Universal Acceptance Day 2024
in Sri Lanka
- With great enthusiasm, The Universal Acceptance (UA) Day was held on 28th March 2024 at Galle Face Hotel Sri Lanka, jointly organized by Theekshana R&D and ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), promising an evening of enlightenment and innovation.
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This Sri Lankan event was a significant gathering, graced by the presence of the State Minister of Technology, Hon. Kanaka Herath as the Chief Guest along with the Secretary to the Ministry of Technology, Dr. Dharmasri Kumaratunge as the Guest of Honor, and Mr. Samiran Gupta the Vice President, Government, and IGO Engagement APAC & Stakeholder Engagement South Asia. Moreover, senior government officials of ICANN, along with other stakeholder organizations such as ICTA, LK Domain Registry, and various local experts participated in the event.
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The event was streamed globally, attracting around 100 guests locally and numerous participants virtually.
- The welcome address was done by Prof. Damitha Karunaratna, Director of Theekshana followed by the introduction to ICANN and its functions by Mr. Samiran Gupta and the introduction to Universal Acceptance by Mr. Champika Wijayatunga, Regional Technical Manager of ICANN.
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UA Compliance Guidelines and various UA adoptions in Sri Lanka were showcased during the event, including the incorporation of Sinhala and Tamil Email Addresses, UA Compliant websites, and EAI-supported Contact forms.
- The event has ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Harsha Wijayawardhana, COO/CTO of Theekshana and Chair of ICANN-funded Local Initiative Project, Local Language Working Group (LLWG).
You can watch the Live Stream of the event below :
More About Universal Acceptance DAY
UA Day is a global initiative aimed at promoting awareness, adoption, academic, and technical training sessions regarding Universal Acceptance, which is hosted by the UASG, ICANN, and interested global partners and organizations. Building upon the success of the inaugural UA Day held in 2023, which saw participation from over 9,400 individuals representing more than 40 countries/territories in over 50 global events, UA Day 2024 aimed to be hosted in 57 countries/territories to rally local, regional, and global stakeholders to encourage UA adoption. UA Day Keystone Event was held in Belgrade, Serbia.
Universal acceptance refers to the inclusive approach of ensuring that all internet users, regardless of language or script, can access online resources seamlessly. By providing domain names and email addresses in local languages such as Sinhala and Tamil for Sri Lankan users, ICANN hopes to empower individuals with the choice to navigate the internet in their preferred language. This initiative not only enhances accessibility but also fosters diversity and inclusivity online.
ICANN’s encouragement and facilitation of international domain names play a crucial role in this endeavor. With approximately 6 billion people currently using the internet, breaking down language barriers opens the door for an additional billion users, thus expanding internet access globally. ICANN’s vision is to create a multilingual internet where Latin script no longer dominates, paving the way for a more inclusive digital landscape.
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