VanniTech was registered as an NGO in Kilinochchi and a functioning board was formed on March 6th, 2004.

ITTPO established International Advisory Council for VanniTech whose primary purpose is to make VanniTech self-sustainable and take it to the next level of the Master Plan.

ITTPO has established “VanniTech Donor Community 2005” to recognize donors.

VanniTech president attended Tamil Internet Conference in Singapore in December of 2004. One of the ITTPO directors has graciously sponsored the whole expense related to the trip.

History was made on August 8th, 2004 as VanniTech’s first batch graduated. 52 graduates with 30 females from several districts in Northeast of Sri Lanka received their certificates at the convocation.

Professor S. Mohanadas, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, was the chief guest for the ceremony.

Mr. S.P. Thamilsevan, Vanni Political Head, graced the occasion as a special guest.

First Quarter courses are common for all 4 programs of study concentrating on English, Computer Basics and Introduction to Technology.

VanniTech offered 9 need-based scholarships and 6 merit scholarships to students in the second batch. These scholarships were named by the generous donors.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka has agreed to offer equipment needed for Internet connection to VanniTech.

The popular Sri Lanka business conglomerate Maharajah Organization Ltd has offered to pay for the Internet connection for VanniTech for one year.

VanniTech’s first batch of students successfully completed their program in February 2004. In the final quarter, students worked very hard on their Field Deployable Projects (FDP) and collaborated with local organizations to identify and solve real life problems.

Second batch started their program of studies in May 2004 and is due to complete in May 2005.

VanniTech again offered the same 4 programs of study, but expanded the duration to 1 year (4 quarters) as a gradual progression to eventually attaining full-fledged 4-year degree Program.

Out of 170 applicants, 57 of them including 30 females from several districts of Northeast Sri Lanka were admitted into the program.

As increasing the computer awareness of the people is one of the goals of ITTPO, VanniTech students and faculty conducted a “Computer Awareness Program” throughout Northeast Sri Lanka during the Second quarter break in October 2004.

The faculty and students traveled to Eastern Sri Lanka in a “Mobile Technology Unit” and conducted several small awareness programs.

About 4000 school students and public benefited from this 2-week program.

The graduates of VanniTech showcased their technical prowess through VanniVision ’04, in a two-day technical exhibition held on March 6th and 7th in the VanniTech campus. VanniVision ’04 is one of VanniTech’s ongoing efforts to educate the general public about advanced technology.

About 1000 visitors from technology starved local community, NGOs, INGOs, and local schools benefited from this technological extravaganza.

To prepare the students for real life technical challenges and train them for professional life, ITTPO inaugurated TechShack - VanniTech’s Employment Incubation Center.

As an important milestone in the history of TechShack, local UNDP office awarded the Network Installation and Configuration project to TechShack. TechShack completed the contract work ahead of schedule and the customer was extremely satisfied with the service provided. TechShack has created an impressive list of clients including UN’s World Health Organization and World Food Program.

TechShack employs VanniTech students on a part-time basis and the students gain valuable hands-on experience.

TechShack has won many local and international high-tech projects and expands its activities. It has provided technical assistance towards tsunami relief.

TechShack has employed three first batch VanniTech graduates on a full-time basis.

VanniTech’s graduates are in high demand locally and NGOs and local institutions employ most of them.

Ratnam Sooriyakumaran, Chairman of ITTPO, visited VanniTech in early January 2004.

Andy Camp, an employee of Microsoft from USA, volunteered a week in VanniTech teaching Windows Administration and Application Servers.

Sri Arumugam an employee of Microsoft, and Tristan Hromnik from USA, spent 6 weeks at VanniTech. Sri taught C# and Advanced Web Development. Tristan taught English, Technical Writing, and Project Management.

Ruban Navaruparajah, an ITTPO Director of Public Relations, visited VanniTech and spent a very productive week there. He helped the students in Quality Assurance, and GUI aspects of FDP and participated in Demos. He also represented ITTPO in the first VanniTech Board meeting, and VanniVision 04.

Vimal Rajagopal, an ITTPO Director, visited VanniTech in July/August 2004. He represented ITTPO at the convocation ceremony and streamlined TechShack operations with the view of expanding and accommodating more VanniTech graduates as employees.

Ruban Kanapathipillai, Vice-Chairman of ITTPO, visited VanniTech during the first week of the 2nd academic year. He streamlined the 1st quarter courses with the help of the instructors. Also, he explored the possibilities of institutional funding for VanniTech and made representations to World Bank and other international funding agencies in Colombo.

Punitham Selvaratnam from U.K volunteered in the 1^st Quarter teaching English.

Manivillie Kanagasabapathy, a TSVP (Canada) intern, volunteered at VanniTech teaching English.

Jey Surier, CTO of ITTPO, volunteered at VanniTech for a sensational period of 13 months and 13 days as the First President of VanniTech. He was, focused, systematic and untiring in reaching ITTPO’s goal of establishing VanniTech.

BBC world service had a short film and a news report on VanniTech. They interviewed students and staff for the program.

Canadian Tamil Radio (CTR) interviewed VanniTech president at a live show.

Prestigious San Francisco Chronicle interviewed the first President of VanniTech and ran a story in its Business column. The story was republished by several other publications and organizations.

ITTPO presented “VanniTech - A Success Story” at the following events in USA.

·       THO-USA Inauguration, New Jersey, May 2004.

·       TRRO, Lancaster, June 2004.

·       Tamils of Northern California (TNC), San Francisco Bay Area, June 2004.

·       FeTNA Annual Tamilar Thiruvilla, Baltimore, July 2004.

·       TechExpo, Toronto, August 2004.

·       Ilangai Tamil Sangam AGM, New York, November 2004.