a
specialised nature.
The major markets serviced by Sri Lankan computer companies are USA,
UK, Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany, the Philippines, UAE, Australia
and the Maldives.
At least a third of Sri Lankan software companies demonstrate experience
in marketing products and services internationally. Almost all of
these exporters belong to the Sri Lanka Association for the Software
Industry (SLASI). The registered office of the SLASI is located at
No. 9, Clifford Avenue, Colombo 3 (Telephone: 94-011- 2573326 and
Fax: 94-011-2574799).
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