The e fusion team pioneered the creation of Sri Lankan Internet communities through Kaputa.com using local languages. Recognising the need for Sinhala educational content, the team initiated a project to build a large digital knowledge base, including more than 20,000 photographs, 20 video tours and extensive educational content.

At the same time, research into educational technologies and teaching methodologies continued as a voluntary effort alongside content development.

ICTA e-SDI Participation (2004–2006)

e fusion founder Niranjan Meegammana was invited to participate in the ICTA e-Society Focus Group, providing an opportunity to contribute ideas towards building an information-empowered society. e fusion also contributed to discussions on the content needs of rural communities.

e-SDI Partnership Assistance Programme (2005)

Under the e-Sri Lanka Initiative, a World Bank-funded programme supported ICT-based community development projects through the ICTA e-SDI Programme. Following a transparent selection process, ICTA invited partnership proposals. The Partnership Assistance Programme (PAP) provided grants of up to Rs. 5 million, encouraging innovative projects with strong replication potential.

Expression of Interest (2005)

During discussions with the Ministry of Education’s SEMP Project and through studies of the Nenasala model, e fusion designed an innovative project aimed at improving rural education while increasing the utilisation of Nenasala telecentres and school resources.

The initial proposal included the creation of local indigenous knowledge resources in Art, Dance and Sinhala Music, together with Sinhala and Social Studies content. The proposal was selected for the competitive project submission process and was designed as a pilot implementation across twenty locations in the Matara, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

Shilpa Sayura Project Formulation (September 2005)

During project formulation, the proposal was redesigned to better align with the objectives of the e-SDI Programme. Greater emphasis was placed on strengthening Nenasala telecentres, promoting self-learning and enabling nationwide replication.

The project architecture included a Local Language Content Management System, a content development methodology and a content distribution model. A teachers’ group was established in Kandy to contribute educational content, while several schools expressed interest in participating in the project.

Grant Award (February 2006)

The ICTA e-SDI Grant Board selected Shilpa Sayura as the first project to receive funding. Following recommendations from the Grant Board, Mathematics and Science were added, increasing the curriculum to eight subjects. The grant was awarded by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at an ICTA ceremony and received strong support from the ICT community, with many volunteers joining the initiative.

Implementation

Project implementation commenced immediately after the grant award. Throughout implementation, the project evolved continuously, learning from practical experience and adapting to better meet the educational needs of rural communities.

Niranjan Meegammana
29 August 2006