PARLIAMENT

Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Chairperson of the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long- Term Policies stated today (Oct. 18) that the sub-committee will promptly submit the necessary recommendations to the National Council to prepare a national policy for the digitization of public services, including the issuance of digital identity cards.

Officials from the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Technology, Department of Registration of Persons, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Attorney General's Department participated in the first meeting of the sub-committee held today in Parliament.

Attention was also paid to matters such as the collection of data required to speed up the issuance of the electronic national identity card, the speedy establishment of the data protection agency under the Personal Data Protection Act.

The sub-committee also discussed at length the need to amend the ordinances to remove existing legal obstacles for updating the public service through digitization and accordingly the sub-committee recommended to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mr. M.M.P.K. Mayadunne to submit a report to the sub-committee within two weeks.

The chairperson of the sub-committee pointed out that a national policy can be quickly prepared after submitting the amendments to the parliament through the National Council.

Member of Parliament Hon. Namal Rajapaksa also pointed out that by speeding up the digitization of the public service from a national policy, the services needed by the people can be provided more quickly and with high efficiency.

Also, the sub-committee also emphasized the need for the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) to provide more efficient service in view of the new trends and updates in the world's information technology sector.

State Minister Hon. Kanaka Herath, Members of Parliament Hon. Johnston Fernando and Hon. Vajira Abeywardana were also present on this occasion.