Cabinet nod to restructure ICTA

• Approval given to restructure ICTA under three branches to digitise ministries, improve services, set up regulatory frameworks and attract investment  
• Presidential task force to be established to oversee digital ID card implementation 
• Green light given to amend Registration of Persons Act 
• e-ID card program to be completed by Dec. 2022 

By Uditha Jayasinghe 

Cabinet yesterday approved restructuring the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) along three branches to improve public digitisation and attract investment as well as appoint a task force to guide the implementation of the e-national ID card program to be completed by the end of next year. 

Cabinet approved two proposals presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the special meeting held yesterday morning. In one proposal Cabinet approval was given to restructure the ICTA to establish three new program units to carry out digitisation policies of the Government. The three units will be digital Government, digital economy and digital services.  

Under the digital Government unit there will be implementation of programs for the digital transformation process of State agencies. The digital economy unit will focus on capacity development, growing innovations, and entrepreneurship as well as establishing the right regulatory framework for startups and other tech-focused companies to attract foreign investment.   

The Digital Services unit will provide support such as consultancy services required for the establishment, management and maintenance of information technology infrastructure facilities required for digital services, including e-Government services as well as the inauguration and maintenance of digital transformation or conversion processes.

The second proposal was for the appointment of a Presidential Task Force for assisting with the guidance required for the establishment of the digital identification framework for Sri Lanka and entrusting implementation responsibility to the ICTA, Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday. 

“Measures to set up a centralised digital identification framework for Sri Lanka has already been finalised by the Committee entrusted with the planning of the relevant programs. Therefore it has also been decided that the implementation of the e-national identity card project will be done in collaboration with ICTA and Department of Registration of Persons,” Rambukwella said. 

Cabinet approval was also given to make required amendments to the Registration of Persons Act No. 32 of 1968 for the convenience of the implementation of the digital identification framework and the e-national identity card project for Sri Lanka. The entire project is expected to be completed by December 2022. 

“The Government is following a centralised digital identity framework and a strategy that facilitates the same for realising the objective of ‘A Skilful Nation’ which is one of the 10 fundamental objectives of the national policy framework of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ and the same has been given priority as a national level program,” the Cabinet Spokesman added. 

The digital identification framework has been prepared jointly by ICTA and the Department of Registration of Persons whereas implementation of the project of electronic national identity cards has been recognised as one component under it. The project has been ongoing for several years.