Information Technology Services Code in the offing

COLOMBO: The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry will soon introduce a new Information Technology Services Code in Sri Lanka on an initiative of Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama. The new Code is expected to ensure the service conditions of the employees in the Information Technology field now serving under various categories, designations and salary scales and scattered over numerous Ministries and Departments.

All officers in this field will come under four grades depending on their knowledge and experience under this programme.

The Code will set out guidelines for recruitment, transfers and promotions applicable to the service. The Ministry is collecting data pertaining to officers engaged in the Information Technology field and in service under various Ministries, Departments and State institutions.

Since their bringing under a common service is a complex task, Minister Amunugama seeks the participation and cooperation of Trade Unions to sort out matters.

The Minister intends to deal with the preparation of the Information Technology Services Code in three stages.

The draft code will be presented to Trade Unions and Academics for their views and suggestions for the purpose of necessary amendments under the first stage. He intends to consult experts in the field including Professor V.K. Samaranayake who was formerly attached to the Computer division of the Colombo University.

Under the second stage, the employees presently in the field will be absorbed into new posts with specific salary scales. Under the third stage, the Information Technology Services Code will be presented to the Public Service Commission.

Once the Code is ratified, the officers will become subject to the new code in addition to the Public Service Commission Rules, Establishment of Code, Financial Regulations and any other Rules and Regulations the Government may enforce from time to time.