Microsoft had accelerated the development of a Sinhala enabling software program allowing computer users to type, edit, copy, view and print text in Sinhala to make it possible for government agencies and relief organizations working in the disaster struck areas of Sri Lanka to be more efficient in their functions.

Microsoft said that it was pre-releasing this Sinhala "enablement package" under development for the past five months for Microsoft Windows XP and Office 2003 to enable the use of this software during this time of national emergency.

The company last week presented the software to Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Prime Minister as well as to Mr. Dhammika Hewapathirana, Manager of the Centre for National Operations (CNO) at the Presidential Secretariat and Mr. Suresh Bartlett, Director of Operations for the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).

"Microsoft’s contribution is of enormous value to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts which are currently under way in Sri Lanka," said Weeratunga. "We expect this new Sinhala package to propel our efforts to provide assistance and restore the livelihoods of local communities affected by the tsunami."

"Gathering and disseminating accurate information is a critical component in our disaster recovery strategy for the nation," added Hewapathirana. "The availability of a software package in Sinhala will be of great assistance in our efforts to coordinate health and social welfare services, donor assistance, NGO support, and effective communication among, police, line ministries, and government agencies. We thank Microsoft for their continued partnership during this period of rebuilding."

The Sinhala enablement package will allow government agencies and NGOs involved in relief and reconstruction work to communicate more effectively and with greater accuracy in affected communities, where English is not the primary language.

The software will be distributed by ICTA and the CNO; the agency established immediately following the tsunami disaster to oversee all aspects of the nation’s relief and recovery efforts, to local and international NGOs, government agencies and other organizations involved in the relief efforts in Sri Lanka.