Information and Communication Technology Agency introduces voice portal

Sara PATHIRANA

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), has embarked on initiating a mobile 'Voice Portal' in 2013. This would be for mobile phone users who wish to access the services of government departments.

The highlight of this new endeavor has been to acquire the services of government departments. A stamp fee too would be levied for the required information or services sought, while payments could be made through the voice portal. Copies of important documents such as birth certificates could be obtained in future, by accessing this portal and requesting for the delivery of the document to the claimant's address, which was another initiative taken by the ICTA.

"As the majority of people throughout the country use mobile phones, it would be an advantage and convenient to acquire the mobile service," ICTA Chief Executive Officer, Reshan Dewapura said. Twenty-two government establishments were in the process of providing customers with e-services and to date, acquiring these services through the internet had also been implemented. An online service to obtain Vehicle Revenue Licenses too had also been initiated.

"Nearly 5,500 callers to the Government Information Department (1919) had been reported per day, for obtaining the required services," Dewapura added