(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development says he expects to introduce a digital wallet to every citizen after the issuance of the Digital National Identity Card.
The Minister said it would allow people to keep their essential personal documents, including passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates and exam certificates, in a “digital wallet” on their mobile phones and present them at any time. The Minister pointed out that the project is expected to be completed within 30 months.
He was speaking at the launch of the LANKA QR code for mobile phone payments introduced by the Central Bank in Gampaha yesterday (22). The event was held at the Gampaha Municipal Council Stadium with the participation of all public and private banks in Gampaha.
Currently, the LANKA QR code payment project is being implemented in 13 major cities of the country. About 20 major banks and non-bank financial institutions are currently using this and nearly 290,000 business people from all over the country are involved in it.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa further stated that 100 Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas will be digitized this year. Steps will be taken to introduce LANKA QR code for digital payment of shop rent, land rent, public tax collection and street line payments.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa further stated that by 2025, all government institutions from the Grama Niladhari office to the Department of Registration of Persons will be digitalized and a digital technology revolution will take place in the country.
Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that attention is being paid to introduce the LANKA QR code to the tourism industry as well.
Many countries around the world are working to introduce digital technology to various sectors. The Minister pointed out that with the Covid epidemic, the need for such innovative methods has increased. He also said that the present government is working to take the country forward using modern technology.
The government has already taken a number of steps to make the digitalization program a success. Mr. Ranatunga said the government also intends to introduce several new ordinances in the future.
Pointing out that he was the first to take up the challenge of digitalizing state institutions, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that digital technology was being introduced to modernize the Katunayake International Airport. The first phase is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.
Accordingly, steps have been taken to expedite all activities using digital technology, from the moment a passenger arrives at the airport to the time he or she boards a flight and from the time a passenger arrives at the airport to the time he or she departs the airport, said Mr. Ranatunga.
He also said that the new passenger terminal at the Katunayake Airport, which is scheduled to be completed next year, will be fully digitalized.
Central Bank Assistant Governor Dharma Sri Kumaratunga, Gampaha Mayor Eranga Senanayake, Gampaha Divisional Secretary, all Gampaha Bank Heads were present on the occasion.
