Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

“If we work united we can achieve much, whether it be doubling the per capita income to $4000 in 2015 or making Sri Lanka Asia’s wonder as envisaged in the Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future”.

This was stated by Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Secretary and National Administrative Reforms Council Director General D. Dissanayake. The secretary said so in his keynote address at the fourth national eGovernment policy workshop held at Water's Edge,  Colombo last Tuessday (29) from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. 

Speaking further as Chief Guest the Secretary said that each of the 1.2 million Government employees had a serious duty in the fulfillment of the policy statement pledge to  make the current decade the decade of prosperity. “Money is not required for much of this contribution. In fact a valuable part of our contribution has to do with prevention of wastage – wastage of electricity, water, fuel, vehicle use etc. What is required more than money is innovative thinking or preserving the good values in our ancient culture for good governance and having a sound mindset. This may be manifest in adhering to little conventions like wearing your uniform. I will illustrate this with real incidents. The other day I noticed cake being served in office. Photocopy paper was used to place a piece of cake for an employee. In another instance uniform was not worn by certain officers thus making it difficult for Government employees to be distinguished from some thugs of the area. If a resolution would be made such as ‘We will make infant death in 2013 zero, or the number of children of school going age not attending school in 2012 zero’ and implemented that resolution and if 10 such corrective measures are implemented per year, making Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia would not be far-fetched”.

In an effort to share his drive for bringing about not merely good governance but dynamic governance as found in Singapore the Secretary said that everyone should feel a ‘fever’ (unak) for development which is ultimately something good for everybody. Speaking of the value of technology the secretary said that a few years ago about 600 applications were received at the Timbirigasyaya office for obtaining birth, death or marriage certificates and there were about 8 helpers at that time. Today, thanks to ICT we can obtain these certificates in five minutes. This is something we could not have come by even if we had 30 helpers and not the technology”. Urging the audience for concerted effort to achieve the targets of the  “Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future” the Secretary concluded “Api ekatuwunot apata karanna puluvan de bohoya” -  “If we make a concerted effort we can achieve much”.

More than 130 top Government and Statutory institution personnel including Chief Innovation Officers and District and Divisional Secretaries from the Western Province and the Sabaragamuwa Province’s Ratnapura District  participated in the workshop. This workshop like the three held earlier and another six to be held before the end of the year aim at expediting the implementation of the cabinet approved eGovernment policy, presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last December.

The feedback indicated that about 98 per cent of the participants had graded the workshop as excellent.  The presentations were interspersed with very short reality and motivational shows, practical exercises and team games that inspired even the most wearied person at the session.  The participants were fired with enthusiasm and a desire to implement the eGovernment policy, overcoming any obstacles on the way.

Caption for pic ‘D. Dissanayake’
Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Secretary and National Administrative Reforms Council Director General D. Dissanayake delivering his keynote address at the fourth eGovernment Policy workshop in Colombo last Tuesday (29 June).

Caption for pic group
A group of participants at the workshop putting down on bristle board their new idea for making a current public service more people-friendly

This article was carried in The Sunday Island of July 4 and The Island of July 5.

Share Link: