Technology and transparency

Thursday, 9 April 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

COVID-19 has changed the world, economies and people, perhaps forever. As difficult as it has been Sri Lanka has done its best to rise to the challenge, partly by tapping into the power of technology.

For the first time in 126 years the Colombo tea auction went online last week with the less illustrious but 30-year-old coconut auction also shifting to an online system today. Given that this technology has been around for about a decade, it is positive that at least due to the virus people have been pushed to make use of it and improve the ease of business.

Taking tea auctions online has been debated within the industry for many decades and multiple initiatives were taken to make it a reality. However, the industry until last week failed to reach an agreement in unison shedding their differences of opinion. Thanks to partial shutdown, social distancing and curfew as part containing the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country the tea industry was forced to take the online route.

The Colombo Tea Auctions, the world’s largest for single origin tea, wasn’t conducted for two weeks due to the COVID-19 crisis threatening the businesses of producers, buyers and brokers. After multiple round of discussions between the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA), the Colombo Tea Brokers’ Association (CTBA) and the electronic platform and software provider CICRA Solutions, online tea auction became a reality on 4 April. Over 300 buyers registered to the online platform along with eight brokers. Between Saturday and Tuesday over three million kilos of tea worth Rs. 3 billion had been auctioned electronically.

A similar process will be followed for the coconut auction as well with the Government giving permission for the plantation sector to transport goods after the sales. While there is much sentimentality tied up with the tradition of auctions, especially for tea, it is nonetheless time to give way to the future and ensure this effort is continued.

Many other private sector companies, especially those engaged in transport and delivery services, have adapted technology swiftly. While some, such as supermarkets have struggled with the sheer volume of demand, they too are slowly rolling out better online services.

The improvement in going online has been embraced by the public sector as well. More and more services and information of public services is now online. Whether it is healthcare, details of Grama Niladharis and other local officials, or numbers of COVID-19 patients and where they have been hospitalised, the information is available online.

Perhaps the most important step has been the Government proactively releasing information. Measures initiated by the Government include release of funds for Samurdhi beneficiaries, availability and how to purchase essential items, imports of medicines and changes in regulations.

This openness is crucial for the public to have confidence in the Government and it is hoped that this transparency continues post-crisis as well. For too long limited access has been allowed for critical details of public finance, progress on important projects, procurement and other critical State activities. COVID-19 has demonstrated that if the Government so wishes it can be more transparent and release information on matters of public interest and that is to everyone’s benefit.