Knowledge Work

July 24, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's software industry said a survey of export earnings indicates it had grown rapidly in a short period and had high levels of revenue per employee and return on capital employed. "The industry is based on knowledge workers and creates high paying jobs for educated youth. IT/BPO industry is based on electronic exports and doesn’t depend on physical logistics services such as shipping."

The industry also has near zero negative impact on the environment, the statement said. The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies said the IT/BPO (information technology/business process outsourcing) industry has significant potential to drive regional development as it moves to regional centres.

It said in a statement the industry in Sri Lanka has grown to become the fifth largest export earner, according to a survey for the Export Development Board done by the PricewaterhouseCoopers, the first on the sector.

Total export revenue from IT and Information Technology Enabled Services had grown 23 percent to 213 million dollars in 2007 compared with the previous year.

"The industry achieved this feat within a very short period of less than 10 years of exports," Ra