President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that digitalisation is the key to bridging the urban-rural divide and addressing grassroots challenges, as Sri Lanka launched three major digital initiatives today (7 February) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The newly introduced initiatives include the GovPay government digital payment platform, the expansion of the President’s Fund services to the Divisional Secretariat level, and the eBMD system for obtaining birth, marriage, and death certificates through Sri Lankan embassies.
The project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), and LankaPay, with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka ensuring the security of the payment platform to foster public trust. The GovPay platform will initially facilitate payments for services across 16 government institutions, with plans to integrate 30 more institutions by April. The long-term goal is to unify all government institutions under this system, with 12 state and private banks already on board.
President Dissanayake noted that the President’s Fund has traditionally been managed from Colombo, making it difficult for citizens in rural areas to access services. The decision to extend its services to the Divisional Secretariat level aims to improve accessibility and efficiency. He further stated that Sri Lankans living abroad will now be able to obtain certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates through their respective embassies, simplifying bureaucratic processes.
Speaking at the event, the President emphasised that Sri Lanka has historically lagged in implementing digital policies, leading to inefficiencies and economic stagnation. “This transformation should have happened long ago, but now, we are ensuring a seamless, transparent, and efficient digital system for all Sri Lankans,” he said.
He also stressed that while digitalisation is essential for modernisation, it must not erode Sri Lanka’s cultural identity. He highlighted the introduction of the Digital National Identity Card (Digital ID) as a key milestone in this transformation.
Senior Advisor to the President on Digitalisation and ICTA Chairman Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya stated that Sri Lanka already possesses 75% of the necessary skills to build a robust digital economy. However, addressing the remaining gaps within the next three years is essential to unlocking its full potential.
The event was attended by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and other senior officials.
