CBSL report shows growth in digital services despite pandemic

JUNE 3, 2021 BY MIHI PERERA 

Despite the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest report from the Central Bank shows continued growth in the country’s digital services sector, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) stated.

The CBSL states that a steady growth in government projects aimed at improving the digital infrastructure of the Sri Lankan economy was observed last year. Accordingly, the growth of internet connections has also increased by 30.7%.

“Among those services is the Lanka Government Network (LGN) and the Lanka Government Cloud (LGC), which are operated by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka. Circular PS / GPA / Circular / 01/2020 issued by the Secretary to the President on January 13, 2020 names LGC and LGN as the National Information and Communication Technology Digital Infrastructure System of the Government of Sri Lanka,” the CBSL pointed out.

The LGN intends to connect all government agencies through a single computer network and use the information files, e-mail services and other electronic content of each institution for official purposes and public purposes, stated Director  of Digital Infrastructure, Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Ravindra Pathirana.

“It was planned to network 3500 government agencies through a wide area network (WAN). As a first step, the connectivity of 860 state institutions through the Ceylon Government Network (LGN) has been completed under the first phase,” he said.

This is said to include the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Office and the Ministries, 49 Government Ministries, 191 Departments, Departments, Branches and Affiliates, 25 District Secretariats, 331 Divisional Secretariats, 47 Branches and 46 Government Hospitals, Provincial Councils And 167 Local Government Institutions and their affiliates. In addition, 1400 Free Wi-Fi zones have been set up in public places.

It was further revealed that public sector employees will be able to connect to their workplace from any other government service point connected to the Lanka Government Network (LGN), enabling them to provide an efficient service to the public.

Pathirana pointed out that this will make it a reliable and cost-effective way to exchange data with government agencies without interruption.

He also stated that LGC has provided facilities to 150 government agencies to maintain their digital services. He points out that more than 175 different digital services and more than 500 websites have been established for public services.

According to the Central Bank, a number of steps have been taken to establish a digital government, a digital economy and a sustainable digital service in line with the national policy and strategy of establishing a technology-based society. All public sector digital development activities are carried out under the guidance and direction of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka under the Ministry of Technology.

Source by : www.themorning.lk