MIT and Microsoft to support data collection on damages caused by Cyclone Ditwah
Daily FT: Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has stated that the Department of National Planning has launched a programme to collect information and data on businesses and properties damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Finance Ministry Secretary further noted that this information will be compiled in coordination with Divisional Secretariats and other relevant institutions.
Dr. Suriyapperuma added that teams will visit the affected locations to gather the data more accurately and that plans are in place to expedite the process through digital reporting. He stated that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed the required information system free of charge, while Microsoft has provided the necessary technical support.
He further stated that numerous countries have extended both financial and material assistance for the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund and that additional support continues to be received.
According to information provided by the Department of External Resources, countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the Maldives, the US, Nepal, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland, and Korea, as well as institutions including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank, have expressed their willingness to provide financial assistance.
He added that, immediately following the disaster, countries including India and Pakistan provided material aid, while several others including the Maldives, Australia, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Qatar have also supplied essential relief items.
OSL take:
There are many business/investment opportunities that are emerging in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. One of the key business opportunities is the development of ICT and related digital requirements. The country’s digital industry and related sectors that are continuing their steady growth path have expanded to cover the area of disaster mitigation and data collection as well. The Sri Lankan government that had already launched an aggressive digitization programme covering all key sectors in the country, is also focused on focusing more on digital solutions in post-disaster rebuilding as well as in preparing for similar disasters in the future. The Sri Lankan government’s need to further expand the country’s digital industry and related sectors is evident by the assistance being sought from MIT and Microsoft for data collection. The Sri Lankan President has already directed authorities to further strengthen digital early warning systems, mitigation mechanisms and rebuilding efforts. All these are indicative of emerging business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s digital industry and related sectors. The growth and profits recorded by businesses already engaged in these sectors in Sri Lanka and the interest shown by foreign businesses/investors to explore the growing business/investment opportunities are indicative of the increasing business potential in the country’s digital industry and related sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20251217/Z_2 |