Govt. to digitise all State institutions

• Plans to obtain technical assistance from UNDP, submit framework by mid-Jan.
• Court system, postal service to also go paperless
• All postal offices to go online with SLT support 
• Targets increased productivity, reduced reliance on Treasury    

International Relations State Minister Susil Premajayantha and Information and Communication Technology  State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at the press conference – Pic by Lasantha Kumara 

By Nuwan Senarathna 

The Government has decided to digitise all State institutions including the Court system in an effort to improve productivity and profitability, which was a key promise in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto, top Government official said yesterday.  

Speaking to media at the Media Ministry, International Relations State Minister Susil Premajayantha said initial discussions had commenced with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) to obtain technical support for the project. 

“Under this project the Court system will also be digitised and the expectation is that going paperless will expedite the Judiciary process, leading to cases being concluded faster. Once all State institutions are digitised, the bureaucratic structure will be more user-friendly for the convenience of the public. The Government is expecting to make all State institutions less of a burden to the Treasury,” Premajayantha said. 

Premajayantha noted the Government would submit a report to UNDP on the basic framework of the project by mid-January. He noted the Government would take measures to train State officials to work in a digitised working environment. 

“It might take time to train all State officials to adapt fully to a paperless system but at some point we have to take the first step to change the system so it can meet international standards. However, there are many examples that countries can change to digital platforms within a short period of time.”

Meanwhile, Communication Technology State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena announced the Government would also take measures to digitise the postal services and expected to complete 60% of the project within three months. 

“The postal service is a loss-making service at the moment. As much as 39% of its expenses are covered by the Treasury. If we started to provide services online such as online bill paying there is a chance to turn the postal services into a profit-making State institution,” Abeywardena said. 

The Postal Department will collaborate with Sri Lanka Telecom to digitise postal services and initial discussion have already begun, Abeywardena stressed. According to Abeywardene, special training will be provided to postal service officials to adapt to a digitised working environment. 

“Sri Lanka Telecom will provide digital infrastructure to connect all postal offices online. The Government will constantly assess the productivity of the postal services,” he said.