About Us

CSSL

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) which was established in 1976 is the apex body representing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Sri Lanka

Since 1976

Our History

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) which was established in 1976 is the apex body representing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Sri Lanka. It promotes professionalism among those engaged in the field of ICT, and maintains the highest professional standards among the Information and Communication Technology fraternity.
The CSSL is a member of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) and International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). Locally, it is a member of the Organization for Professional Associations (OPA).
The CSSL runs the National IT Conference (NITC), a longstanding event dating back to 1981. The National Schools Software Competition (NSSC), which is a nation-wide software competition for school children is also conducted by CSSL.

In 2017, the CSSL organized Sri Lanka’s Biggest-Ever International ICT event which saw 50 countries coming to Sri Lanka to participate in a broad event platform which included the General Assembly of IFIP, SEARCC Conference, NITC and International Schools Software Competition.

CSSL organizes Tech Talks every month for discussion and knowledge-sharing on latest technologies among ICT professionals. The CIO Forum is organized for the same purpose but targets senior professionals such as Chief Information Officers and Heads of IT. The CSSL ICT Awards recognize best performers in the sector. IT Mastermind is a TV Quiz program run by CSSL to popularize ICT among school children and masses.

The CSSL has recently started a social service arm called Little Drops of Water and a tech startup support initiative which includes providing its resources to tech startups.

The CSSL has taken a keen interest on lobbying and policy matters in the recent past. For instance, we were a key stakeholder when it came to recent discussions around Free Trade Agreements between Sri Lanka and other countries. We have also taken a keen interest in latest developments and discussions around social media and the need to maintain those platforms hate free and tackle other negative imperatives, whilst ensuring free access and freedom of speech. In this regard, the CSSL fully supports the work of Social Media Working Group of Sri Lanka.

The CSSL also has taken strong steps forward to strengthen its accreditation processes. It accredits local computing related degrees and is currently working with its Accreditation Board to associate Sri Lanka with Seoul Accord to bring its standards to a global level.

In its rich history of over four decades, CSSL has maintained a professional framework. In 2018 it passed a key milestone by establishing the CSSL Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. This is a localized national professional framework for Sri Lankan ICT professionals.

Our Vision

Value Creator

To add value for ICT professionals by facilitating diverse initiatives for the development of their professional career and personal growth

ICT Frontier

To enable our members to contribute to the development and leadership of Sri Lanka's ICT industry.

Community's Voice

To raise the voice for the ICT community and be at the forefront in voicing out the expectations of the industry

Our Mission

We are the National Association for IT Professionals in Sri Lanka

Our Values

Collaboration

We encourage collaboration among our stakeholders and work towards initiating collaborative efforts.

Diversity

Being a multi-ethnic country it's imprtant for us to ensure that the environment and industry we work in too is diverse and works towards one common goal.

Respect

We honour the rights and beliefs of individuals.

Excellence

We focus on results and constantly work towards achieving excellence. "

ANNUAL REPORTS

2017

CSSL 29th AGM with Membership Night took place on the 5th December at the Taj Samudra Ballroom, Colombo 3

Little Drops of Water : CSSL formed a new subcommittee supporting social services through ICT

Epihack Colombo SRI LANKA #hackforhealthColombo

Yasas V. Abeywickrama elected President Of SEARCC

CSSL Vice President Prabath Samindra Wickramaratne participated at the SEARCC Executive Council Meeting, April 2017 – China

SEARCC International Awards – Prof Gihan Dias from Sri Lanka was the ICT Professional of the Year award winner

IFIP Global General Assembly in Sri Lanka

International Schools Software Competition

Sri Lanka’s biggest-ever international ICT event : The 35th National Information Technology Conference (NITC) will run in partnership with SEARCC Conference

Seoul Accord – Dr. Malitha Wijesundara participated at the Seoul Accord AGM in Alaska this year

Bank CIO Forum on Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), in partnership with Bureau Veritas Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

Kodak Alaris and Nine hearts sponsor the 4th CIO Forum on Information Management

CSSL has launched the ACS Digital Library in Sri Lanka

SEARCC International Awards 2016 – Prof. Mahesha Kapurubandara has been awarded 2nd place in the education category

Dr. Dayan Rajapakse awarded prestigious Honorary Fellowship from Kingston University UK

CSSL Council Member Mr. Heshan Karunaratne has been appointed as a Director of the newly formed Sri Lanka Skills Council

CSSL Participate the National workshop on Information Technology Agreement

People Leader – IT 2017 – Mr. Damith Hettihewa (Secretary- Computer Society Of Sri Lanka)

IT Mastermind 2017

CSSL Continued to represent interests of ICT professionals in the discussions held regarding proposed ETCA

2016

34th Consecutive National IT Conference under the timely theme of “Enhancing Sri Lanka through Digital Disruption

27th National Schools’ Software Competition (NSSC) conducted in collaboration with the ICT Branch of the Ministry of Education and the University of the Colombo School of Computing (UCSC)

IT Mastermind island wide annual quiz competition organized for the fifth consecutive year together with ESOFT METRO CAMPUS.

CSSL Dinner Dance “IT BLAST” Exclusively for IT professionals for the third consecutive year.

Annual CSSL ICT AWRDS Ceremony organized for the forth consecutive year

CSSL Vice President attends IFIP Board Meeting in Japan

CSSL Vice President speaks at 8th China Cloud Computing Conference

CSSL Member appointed Sri Lankan representative for IFIP TC 14 – Entertainment Computing

CSSL Representation in local Organizations

CIO FORUM – COST SAVING.EASE.SECURTIY was organising with the partnership with Finetech, Google leading enterprise partner in Sri Lanka

Tech Talk Events :Third Party Information Security and privacy Oversight, Making Things Possible with IOT, Data Science and Big Data Analytics, A Holistic Approach to Mobile Security

CSSL 28Th AGM -which took place on the 5th December at the Taj Samudra Ballroom Colombo 3

2015

33rd National IT Conference

The National School Software Competition (NSSC)

International Schools Software Competition (ISSC)

CSSL Dinner Dance “IT Blast”

“ IT VS. IT ” CSSL Cricket Tournament

CSSL President Appointed as President of South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC)

Mr. Yasas V. Abeywickrama Vice President of CSSL elected as Councilor of board of IFIP

CIO Chapter

Women IN ICT Chapter

Young IT Professionals Chapter

2014

National Information Technology Conference 2014 (NITC 2014) – “ICT for Inclusive Development” Organized for the 32nd consecutive year

Commonwealth ICT deliberations at NITC CSSL received conference papers from many commonwealth countries including the Commonwealth Secretary General’s office to facilitate commonwealth wide deliberations

The National School Software Competition (NSSC) was conducted for the 25th consecutive year

International Schools Software Competition (ISSC)

IT Mastermind programme was organized together with ESOFT as the strategic partner, and ITN Sri Lanka as the media partner

CSSL Dinner Dance “IT Blast” For the first time in the history, the CSSL organized an IT Dinner Dance to give an unique experience to IT professionals

CSSL organizes ICT training for Teachers in Sri Lanka with the support of Ministry of Education & Deutsche Bank

CSSL Certification is offered in partnership with the Australian Computer Society (ACS), based on the SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age) competency framework

CSSL President Appointed as President of South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC)

The annual CSSL Excellence in ICT Awards will be held for the 2nd consecutive year

CSSL Secretary appointed as Chairman of International Young ICT Professionals Group of IFIP

IFIP’s technical assembly and general assembly met in Vienna on 11-13 September 2014 and CSSL President Mr. Ajith Salgado and Secretary Mr. Yasas Abeywickrama participated at this event

The IT and Management Professional Bodies Join Hands to Improve Professionalism

Sri Lanka Foundation Ties up with Computer Society of Sri Lanka

CSSL Workshops: How to recruit an IT Professional, The Next Generation Protocol IPv6, Sri Lanka’s Journey towards an Innovation Driven Economy

CSSL organized the CIO Chapter with the theme “Digital Marketing”

Sri Lankan Women in Computing Chapter

Young IT Professionals Chapter

2013

CSSL Strategy workshop

CSSL Profile Book was published

‘Members Nite 2013’ at Green Gardens ,Colombo

Unveiled the CSSL New Logo at the Members’ Nite

CSSL Cricket Tournament for the President’s Award was successfully held at Air Force Grounds

Awarding of Honorary Fellowships to eleven distinguished members of the Society

The first reading of the Incorporation under an Act of Parliament

SEARCC International Conference in Partnership with 31st National IT Conference was held successfully with over 600 participants

Recommendation report based on the SEARCC Conference speeches were handed over to Ministry of Telecommunication and IT and also ICTA

SEARCC Executive Council Meetings were held in March & September and Mr. Mahesh Perera was elected as the President of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SERACC) at the final SEARCC Executive Council Meetings.

CSSL Excellence ICT awards were awarded in 3 categories , ICT Leader of the Year, Female ICT Leader of the Year , Emerging ICT Leader of the Year

24th National Schools Software Competition

SEARCC International School’s Software Competition was held in Colombo

“IT Mastermind” Quiz Program an IT Quiz Contest for School Children was successfully organized for the third consecutive year.

Several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were conducted and each event was attended by over 30 and with one event marking 80 participants.

CIO, Sri Lankan Women in ICT, Young IT Professionals chapters were active throughout the year

MoU was signed between ASC (The Australian Computer Society ) and CSSL

MoU was signed between FITIS (Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka) and CSSL

CSSL Certification inaugurated in September using SFIA framework and with six ACS fully trained evaluators.

2012

CSSL Strategy workshop

CSSL profile book was published

www.cssl.lk website revamped and hosted with new features

‘Members Night’ at Light House Gallery

The first reading of the “Incorporation under an Act of parliament” took place.

www.nitc.lk website was launched.

The first reading of the “Incorporation under an Act of parliament” took place.

The 30th National Information Technology Conference

“IT Mastermind” Quiz Program ( IT Quiz Contest for School Children) conducted.

SEARCC Ex-co meeting and SEARCC International School’s Software Competition in Colombo

Ten SIG Workshops were conducted during the year

CSSL Chapters new project launched

Deyata IT – ICT awareness workshops were conducted in Anuradhapura & Kurunegala

CSSL Certification project was launched

MoU was signed between ASC (The Australian Computer Society ) and CSSL

CSSL ICT Awards project was launched.

Conducted a joint Public lecture with OPA

2011

Professional Development Program – 4 Workshops were held for the year

Conducted a joint Public lecture with OPA

Four SIG Workshops for the year

ICT for Rural Areas – 5 Workshops were conducted during the year

New Year Celebrations for Members at the Green Garden Kirullapone

“IT Mastermind” Quiz Program an IT Quiz Contest for School Children

The 22nd National Schools Software Competition

The 29th National Information Technology Conference

The 21st National Schools Software Competition

‘Members Night’ at Green Garden Kirullapone

ICT for Rural Areas – three workshops were held for the year.

An Extraordinary General Meeting at Park Premier Excel World

The 28th National Information Technology Conference

2009

Unveiling of Portraits of Distinguished Past Presidents Mr Lionel Perera, Mr Dinesh Sattrukalsinghe and Dr. Prasanna Lokuge

Incorporation under Act of Parliament was approved and gazetted and the Draft Bill was published.

Initiated Schools Network Projects

2008

Opening of CSSL Library

Special Interest Groups (SIG) Workshops

Launch of New Website with additional features

Workshops – ICT for Rural Areas

The 19th National Schools Software Competition Award Ceremony was held at Galle Face Hotel

The 26th National Information Technology Conference

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2007

The National Schools Software Competition

A Special General Meeting for the Incorporation of CSSL

25th National Information Technology Conference

2006

SEARCC 2006 Conference was held at Cinnamon Grand Hotel

Two Members Nights were held – Q1 & Q3 at the OPA Auditorium

Held the National ICT Week at the BMICH

Hosted the SEARCC mid Term Ex-Co Meeting at Colombo Hilton

www.cssl.lk was completely revamped

2006

The e-Carnival which is a novel concept held at BMICH

The 24th National Information Technology Conference

2004

Launched ICT Journal under a new name Inter@ctive, in Association with Synergy Interactive publishing Company

The National Schools Software Competition

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The 23rd National Information Technology Conference

2003

The 15th Annual General Meeting was held at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo 3

Hosted SEARCC Ex-co meeting and SEARCC International School’s Software Competition in Colombo.

Gifts ICT Books to Colombo Public Library

Hosted National Schools Software Competition.

Launch 10 public lectures during the year

22nd National IT Conference

Awarding of honorary fellowships to distinguished members of Society Dr. Abhaya Samarath Induruwa, Dr. Bandusena Ranasinghe and Ms. Sunethra Nayeni Fernando.

Launching the member subscription payment though Internet.

Announce the member benefits programme to all the Members and Associate Members of the Society

Introducing the membership card

2002

CSSL was appointed as the Accreditation Agent for ICDL in Sri Lanka.

Appointed Mr. Y.R.Karunaratne as the new Secretary General of SEARCC and the SEARCC Secretariat has established in Sri Lanka and facilitated by CSSL.

2001

25th Anniversary Celebrations of the CSSL

Awarding of Honorary Fellowships to two distinguished members of the Society: Mr. R.B. Ekanayake and Mr. Y. R. Karunaratne.

Unveiling of portraits of the immediate past Presidents Mr. T.L.Chandranath

The Executive Council meeting of SEARCC was held in Colombo.

2000