By Newswire Editorial
Sri Lanka and Azerbaijan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide training programmes and internship opportunities for Sri Lankan public officials as part of efforts to modernise the country’s public service.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the agreement was signed on November 7 between the Ministry and Azerbaijan’s ASAN Service institution.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne signed the agreement on behalf of Sri Lanka.
Under the agreement, Sri Lankan public officials working in sectors related to public service delivery will be provided with training and internship opportunities.
The initiative will also facilitate training for selected Sri Lankan trainers in Azerbaijan, who will subsequently develop and conduct training programmes for public officials in Sri Lanka.
The Ministry said the agreement is expected to contribute to significant improvements in Sri Lanka’s public administration sector and public service delivery mechanisms over the next three years.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations Government Innovation Summit, held on November 5 and 6 at the Gulustan Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Addressing a panel discussion at the summit, Minister Abeyratne emphasised the importance of reforming and digitalising Sri Lanka’s public service while strengthening public trust.
He also highlighted the need to ensure that public services are easily accessible to all communities, particularly rural populations and vulnerable groups.
The summit, jointly organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and Azerbaijan’s ASAN Service, brought together representatives from more than 100 countries to discuss innovation, digital transformation and improvements in public service delivery. (Newswire)