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| Saturday, 27 March 2004 |
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Electronic Money Orders introduced by Uditha Kumarasinghe The Department of Posts yesterday introduced Sri Lanka's first ever electronic Money Order (eMO) payment facility as a viable and sustainable new user friendly facility which enables users to utilise the new, fast money transfer system. The inaugural ceremony of the On-line Money Transfer System was held at the World Trade Centre Post Office under the patronage of Information and Telecommunication Ministry Secretary Thilak Ranaviraja. The eMO facility has been initially field tested to support the applications of students for their Masters Degree program and to facilitate payment of fees electronically. Its success helped expand it to the Bachelors in Information Technology degree course students last week. This facility will be extended to GCE O/L students and A/L students. According to the Postal Department, the eMO facility has been installed in 16 post offices and will be extended to cover the entire country by the end of 2005. It will help students forward their applications and pay fees electronically. University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) has pioneered the technology and platform to this eMoney Order facility, while the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka has submitted pilot project proposals. Initially, the post office issued the Money Order facility of transferring money securely through the postal network islandwide and was improved later by the introduction of telefaxed money order. Therefore, the eMO is another progressive step introduced by the Post Office's service for the public's benefit. This new facility will help those who cannot afford credit cards not only transfer money but also pay for goods and services to establishments or individuals within the network. A significant advantage of the new system is that unlike international credit cards, the small commission levied by the post office does not flow out of the country in the form of valuable foreign exchange. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Ranaviraja said the introduction of the eMO facility is something which the postal service has done practically to assist the people. The post office is the only institution established at rural level for the villagers' benefit to do any transaction. Therefore, the post office is a well-established institution in the village level. Ordinary people and villagers can use this facility for transactions without coming to the city. In addition, steps should be taken to expand information and communication technology to the village level through post offices. He said under World Bank funds, a special program has been formulated to bring information technology to villages. "I also request the Postal Department to select one school from each electorate as a centre to provide a computer training to students specially on internet and e-mail. This program should be expanded through Divisional Secretariats and agriculture centres," he said. Ranaviraja requested to provide computer, telephone and fax facilities to 400 posts offices throughout the country. Initially, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission will provide Rs. 10 million to commence this program, he said. Post master General Shervin Senadheera said the Postal Department has the ability of introducing IT technology to village level. The Department in collaboration with the National Savings Bank will commence a program to deliver foreign currency to the village level through post offices. |
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