President Calls for Digital Transformation, Urges Shift Away From Outdated Public Sector Systems

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed the need for a strong digital transformation, calling for a shift away from outdated public sector systems and the establishment of new institutions to meet emerging challenges.

Addressing the National Trade Union Conference in Colombo, the President said some existing institutions would need to be closed down, merged or restructured, while new institutions must be established to support the country's changing economic and technological needs.

He emphasised that meaningful transformation would not be possible without moving beyond traditional structures and practices.

The President cited the establishment of GovTech as an example of this approach, explaining that the institution was created to develop the country's digital capabilities and attract skilled IT professionals to the public sector.

He said conventional public service salary scales were insufficient to attract professionals with specialised technical expertise. GovTech was therefore established as a separate institution, wholly owned by the Treasury, with a different salary structure to recruit IT specialists.

Dissanayake said the Government also plans to introduce a Digital Economy Bill and establish a Digital Economy Authority to support the country's transition towards a digitally driven economy.

He further pointed to the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority as an example of creating new institutions to address emerging challenges, particularly the growth of online gambling.

The President noted that activities once limited to traditional forms of gambling had evolved into major online businesses, requiring updated legislation and regulatory mechanisms.

He also referred to the establishment of a new company, Metro, as part of efforts to modernise the country's public transport system, including the transformation of the existing bus fleet.

He said such changes would require new salary structures and a new organisational culture.

The President stressed that some institutions would have to be discontinued, others merged or given new objectives, while entirely new institutions would need to be established to facilitate the transformation.

He also called on the country's entrepreneurial community to move away from traditional practices and embrace the changes needed to support the country's transformation.

Dissanayake said the Government was putting the necessary laws and institutions in place to drive this process.