(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) directed its focus on the use of information technology by the Department of Import and Export Control and other government institutions that can contribute more towards government revenue.
Attention on this regard was drawn at the Committee on Public Accounts which met under the chairmanship of Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Member of Parliament recently (16).
The chairman of COPA is Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitarana, Member of Parliament.
Officials representing the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies, the Excise Department of Sri Lanka, the Department of External Resources, the Department of Import and Export Control and Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) were present before this Committee held. Discussions focused on ICTA developing and advising on software for other departments and ministries.
The main focus of this discussion was on ICTA’s involvement in the development of the licensing process of the Department of Imports and Exports, the computer program for integration of institutions and the development of the Revenue Administration Management System.
Discussions were held on the launch of the Institutional Integration Computer Program 2015 related to the licensing process of the Department of Imports and Exports, which is still in an unsuccessful state. Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna stated that he could not be satisfied with the role of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in the development of this software. He further stated that ICTA does not provide any intervention or assistance to government institutions, especially those who do not have the knowledge to develop computer programs. He also said that this institution has the responsibility of equipping government institutions with information technology and integrating it with new technology.
There was also a discussion on the inability of the Inland Revenue Department to implement the Integrated Computer Program (RAMIS) for tax collection.
In addition, projects prepared by ICTA in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Excise Department and the External Resources Department were also taken into discussion.
Accordingly, COPA finally recommended that the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) submit a report by July 1st on the software developed for government agencies, the government agencies that advised and their current status.
Hon. (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Hon. Tissa Attanayake, Hon. Mohomad Muzammil, Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi and Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe were present at the committee meeting held.
