Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne says GovTech will take over the responsibilities previously handled by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), but under a new framework designed to strengthen service delivery and accelerate Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
Announcing the reform, Deputy Minister Weeraratne said GovTech will serve as the government’s primary technical institution, ensuring greater efficiency in public sector services.
He explained that while ICTA was established to manage state technology initiatives, GovTech represents a restructured model with clearer mandates and operational differences.
Deputy Minister Weeraratne noted that the government’s digital economy plan rests on two pillars: the creation of a Digital Economy Authority to formulate policy, and GovTech to implement those policies.
“GovTech is not simply ICTA under a new name. It is a reorganized institution with a stronger focus on service delivery and digital infrastructure,” he said at a media briefing held this week (11).
The initiative has secured international backing, with the World Bank pledging USD 50 million and the Asian Development Bank USD 75 million over the next four years. In addition, Rs. 2 billion has been allocated from the Treasury for initial expenses.
According to the Deputy Minister, GovTech’s mission includes strengthening digital infrastructure nationwide and ensuring that even services provided by Grama Niladhari officers at the village level can be delivered more efficiently through digitalization. (Newswire)