Soft Skills

May 28, 2010 (LBO) - An information technology firm has set up a software development centre in Sri Lanka's former war-torn eastern region with support from the United States, its embassy in Colombo said. Kingslake Engineering Systems had set up development centre in Akkaraipatti in the Ampara district with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The centre set up through a subsidiary, Advanced Information Consulting (AIC) will employ graduates from the education system in Sri Lanka's eastern province.

AIC managing director S Dharmvasan says USAID helped reduce the financial risk of setting up shop in a war-torn area. A 30-year war in Sri Lanka's north and east ended in May 2009.

"USAID is partnering with the strong Sri Lankan private sector to ensure both short and long term economic recovery," the lending agency's mission director in Colombo Rebecca Cohn said in a statement.

"IT enterprises are the wave of the future and this partnership is particularly important for the young people in the Eastern Province."

USAID’s economic growth programs in Sri Lanka focus on partnerships which will foster stability, create sustainable jobs, and jump-st