From: m1pkd00@fed.frb.gov (Prasad K. Dharmasena)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.sri-lanka
Subject: Freshmen, Aunt Martha and SLNet
Keywords: Sri Lanka Net
Date: 1 Sep 92 22:13:23 GMT


Okay, a new school year is getting under way so, all of you veterans 
out there in the net.land, please save this into a file and pass it
along to the incoming freshmen who might be interested in this SLNet
of ours.  Even though we would like to keep them pesky freshmen out
of the net, they are still Sri Lankans, much like how much you hate
aunt Martha, she's still family.  <weird grin>



	  This is an introduction to the SLNet mailing list.
		       Last update: 08-03-1992



** What is the SLNet?  

Sri Lanka Net (SLNet) is a moderated maling list which carries news (mostly
from news wire services like AP, UPI, Reuters, etc.  -- curtsey of LAcNet)
and other articles about Sri Lanka.  SLNet does not have any ties to
soc.culture.sri-lanka newsgroup.


** How does it work?  

SLNet consists of a moderator and five mail reflectors (relays).  When someone
sends in an e-mail to <slnet@ecse.rpi.edu>, if the moderator approves it, 
copies of the mail gets routed to each and every member of SLNet.


** Why is it moderated?

To stop the "flame wars" that used to plague SLNet back in the olden days.
It is not meant to censor anyone.


** How do I become a member?

Send a personal e-mail to the person who relays SLNet to your geographical
area (see below).  Please include the following information.
	1) Your name	2) E-mail address 	3) Company/University name
	4) Location	5) Yes (No), I (don't) want to be listed in the
			   published list of SLNet members.

Please do NOT send requests of the form "Please add my uncle's second cousin
<gbush@white.house.gov> to the SLNet."  Have *him* send the request from *his
own* account.


** My uncle's second cousin is really into Sri Lankan stuff, can he get SLNet?

Anyone with a computer account that can receive mail from outside can
join SLNet.  Following is a list of computer networks which might work.
	1) Internet	2) BITNET	3) Janet
	4) CompuServe	5) MCI Mail	6) ATT Mail
	6) Sprint Mail	7) FidoNet	8) Any BBS with Internet Mail
	9) Public Access Unix sites	10) Other nets tied to any of above

[Please let me know if I should add your favorite nutwork to the above list]

There is an increasing number of BBS (Bulleting Board System)'s around 
the world that can receive Internet mail.  Every major city (at least in
the US) has a public access unix site.  "Check your local listings."

Following computer accounts cannot access SLNet.
	1) Prodigy	2) Your run of the mill local BBS w/o outside mail
	3) ... [Help me fill this list as well.]


** Who is my relay person?

Nimal Ratnayake <nimalr@ecse.rpi.edu> or <Nimal_Ratnayake@rpitsmts.bitnet>
   U.S. states of CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV
   European countries (except U.K.)
   BITNET sites not handled by other relays

Nishantha Illangasekara   <nishantha@adam.chem.purdue.edu>
   U.S. states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, 
   MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, WI.

Saman Amarasinghe <saman@wildhog.stanford.edu>
   U.S. States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD,
   TX, WA, WY, UT.
   Japan
   New Zealand
   Other Pacific rim countries except Australia.

Lalith Gamage <userlali@mtsg.ubc.ca> or <userlali@ubcmtsg.bitnet>
   Canada (all provinces)

Athula Herath <athula@cs.keele.ac.uk>
   U.K.
   Australia.



Your computer account would be deleted (semester ends at school, you
leave the company, whatever) in a few days AND/OR you would not be able to 
read e-mail (vacation, going to SL, etc) for a while, therefore, would fill
up your disk quota are a couple of instances when you should ask your
relay person to remove (temporarily, maybe) you from SLNet.


** How do I post on SLNet?

Send your posting using e-mail to <slnet@ecse.rpi.edu>.  SLNet requests that 
you limit the contents of your postings to the following.

   1) News posts which are not limited to a locale. 
   2) personal introductions
   3) Address changes
   4) Requests for help which are not limited to a locale.
   5) Status messages about SLNet or s.c.s-l

Please do NOT send test messages to the SLNet.  It works!


** Why both SLNet and soc.culture.sri-lanka?

SLNet came first.  Soc.culture.sri-lanka was created to reduce the traffic on 
the SLNet.   Now SLNet is used mainly for news and other important notices.  
Soc.culture.sri-lanka is used for discussions, views, news and everything else.


** Are there any SLNet archives?

Check anonymous ftp site ucdavis.ucdavis.edu (128.120.2.1) in the
directory /pub/slnet/ for a few collected articles.  (Travel agent list,
book reviews, SLNet list, places to get SL spices, movies, cassettes, etc.)


** Can I send messages to Sri Lanka via SLNet?

No.  But, LAcNet provides e-mail access to folling sites in Sri Lanka.

	Univ. of Moratuwa, Dept. of CSE			cse.mrt.ac.lk
	Univ. of Colombo, ICT				ict.ac.lk
	Univ. of Sri Jayawardanapura, Dept. of Bio(?)	sjp.ac.lk
	Open Univ.					ou.ac.lk
	Institute of Fundamental Studies		ifs.ac.lk
	Arthur C. Clark Center for MT			acc.ac.lk

Contact Saman Amarasingha <saman@wildhog.stanford.edu> for more info.
US-SL e-mail relay goes over international telephone lines, hence, please
do NOT send long, frivolous (say what?) or test messages.


** Um... I think I know what SLNet and s.c.s-l are, but what is LAcNet?

Lanka Academic Network (LAcNet) was created to undertake several projects,
mostly in the electronic communication.  E-mail link to Sri Lanka and
getting new items for SLNet from CompuServe are such on going projects.
As you can see, LAcNet operations do incur expenses.  Hence, LAcNet relys 
on donations from those who find its services valuable.

If you'd like to be a member of LAcNet organization, please contact
Nimal Gamage <gamage@paradox.colorado.edu>  Send him your name, e-mail
address and postal address.


Questions regarding this posting should be directed to me. 

--
Prasad Dharmasena       Internet: <pkd@fed.FRB.GOV>       UUCP: <uunet!fed!pkd>