The Lanka Academic NetworkThe Lanka Academic Network

ABOUT LACNET

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If you like what you see, please help us: Everything in this web site is made possible by LAcNet volunteers and donations from visitors like you.

welcome

Lanka Academic Network was founded in June 1991. It evolved from Sri Lanka Network (SLNet), an electronic gathering of people from and/or interested in Sri Lanka.SLNet distributes news and information about Sri Lanka, to its list of members, via e-mail. LAcNet is a non profit organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the US and has Tax Exempt Status in the US.

The following is an excerpt from the Articles and Activities of LAcNet:

  1. Develop worldwide electronic networks within and outside Sri Lanka.
  2. Disseminate information on, and of interest to, Sri Lanka.
  3. Enhance educational facilities and opportunities within and outside Sri Lanka.

LAcNet is governed by the current By Laws and Amendments (1 and 2)

Board Of Directors of Lanka Academic Network: May 2006 - Present

Information about past boards of directors is also available.

A brief history

LAcNet funded and operated the telephone/modem electronic mail relay for the Lanka Experimental and Academic Research Network (LEARN) from 1990 to 1995. Our funding to run this relay was primarily based on generous donations from the readership of SLNet. In November 1995, LEARN obtained direct Internet access through Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

At that time, SLT was operating a 64Kbps line from its hub in Colombo, to the University of Moratuwa. Maintaining this line and the connection cost is underwritten by the University Grants Commission(UGC) and the Computer and Information Technology Council of Sri Lanka (CINTEC). We at LAcNet are very pleased and proud that our collaboration and support of LEARN ( now renamed Lanka Educational and Research Network) has been a success, and welcomed the academic community in Sri Lanka onto the Global village !

LAcNet motivated Wijeya Newspapers and InfoLabs Ltd of Sri Lanka to post a weekly online edition of the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka. Launched on 3rd March 1996, the site grew very rapidly and reached a weekly readership of about 8000 (>200K hits per week). The production costs of the first year was supported by LAcNet, which continued to host it for several more years.

Through the generous support of SLNet members worldwide, we were able to purchase a new computer. The machine was purchased in August 1994, and was initally hosted by Dr. Thilaka S. Sumanaweera at Stanford University. From August 1998 until March 2000, the server was hosted at the University of Maryland by Mr. Prasad Dharmasena. In March 2000, LAcNet acquired new server-class computer as its main server and hosted at MIT by Mr. Bodhi Priyantha. Since January, 2001, the server was hosted at University of Western Ontario, Canada by Dr. Jagath Samarabandu. In 2002, the web server was hosted by a commercial ISP to continue our services

Keeping with changes in technologies, Lanka Academic Network started The Lanka Academic (TLA) on-line newspaper to provide Sri Lanka related news on a 24 hour basis in 2000. TLA continues to cover the cost of the web hosting

Founding Directors

Dr. Gihan Dias, Mr. Priyantha Samaratunga, Dr. Prabhat Samaratunga, Dr. K. Sribalaskandaraja, and Mr. Feroz Ghouse.

Past Directors

Dr. Nimal Gamage, Dr. Saman Amarasinghe, Dr. Vicumpriya Perera, Dr. Louiqa Raschid, Dr. Lalith Gamage, Mr. Mano Pallewatte, Dr. Nimal Ratnayake, Dr. Anura Samantilleke, Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, Dr. Athula Herath, Dr. Jagath Samarabandu, Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga, Dr. Nishantha Illangasekare, Dr. Daya Atapattu, Prabhath Dehigaspitiyage, Mr. Visvanath Ratnaweera, Ms. Chulie de Silva, Dr. Dilinika Peiris, Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara, and Dayananda Weerakkody