ICTA re-engineering e-Sri Lanka initiative

Grants to improve ICT efficiency:

The benefits of the e-Sri Lanka development projects have spread across the multi-sectors of the country. It has reached a high level of maturity to deploy Information Communication Technology (ICT) for national economic development, Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Program Director and Legal Advisor Jayantha Fernando said.

The e-Sri Lanka initiative consists of programs and strategies covering the Government as well as the private sector. The introduction of the eGovernment policy adopted by the Cabinet and implemented recently is a positive step towards improving service quality and standard, he said.

The ICTA is re-engineering the Government's programs to provide better service to the stakeholders. The Agency is in the process of streamlining the operations of Land Registry to provide an efficient service to the public.

The ICT has reached the next stage of development and it is important that the benefits trickle down to grass root level, Fernando said.

The knowledge on information technology is necessary in today's context and the computer literacy rate has reached 25 percent. This is encouraging as the rural community now absorbs the benefits of ICT, Fernando said.

The country has the necessary legal framework such as Electronic Transaction Act and Computer Crimes Act to protect computer related crimes and offences.

There is a grant scheme to improve efficiency in ICT companies to make them competitive as more business opportunities could be generated in the long run, he said.

The Government's Tele Centre initiative has progressed well with the setting up of 647 such centres islandwide. These centres have helped to increase the level of ICT literacy in the country. (SJ)