The Lanka Linux User Group has had a long relationship with the various government organisations, for the longest time. They have worked closely with the ICTA, MoE, on the administrative level, as well as with schools, universities and other organisations on the grass-roots level.

With interest in GNU/Linux and FOSS growing steadily in Sri Lanka, the co-operation between LUG.lk and the various agencies has also increased. With the latest event being the training of Hardware Teams all over the island in installation and basics of GNU/Linux

Organised to the MoE, there are Hardware Teams for each province in the country, made up of teachers from each area. These CRC and CLC teachers are being trained as the first line of support for schools, organisations, and people in that area.

With the latest push for GNU/Linux and FOSS, Ven. Mettavihari, Buddhika Siddhisena, and Suchetha Wijenayake of LUG.lk were invited for an initial meeting with the leaders of the Hardware Teams, and then asked to help in the training. The caveat was that there would be no payment for the five-day training sessions, and that the Ministry could only provide food, lodging, and transport.

Despite the caveats, there was great interest in the project, and since Buddhika had other, more pressing, matters to deal with, Suchetha and Ven. Metta of The Linux Center quickly agreed to take on the job. The Linux Center has, for the past three years, been an ardent supporter of both GNU/Linux and FOSS, working with such organisations as RedHat to provide training and other support services to GNU/Linux and FOSS users across the island.

With documentation provided by The Linux Center and printed by the MoE, CDs burned by Ven Metta, and Suchetha as trainer, the project is now under way and seems to be a great success.

As of the writing of this article. five provinces have been done, with another four more to go. Overall, the enthusiasm of the teachers for the training has been excellent, with most of them engaging 10 - 12 hour training and practice sessions each day of the training period. The enthusiasm of the LUG members has also been high, with members Chanux, Kunchana, and Seejay taking time off their busy schedules to come help with the training.

The planned, and completed events are listed below, with the provinces. Please note that the locations for the event that are yet to be completed could change with little notice.

• Sabaragamuwa - Thalduwa
• Eastern - Ampara
• North Central - Budugehinna
• Uva - Hali Ela
• North Western - Wariyapola
• Central - Kandy
• Southern - Galle (*to be confirmed)
• Nothern - Colombo (*to be confirmed)
• Western - Colombo (*to be confirmed)

Stay tuned for pictures of the events, and for more such events in the future. If you would like to help with such events, or to hold one in your school, please contact LUG.lk on the advocacy mailing list.