{"id":12020,"date":"2024-06-17T05:12:10","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T05:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=12020"},"modified":"2024-06-20T05:25:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T05:25:03","slug":"misconceptions-about-the-google-loon-project-and-government-spending-in-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/misconceptions-about-the-google-loon-project-and-government-spending-in-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"The Google Loon Project and Government Spending in Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Google Loon project, an innovative initiative aimed at providing internet access through high-altitude balloons, was tipped to be launched in Sri Lanka but ultimately did not succeed. Despite this, numerous misleading posts about the project continue circulating on Sri Lankan social media, creating confusion about its outcomes and current status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In social media posts, Former Minister of Digital Infrastructure Harin Fernando is accused of spending millions of government funds on the unsuccessful Google Loon project during the Yahapalana government’s tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Twitter<\/a> | Archived<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post was shared among Facebook users as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FB<\/a> | Archived<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We decided to search about this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explanation <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Yahapalana government era, the Information Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), under the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, aimed to improve national broadband infrastructure. This included the Free Wi-Fi Project, providing internet access at major public locations. It started in 2015 and was mentioned in the official news portal of the Sri Lanka government. More details can be read here<\/a>. Parallel to the Wi-Fi project, the concept of Google Loon also came into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Loon Project Overview:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Google Loon project<\/a>, a brainchild of project \u2018X\u2019 at Google\u2019s parent company, Alphabet, device the mechanism of using high-altitude balloons to provide internet access to rural and remote areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chamath Palihapitiya, Founder of Rama Corporation, facilitated discussions between Google and the Sri Lankan government. In 2017, ICTA, Google Loon LLC, and affiliates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish working relationships and pilot the project. More details can be read here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government Spending:<\/strong> Speaking to ReadMe, Harin Fernando and former ICTA CEO Muhunthan Canagey both confirmed that no public funds were used for the project. Any significant payments would require cabinet-approved paper, which was never produced. The Read Me article can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of 2020, a discussion in Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed discrepancies regarding the costs associated with the Google Loon project. COPE chairman Charitha Herath cited an Auditor General’s report indicating that 1.8 million rupees were spent on customs clearing charges for Google Loon equipment and 6.4 million rupees were spent on its launch. However, the ICTA chairman rejected the claim of 6.4 million rupees being spent on the launch, stating that only 1.8 million rupees were spent on custom clearances, while the 6.4 million rupees were actually used for a Wi-Fi project during the Yahapalana government. A related report of NewsWire report can be reached here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n