Sri Lanka and India will jointly collaborate to expedite the implementation of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identification (SLUDI) project to aid the country in its efforts to improve the delivery of state services to the people.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is due to be signed next month, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.
During President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s visit to India last week, he conveyed the government’s interest in exploring the establishment of the successful people-centric digitalisation programmes undertaken by India. In response, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India’s readiness to fully support Sri Lanka’s efforts and agreed to the speedy implementation of the SLUDI project.
Minister Herath said the SLUDI would assist people in obtaining government services, including payments to Aswesuma beneficiaries and easier access to other state services. “This system will eliminate the need for middlemen, as money can be sent directly to beneficiaries, and there will be less corruption. It will be similar to India’s Aadhaar card, which has benefitted millions of people,” he said.
He said India’s highly successful digitalisation of the state sector had received worldwide admiration.
The Digital Economic Affairs Ministry, which comes under the President, and the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) will collaborate with the Indian government to implement the project.
An Indian government delegation is expected to visit Sri Lanka next month in this regard.
It is the first Indian investment project to start after the new government took office.
In addition to this project, the two countries will also roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Sri Lanka and establish a joint working group to explore the implementation of the DPI based on experience and the system already established in India.
The two countries will promote digital financial transactions by extending the use of the UPI (United Payment Interface) digital payments for the benefit of both countries, in keeping with regulatory guidelines of both countries.
(The Sunday Times)
(This story, originally published by The Sunday Times has not been edited by SLM staff)
A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.
The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.
Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.
The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.
As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025
Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.
Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.
Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.
Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.
Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.
They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.
Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.
(sundaytimes.lk) (This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
