Workshop on eGovernment policy

A workshop on eGovernment policy that was presented to the Cabinet by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and approved by the Cabinet recently will be held at Water's Edge, Colombo from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. today.

Conducted to promote the implementation of the eGovernment policy by Government institutions this workshop will be for the Heads of Deparments and Statutory Bodies and the Chief Innovative Officers in these institutions.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga will be the chief guest at this workshop on the policy prepared for making the benefits of ICT reach the people by ensuring consistency and adherence .

This workshop is one of the many that will be organised for promoting the implementation of the policy.

The policy aims at achieving overall development within Government organisations and delivery of Government services. Entitled "Policy and procedures for ICT usage in Government (eGovernment Policy)", the document was prepared by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) as mandated by the ICT Act no. 33 of 2008. The act had empowered ICTA to submit recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for formulating the National Policy Framework for submission to the Cabinet of Ministers for their approval. These policies and procedures should be followed by all Government organizations, Ministries, Government Departments, Provincial Councils, District Secretariats, and Divisional Secretariats and Local Authorities, Government Corporations, Statutory Bodies, and Companies fully owned by Government. It is mandatory that the policy is adopted by each Government organization and customized if necessary.

The policy's implementation time frame is three years from January 2009 and will be extended from time to time, as determined by the Government, with appropriate modifications.

Businessmen and ICT professionals have commended the eGovernment policy. Virtusa General Manager and Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) Secretary General Madu Ratnayake said that it was commendable that for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka an ICT policy for the State Sector has been formulated and implemented. "The document will be the key factor in taking ICT forward," Ratnayake said. He pointed out that as a result of this policy all State institutions would adopt a uniform procedure thus greatly contributing towards development in Sri Lanka.

Intel Country Manager Indika de Zoysa said that an important aspect of the e-Government policy was the appointing Chief Innovative Officers (CIOs) in all State Institutions. This will help in carrying out ICT related activities in Government Institutions in a systematic way. Dwelling on the benefits of the policy the Intel head for Sri Lanka said that it provided a clear guidance in audit, procurement of goods and services, assurance of security etc. in Government institutions.

Expressing his appreciation of the Government's interest in ICT Microsoft Sri Lanka Head Shriyan Wijeratna pointed out that this had enabled the country to make huge strides in ICT. Implementation of an eGovernment policy is one such step. The Microsoft Country Manager for Sri Lanka commended the vibrant usage of ICT for national development by the Government led by the President.

Top academic and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology President/ Chief Executive Officer Prof. Lalith Gamage said that the eGovernment document was a very comprehensive document covering all aspects in detail with regard to policies and procedures for the Government sector in using ICT and in delivering Government services.