[OSGeo-Announce] Inauguration of two ICA-OSGeo Labs in Sri Lanka: OSGeoSLIIT and OSGeoSL (Moratuwa University)

[Anne Ghisla]

Two ICA-OSGeo Labs have been inaugurated in Sri Lanka and are now
officially an active part of ICA-OSGeo Labs network [0].

On February, 17th, OSGeoSLIIT [1] has been inaugurated, in the
presence of Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Dean, Faculty of Computing; Mr.
Nuwan Kodagoda, Head, Dep. IT, Prof. Yann Chemin and Anne Ghisla as
OSGeo representatives, as well as the lab contact Nimalika Fernando.
The official ceremony was followed by the visit to the lab.
On February, 18th, OSGeoSL in Moratuwa University , Department of Town
and Country Planning, in the presence of Prof PKS Mahanama,Prof Ananda
Jayawardane, Dean of Faculty of Architecture; Prof Ananda Jayawardane,
Vice chancellor; Dr. Jagath Munashinge, Head of Department; Prof. Yann
Chemin, RS/GIS Specialist, IWMI, SL, Anne Ghisla as OSGeo
representative, and the lab contact Aruna Wickramasinghe. The
inauguration was followed by a visit to the lab and an introduction to
OpenStreetMap to a group of students.

Both istitutions have been using open source for geospatial since
several years and are currently offering courses to students as well
as public sector employees, based on the most recent advancements in
FOSS4G software tools.
This event marks the international recognition of the first-class
level of geospatial technologies development in Sri Lanka, and aims to
encourage other institutions to take part to this initiative.

OSGeoSL and OSGeoSLIIT look forward for a productive collaboration
with the whole ICA-OSGeo Labs network, in an international
perspective, as well as the occasion to strengthen the existing
collaboration between them.


About OSGeo and ICA:

Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) [3] is a not-for-profit
organisation founded in 2006 whose mission is to support and promote
the collaborative development of open source geospatial technologies
and data.

International Cartographic Association (ICA) [4] is the world
authoritative body for cartography and Geographic Information Science.


[0] ICA-OSGeo Labs Network homepage: http://www.geoforall.org/
[1] OSGeoSLIIT homepage: http://osgeolab.sliit.lk/
[2] OSGeoSL homepage: http://www.mrt.ac.lk/tcp/osgeosl.html
[3] OSGeo: http://osgeo.org
[4] ICA: http://icaci.org/