IT Info

Out of a large number of projects the World Bank has set up in the world, the world body considers the eSri Lanka initiative as its flagship project. This is because of the great success of the eSri Lanka initiative. Many countries have adopted and adapted the eSri Lanka initiative like, eUganda, eBrasil and so on. This was stated by President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga in reference to the eSri Lanka Development programme implemented by the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).

The Presidential Secretary said so while participating at the inauguration of a large number of ICTA-initiated Government eServices projects in Colombo recently. These projects accessible free of charge by registering via www.srilanka.lk are within the Re-engineering Government Programme of the eSri Lanka Initiative implemented by ICTA . The eSri Lanka initiative is implemented under the Presidential Secretariat. Speaking further on the occasion, the Presidential Secretary said: “Once Indian Central Government Cabinet Secretary Chandrasekar asked me how ICTA implemented the ‘wonderful’ Government Information Centre project or 1919 as it is popularly known.

I told him that there was nothing very scientific or technically complicated about it. “We, at ICTA , felt a need, we discussed and necessity led to this creative concept based on common sense. Recalling an incident that made such an impression as to confirm the saying that necessity is the mother of invention Weeratunga said: “In 1977 or 78 when I was an Assistant Controller – at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, a farmer came to me to ask what he considered a very important question. His clothes were soiled with dust. He had come from Moneragala the previous day and slept at the Fort station before visiting the Department of Immigration and Emigration in the morning that he visited me. The question he had come to find the answer for, spending so much time and energy and going through much hardship, was “How do I get a passport?”. This made me ponder deeply: “Should one go through such inconvenience just to have this information?”

“In 1972 I wanted a certified copy of my birth certificate for some purpose. From Colombo I sent word to my father in my hometown to try to get a copy of my birth certificate. My father had tried to obtain it, with all the earnestness of a loving father. But after all his genuine endeavours, his reply to me on the basis of the reply he had got from the relevant Government officials, was: ‘Son, it will take about three months for you to get your birth certificate’. Today if a son were to tell his father: “Dad, please get my birth certificate’, the father is sure to reply: ‘ Son, why are you telling me to do this? You just go to the nearest Divisional Secretariat; you will be able to get your birth certificate in five minutes. You know the basic details – date and place of birth…’. This is the miracle of the use of ICT today. When His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the portfolio that covered the subject of ICT, when he become Prime Minister in April 2004, the ICT literacy of the country was less than 5 per cent. Today it is more than 40 per cent. This is due to the farsighted guidance of His Excellency the President.

Historically important step

Continuing his address as Chief Guest on this occasion of the kick-off of the largest number of Government eServices projects in the history of Sri Lanka, the Presidential Secretary emphasised the importance of the event. ‘The British rulers set up some of the Government institutions and departments more than 100 years ago. Some of these, though established more as Government Revenue Collection Centres than public service offices, are more than 100 years old today. Some originated after Sri Lanka gained Independence in 1948. In this background, this prime move of a positive change in the attitude of the Government service to the people, setting in motion as many as 22 Government eService projects is of great historical importance. Although I am honoured to participate in this occasion, this inauguration is such an important turning point as to deserve to be carried out by the Head of State.

Thanks to ICTA and all Govt. institutions

In a glowing tribute to ICTA and all Government institutions the Presidential Secretary said: “I offer my thanks to ICTA for the hard work ICTA has put in for achieving what has been achieved for making the lives of the people more comfortable through the use of ICT. I offer the same gratitude to all Government Institutions for their co-operation and commitment in their endeavour to reach the success that has been achieved.

Government departments /institutions and projects providing eServices currently are given in Table 1 below. Table 1 also indicates whether the eService is based on SMS or online as well as whether it is an information service or a paying service.

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