Dear all, ICANN announced the formation of the Generation Panel to develop root zone Label Generation Rules (LGR) for the Sinhala script. Following the Call for Generation Panels to Develop Root Zone Label Generation Rules[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_news_announce...>, the Sinhala script community has submitted to ICANN the Proposal for Generation Panel for Sinhala Script Label Generation Ruleset for the Root Zone[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_en_system_fil...> [PDF, 391 KB]. The ICANN org reviewed the proposal including panel composition and scope, to ensure that requirements set forth in the LGR Procedure[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_en_system_fil...> [PDF, 772 KB], and in particular the criteria set forth in the Call for Generation Panels to Develop Root Zone Label Generation Rules[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_news_announce...>, are fulfilled. "On behalf of ICANN we are grateful to the Sinhala script community for volunteering to develop the Sinhala script LGR proposal for the root zone," said Sarmad Hussain, the Director of IDN Programs at ICANN. "We would also like to thank Theekshana Company and the University of Colombo School of Computing in Sri Lanka for providing the institutional support to the panel." With composition and work plan approved, the Sinhala script Generation Panel will start its work on the label generation rules. According to the LGR Procedure[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_en_system_fil...> [PDF, 772 KB], the starting point of any Generation Panel's work is the Maximal Starting Repertoire (MSR), with its second version (MSR-2[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_news_announce...>) released on 27 April 2015. The full specification of Generation Panel's tasks can be found in theLGR Procedure[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_en_system_fil...> [PDF, 772 KB] in particular, Section B.3 "Variant Rule Generation Procedure". "I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate our appreciation for the efforts of many communities towards developing their root zone LGR proposals," said Sarmad Hussain. "We still have more work to do including organizing script panels for Hebrew, Myanmar and Tibetan. I encourage interested parties to lend their skills in support of this effort. There are currently LGR efforts underway by Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Neo-Brahmi and Sinhala script using communities. In addition, the Arabic, Armenian, Cyrillic, Ethiopic, Georgian, Khmer, Lao and Thai script communities have finalized their root zone LGR proposals[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_resources_pag...>, of which many have been integrated in the second edition of the Root Zone LGR[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_resources_pag...>. Learn more about how you can speak up for your language by visiting the Call for Generation Panels to Develop Root Zone Label Generation Rules[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_news_announce...>. For further information on the IDN Program at ICANN, please visit www.icann.org/idn[icann.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__icann.org_idn&d=DwMFaQ&...>. To start a new Generation Panel or to get involved in an existing one, please email at IDNProgram@icann.org<mailto:IDNProgram@icann.org>. Read the announcement here: https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2018-01-03-en Best regards, Joke Braeken ccNSO Policy Advisor joke.braeken@icann.org<mailto:joke.braeken@icann.org> Follow @ccNSO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccNSO Follow the ccNSO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccnso/ http://ccnso.icann.org