ICTA launches UN APCICT academy for smarter governance

The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) launched the 'Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders' program in Colombo last week with Deputy Speaker Chaminda Weerakkody as guest of honour.

The launch ceremony also included a four-day workshop for government officials and academics at the Jaic Hilton.

The workshop will provide initial training on two of the Academy's 11 modules, Module three - e-Government Applications and Module six - Network and Information Security and Privacy. ICTA selected these modules as those relevant to the country.

"With this, Sri Lanka will join the group of over 25 countries where the academy functions as a flagship initiative for the use of ICT for smarter governance," ICTA, Chairman, Prof. P W Epasinghe said.

It is an initiative of the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT).

The Academy will equip government officials and policy makers with the essential knowledge and skills to leverage ICT for national and regional socio-economic development.

"The UN APCICT Academy modules in Sri Lanka will strengthen ICT knowledge among government officers and help create the e-Leadership required for smarter governance," an ICTA spokesman said.

Forty Government officers who are actively involved in eGovernment activities and a few members from the academia and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) will participate.

They will deliver this content to a wider stakeholder audience. ICTA as the focal point for UN APCICT in Sri Lanka, invited APCICT to launch the Academy in Sri Lanka. APCICT agreed to support ICTA by inviting the authors of the modules to Sri Lanka to conduct the training program.

After the inaugural workshop, ICTA will deliver these modules to government officers through the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) induction program for members of Sri Lanka all-island services (such as SLAS, Planning, Accountant's service).