ICTA launches e-Sri Lanka initiative

"Of the large number of projects the World Bank has set up in the world, the world body considers the eSri Lanka initiative as its flagship project. This is because of the great success of the eSri Lanka initiative. Many countries have adopted and adapted the eSri Lanka initiative like, eUganda and eBrasil," said President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga at the inauguration of 22 ICTA-initiated Government eServices projects in Colombo recently.

President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Peradeniya University Chancellor and ICTA Chairman Prof. P. W. Epasinghe, ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura and ICTA Engineering Government Program Director Wasantha Deshapriya at the inauguration of the ICTA initiated 22 Government sServices projects.

These projects are accessible free by registering with the Re-engineering Government Program of the eSri Lanka Initiative.

The eSri Lanka initiative is implemented under the Presidential Secretariat.

The purpose of the newly launched project is to increase efficiency and people-friendliness of public service provided by Government institutions.

The Secretary said, "Once the Indian Central Government Cabinet Secretary Chandrasekar asked me how ICTA implemented the 'wonderful' Government Information Centre project or 1919 as it is popularly known. I told him that there was nothing very scientific or technically complicated about it. We, at ICTA , felt a need, we discussed and the necessity led to this creative concept based on common sense."

Referring to a genre of officers who have been and are pivotal in this path towards making the best benefits of ICT reach the people, the Presidential Secretary said that the position of the Chief Innovation Officers was created with the dedicated duty of bringing about ICT innovations that would make the lives of people as comfortable as possible.

The Presidential Secretary said that the private sector had played an important role in making the Government eServices reach the level of success they had reached.

ICTA Chairman Prof. P. W. Epasinghe, ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura, ICTA Re-engineering Government Program Director Wasantha Deshapriya, ICTA eServices program Head Kanchana Thudugala also spoke.

A large number of personnel from the public and private sector participated.