Harsha denies JVP allegations over National Payment Platform

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Government yesterday rejected allegations that an agreement has been signed with a private firm to operate the National Payment Platform (NPP) being developed by the state-run Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) with the aim to cut costs improve Sri Lanka’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index.

Responding to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip JVP MP Anura Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva rejected the charges of entering into an agreement with a private company.

However, PM Dissanayake held that a company named ‘Total Pay’ has been selected to operate the NPP and wanted to know the basis of selection and awarding. 

“The ICTA in 2015 announced that three companies were shortlisted for the project and later announced that ‘Total Pay’ was selected. However, said company is a newly established enterprise registered only in March 2016. How can the ICTA shortlist a company that did not exist in 2015?” MP Dissanayake asked.

In response, Dr. de Silva said that even though an agreement has not been signed, Total Pay is among the few shortlisted for “software testing” of the installation of NPP.