‘e-government to serve people better’

“The e-government programme is aimed at making access to more efficient government services, through a streamlined FCT enabled process possible, said Director General of Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle.

He was delivering the keynote address at a conference on technology for the good connecting of communities 2011 organized by the Microsoft Sri Lanka at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday. “Just as private enterprises have rediscovered their mission and business model by returning to a focus on customers, governments around the world are finding success in reorienting their structures, information technology and policies around the citizens they serve.

“The result is easy access to information that was previously not available, via emergency and information numbers and updated websites linking government institutions for the benefit of both citizens and government,” said Hulugalle.

The Director General emphasized the validity of Digital Literacy of the people for the successes in future. He pointed out two important principles for digital literacy.

One is ‘’the skills to use digital media tools and the capacity to understand media content” and the other one as “support the critical thinking that is needed not only to maximize digital opportunities, but also to counter and manage digital risks.”

Hulugalle briefed the importance of “Information Communication Technology” under six main themes such as “a digitally literate population is more innovative and creative,” “digital literacy increases ICT infrastructure development and use,” “digital literacy promotes smart ICT adoption and increased productivity,” “a digitally literate population makes good organizational sense,” “digital literacy enables public participation” and “digital literacy promotes economic and social inclusion.”

He said organizational productivity enhancement is only achieved if the citizens are digitally literate.

The government needs the participation of private sector organizations as well as social service organizations, to reach out to the people by providing facilities as well as knowledge and skills on how to use technology.