VanniTech History

The idea for a high-technology institute for the North-East people of Sri Lanka was conceived in America in early part of 2002. The idea evolved and molded in the Silicon Valley region of California and an organization in the name of International Tamil Technical Professionals’ Organization (ITTPO) was formed in September of 2002. A cipher group to analyze, discuss, and coordinate among volunteers and enthusiasts was formed with YahooGroups.com under the name of VanniTech@yahoogroups.com in August of 2002. A feasibility trip was conducted to Vanni region of Sri Lanka in September of 2002 to study the situation, ground reality and possible risks. Intense discussions on course works, fund raising and other coordination work started in December 2002. Within the first six weeks of actual fund raising, ITTPO was pledged more funds than it originally asked for, which was U.S. $ 99,700. ITTPO later changed the first year budget to U.S. $150,000.

The first ITTPO representative came to Sri Lanka in February of 2003 to establish VanniTech. After obtaining the approval from the government of Sri Lanka for ITTPO to function in the country and to establish VanniTech, and after remodeling the facility, transporting equipment and furniture across the boarder of two armies that were on ceasefire, hiring enough academic and non-academic staff, and selecting the right students via an entrance exam and personal interview were took place. VanniTech was inaugurated on June 23, 2003. Hundreds of people from several countries were involved in, and contributed to the birth of VanniTech.

Within the first 6 months of establishing the institute, there were volunteers from several countries came over to Vanni and contributed tremendously to the growth of the institute. Volunteer students from several universities and high-tech professionals from popular technology companies were among them.

Mr. Jey Kumara Surier of U.S.A. served as the first president of VanniTech. Professionally he is a Software Engineer from the Silicon Valley in California, spent more than a year in the Vanni region as a volunteer along with others setting up the institute and managing it until February 2004.

First Board of ITTPO

Following is the list of board of directors that established VanniTech:
Chairman of the Board ................... Dr.Ratnam Sooriyakumaran
Secretary of the Board ................... Mr. Kan Suseenthiran
Treasurer of the Board ................... Mr. Ravi Veerasingam
Director of Public Relations ............. Mr. Vimal Rajagopal
Chief Technical Officer ................... Mr. Jey Kumara Surier
Director ........................................ Prof. John Balachandra
Director ........................................ Mr. Sashi Balasingam
Director ........................................ Mr. Ruban Kanapathippillai
Director ........................................ Mr. Ruban Navaruparajah
Director ........................................ Dr. N. A. Ranjithan
Director ........................................ Mr. Suren Siva
Director ........................................ Dr. M. Sreetharan
Auditor ......................................... Mr. Dev Vamathevan