President moots Digital Promotion Agency

• New App to collect data of the public sector

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced plans to establish a Digital Promotion Agency aimed at developing computer applications for the collection and monitoring of data from various state entities.

Previously, private companies had been responsible for creating such applications for Government organisations.

However, the President emphasised the need for a dedicated agency to carry out this task in the future. Wickremesinghe shared these intentions during a meeting with Governing and Opposition Members of Parliament at the Parliament Complex..

Two months before the budget, the Sectoral Oversight Committees shall provide a report on how the Government›s money has been utilised.

The meeting also discussed the overlapping work of the Oversight Committee and expedited its progress.

President told the meeting that rules and regulations of committees and advisory councils should be set by the MPs who meet in those bodies. If the committee meeting cannot be held in the Parliament, we can find another location. The participating members could be paid separately. One thing should be mentioned here. Before presenting a Bill to the Parliament, it should be presented to the MPs in advance to discuss and to be aware of it. It should be presented to them at least a week before the debate instead of delivering the Bill today to be submitted tomorrow. It will be meaningless. It would be preferable if MPs were given at least two weeks› notice.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka told the meeting that in the Parliament, there are around 73 Committees and Advisory Councils. “Human and physical resources are insufficient to support these Committees. If a rapid progressive committee program is required, the infrastructure should be strengthened,” he added.

MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage noted committees and advisory groups can have a significant impact. However, the representatives who have been appointed are engaged in a political process rather than performing their official duties. They are attempting to address the media through media shows. This is something we should avoid. It needs a quick program as it contains sensitive issues in these areas.

The President also said under World Bank support, funds have been secured to build an Interim Budget Office. “We need your assistance to keep it running. The council should recognise its own obligations and designate Chairmanships of committees and advisory councils, as well as their representatives, with suitable targets,” he told MPs.

According to the President, in the past, District Revenue Officers (DRO) were assigned to Local Councils to collect Government taxes. In India, there were Collecting Officers. However, when the Regional Secretariats in Sri Lanka expanded, the DROs disappeared and later they became Assistant Government Agents.

As a result, these Assistant Government Officials spent the Government›s money rather than collecting revenue for the Government. Consequently, the Government will have to recruit at least 200 new DROs to collect the income if necessary.

Moreover, until recently, the private sector was responsible for the development of computer apps to gather and store data from Government institutions for the functioning of Government institutions. It should be stopped. Prompt measures have been made to establish a Digital Promotion Agency (DPA) for this purpose.  As a result, DPA will develop computer applications for all Government organisations in Sri Lanka in the future. 

This discussion was attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Education Minister and Leader of the House Dr. Susil Premajayanth, Parliamentary Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera, President›s Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, President›s Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, and members of the Government and Opposition.