Use of ICT for sustainability: Case of a new middle-income country after a long period of an armed conflict

Abstract

Sri Lanka with a per capita GDP of approximately US$ 5600 is now considered as a country with a middle-income economy. Recently it has emerged from a country with a long period of secessionist armed conflict to a country in peace which is aiming at rapid economic development. While implementing new development plans, Sri Lanka is paying much attention to the conservation of environment and wise use of its natural resources, which is an integral part of sustainable development.

At present environmental considerations are taken into account in all spheres of economic development in Sri Lanka. According to the Constitution of the country, the State is required to protect, preserve and improve the environment for the benefit of the community. Further, the Constitution requires every person in Sri Lanka to protect nature and its riches.

Sri Lanka has enacted many regulations to conserve and protect the environment. Through the provision of several Parliamentary Acts and Ordinances environmental authorities have been established at the National and sub-national levels. The National Environmental Action Plan which was developed in 1998 has given high prominence for pursuing sustainable development.

Although Sustainability Science is not taught as a separate subject in schools and universities, the need for sustainability is highlighted in many disciplines including Biology and Geography. The subject of environment, which is highly important to pursue sustainability, is also included in the curriculum of secondary level schools. In the Colleges of Education where newly recruited secondary school teachers are trained, topics such as atmospheric sciences, water resources, biodiversity, climate change and global warming are covered. In some Universities, environmental science is offered as a separate subject. Undergraduate degree programmes on environmental conservation and management are also offered by some Universities. Postgraduate programmes on biodiversity conservation and environmental management are also conducted in several universities. ICT is widely used in the teaching and learning process at the tertiary education level.

In addition to formal sector education, non formal education on environment is also offered by several government institutions, nongovernmental organizations and professional associations to various groups of the community. The target groups include politicians, police officers, members of the general public and school children. In most of these awareness programmes, ICT is used.

With the new peace environment, there is high potential to use ICT for pursuing sustainability. A special agency functioning under the President of the country namely, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) has already been established. The policy and procedures for using ICT in the government sector have already been developed and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka. A Circular requesting all government institutions to comply with the ICT policy has already been circulated by the Presidential Secretariat. The non-governmental sector is also using the ICT for their activities to a great extent.

In this paper, the activities carried out in Sri Lanka towards pursuing sustainability are discussed in detail. Emphasis is also made to the potential use of ICT in this regard.