E-technology to improve productivity of public institutions
Sri Lanka’s public institutions and state owned enterprises will be brought under strict monitoring and regulating system while introducing e- technology towards transforming the public sector to be more efficient and profitable, Finance Ministry sources revealed.
Public officials are expected to perform their duties more efficiently and speedily with the use of new Information Technology (IT) systems.
The Public Enterprises Department Information System ( PEDMIS) and the updated Payroll Software will facilitate key functions of all public officials serving in state revenue collection agencies under the initial phase, a senior official of the ministry said.
These revenue collection state agencies are Sri Lanka Customs, Inland Revenue Department, Excise Department and the Motor Traffic Department.
IT is to be used to minimise delays in correspondence in the office which is a major cause of public service delivery impediments.
The Department of Information Technology Management of the Finance Ministry is to provide the software management system for this purpose in any public institution or department, he said.
The newly-introduced software is to provide online authorisation and required services, reducing the paper work and getting rid of unnecessary delays as well as extending a more efficient service.
Recently launched new websites have been developed and open source software is being used that it is highly reliable while digital technology is to be used for financial transactions between the government and the private institutions.
This programme has been prepared without additional cost as an internal development of the Department of Information Technology Management with the help of a group of Sri Lankan youth who are studying IT.
In a far reaching move towards making Sri Lanka Customs to be more efficient and effective institution to serve the public, all the services of the import sector are being provided through a single window.
Sri Lanka Customs performs as the main hub for monitoring international trade linking all the relevant government institutions with this service, a senior official said.
The Department of Inland Revenue ( IRD) has utilised the Revenue Administration Management Information System ( RAMIS) since 2016 to perform the main activities of the tax administration process.
It enables the state banks and other state institutions to link with the IRD through Internet services and providing interfaces.
Considering the necessity of implementing the new Inland Revenue Act with immediate effect, the Ministry of Finance, is entrusted with the task of awarding the contract for changing a part of the software RAMIS 2.0 renovated as RAMIS 2.0 – B at a cost of Singapore Dollars 15,534,364 to Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE).
This contract has been awarded to the Singaporean company in accordance with the recommendations of the committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, he revealed.