MARCH 23, 2000

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF LACNET

VOL. 1, NO. 1

Nivaththaka Chethiya MV Photo Gallery

Visit our photo gallery to learn more about the LAcNet's "Computers for Schools Project". If you would like to help fund projects like these, here is how.

CompS Project

Learn more about LAcNet's Computers for Schools Project (CompS) here.

New Linux Server

LacNet has recently acquired a Gateway server class computer to function as its web server. Loaded with RAM, this computer carries a SCSI-based disk interface enabling it to supply LAcNet visitors with fast updates of news and multimedia files. LAcNet volunteers are currently in the process of bringing up this computer, nilwala.lacnet.org, on the internet. It will be a sister server to LAcNet's existing server, walawe.lacnet.org.

Now Hiring

LAcNet is now in the midst of recruiting new volunteers. If you are interested, write to LAcNet.

LAcNet Opens Computer Center in Anuradhapura

From LAcNet special correspondent in Anuradhapura. In a simple ceremony on Monday January 31, 2000 , LAcNet's Computer Center for Nivaththaka Chethiya Maha Vidayalaya in Anuradhapura, (in the North Central province in Sri Lanka) was inaugurated amidst the cheers of a 4000 plus student population and an equally excited teaching faculty.

The LAcNet Project has been successful in incorporating the Nivanthaka Chethiya school to the I*EARN - the International Education Resource Network's (www.iearn.org) pilot The Lanka Academic project along with Royal College and Isipathana College. I*EARN is currently conducted a four day workshop to train 6 teachers at the Nivanthaka Chethiya School to use their new computers for collaborative international projects. Nivanthaka Chethiya School will participate in the "Community Voices Collaborative Solutions (CIVICS)" project that I*EARN in the United States is piloting in collaboration with the United States Department of State/Bureau of Cultural and The Lanka Academic Educational Affairs (formerly USIA) and the American Centers in Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. By creating a new on-line project I*EARN CIVICS, I*EARN seeks to leverage its global resources to provide on-line civic education and ESL/EFL teaching tools to educators from participating countries.

The unique feature of this pilot project is the number of organisations and people that have collaborated with LAcNet to set up this Computer Center. The Center has five computers with CD-ROM and Internet facility. Two of these computers and a printer were donated by the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy, Colombo, two by IBM corporation, Colombo and the networker server machine by LAcNet. Mr. Abeywardena, CEO of Electroteks Ltd , generously provided free Internet connection and an air conditioner for the room. A local businessman Mr. Gnasena Goonapinuwela has worked tirelessly coordinating all activities in Anuradhapura.

The Principal Mr. Rathnamalala, thanking LAcnet for the opportunity it has provided for the school children to gain computer and Internet skills stated that this computer centre was the first to be established in the North Central Province in Sri Lanka. LAcNet's intention is to build horizontal partnerships with Sri Lankan public and private sector organizations as well as with international educational organizations to set up an island wide network of many such computer centres,.