Gamata Technology, an accelerator platform initiated by youth-tech entrepreneurs covering every corner of Sri Lanka was launched at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre recently.
Young entrepreneurs, officials of leading tech companies, renowned personalities and officials covering 19 districts were attended the event.
 Dr. Ashan Perera addressing the gathering
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One of the highlights of the day was the panel discussion which promoted Dialogue on Digital Sri Lanka with the participation of experts in the industry.
The experienced panellists included , Founder and the Chief Trustee, Foundation of Goodness, Kushil Gunasekara, Achala Samaradiwakara, co-founder Good Market, Achala Samaradiwakara, Co-founder of PickMe and Yoho Bed, Fathi Mohamed, Consultant, Strategic Management of Sarvodaya Fusion, Isura Silva, and UN SDG Action Award Winner 2018, Youth Advocate, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of The Road to Rights Youth-Led Organisation, Dr. Ashan Perera. The panel was moderated by Co-founder and CEO of Paramount, Dr. Nirmal de Silva
Dr. Ashan Perera said, “While we were conducting the initial research, I met many young Sri Lankans who had wonderful innovative ideas; websites to promote tourism, integrate and notify people and business places, platforms to reach the international audience of historical monuments while being at their own hometowns.
“But these innovators lack the technology and the knowledge to execute these ideas. If we can take the right technology and right technological resources to the rural areas, we can build our country with these ideas to great heights,” he said.
The event was also used as an arena to introduce several innovative mobile applications to strengthen the technological revolution in rural areas introduced and innovated by I.C.A.N Advertising.
Achala Samaradiwakara, co-founder Good Market said that it is all about using the current issues of the system, and changing the system using technology. It’s not always about doing something new, but doing it differently adapting to the context and customers. Co-Founder of PickMe Fathhi Mohamed said, Environment and other social crises are discussed at every platforms today, and the panellists provided examples on how we can prepare ourselves as a country to face such adversities in the future through social entrepreneurship, by solving the issues in the rural areas, by the youth entrepreneurs, using technology.
Consultant, Strategic Management of Sarvodaya Fusion, Isura Silva outlined how norms and attitudes of education in Sri Lanka needs to change.