Progress Report May 2003

ITTPO is an independent, non-profit, and a federal tax exempt (501 (c) (3)) organization in the USA and an approved NGO in Sri Lanka.

Progress Report – May 2003

Highlights

· ITTPO has been approved as an NGO in Sri Lanka

· Shipment from ITTPO has reached Vanni

· VanniTech facility remodeling is nearly complete

· Vijay Ratnam and Vimal Rajagopal are in Vanni to help Jey

· Major items for VanniTech have been purchased

· VanniTech has received much publicity in Newspapers in Sri Lanka

· Advertisements have been placed and applications are being received

· Some Employees have been hired

Report

· ITTPO has been approved as an NGO in Sri Lanka

Ø ITTPO has been granted Voluntary Social Services/Non Governmental Organization status by the Ministry of Social Services of the government of Sri Lanka on April 23, 2003.

Ø ITTPO would like to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and contributions of many well-wishers who have helped to expedite the approval process.

· Shipment from ITTPO has reached Vanni

Ø In March 2003, ITTPO collected and shipped to Sri Lanka a container full of equipment, books, and other items for VanniTech.

Ø The shipment reached Sri Lanka in the middle of April.

Ø All the items were cleared and transported to Vanni.

… from California to Vanni…

· VanniTech facility remodeling is mostly complete

Ø The VanniTech facility is located within the premises of Kamathenu Lodge in Kilinochchi.

Ø This facility has 3 buildings which accommodate class rooms, labs, and a student dormitory.

· Vijay Ratnam and Vimal Rajagopal are in Vanni to help Jey

Ø Vijay Ratnam a volunteer from Sacramento and Vimal Rajagopal, a director of ITTPO, are in Kilinochchi to help Jey.

Ø Both of them are IT professionals and are giving valuable assistance to Jey.

Ø Vimal went there in April and will return after 6 weeks of stay.

Ø Vijay will be there for three months.

· Major items for VanniTech have been purchased

Ø In Colombo, purchasing of computer equipment, generators, air conditioners, and furniture are completed and they have been transported to Kilinochchi.

Ø Generator has been installed and commissioned.

Ø Air conditioners have been installed.

… from California to Vanni…

· VanniTech has received much publicity in Newspapers in Sri Lanka

Ø Thinakural, a Tamil daily from Colombo, has published an in depth interview with Jey on its Sunday edition on April 20, 2003.

Ø Veerakesari also published a small news item about ITTPO.

· Advertisements have been placed and applications are being received

Ø Advertisements were placed in Uthayan, Thinakural, and Eelanaatham seeking students and employees for VanniTech.

Ø More than 100 applications for admission and about 20 for employment were received within a week. More are expected.

· Some Employees have been hired

Ø Three employees have been offered employment and two have started to work.

Ø One of the employees will be assuming the position of Registrar and administrator of VanniTech. He was working in the registrar's office at University of Jaffna, covering the duties of assistant registrar.

Ø Other two employees are, one is a system administrator and the second person is an instructor who is capable of teaching computer basic, programming as well as electronics classes.

· Finally, things have started moving very fast. The classes in VanniTech are expected to start before July 1, 2003.