Namal Rajapaksa, the chairperson of the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long-Term Policies, stated on Tuesday (18) that the subcommittee will swiftly submit the necessary recommendations to the National Council to prepare a national policy for the digitization of public services, including the issuance of digital identity cards.

The sub-first committee's meeting was held in Parliament, and participants included representatives from the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Technology, Department of Registration of Persons, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), and Attorney General's Department.

Also given attention were issues like the need to quickly establish the data protection agency under the Personal Data Protection Act and the data collecting necessary to expedite the issuance of the electronic national identity card.

The subcommittee also extensively discussed the need to amend ordinances to remove current legal barriers for updating the public service through digitization, and as a result, it recommended to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration M.M.P.K. Mayadunne to submit a report to the subcommittee within two weeks.

A national policy can be created after submitting the revisions to the Parliament through the National Council, the subcommittee's head noted.

MP Namal Rajapaksa also pointed out that accelerating the digitization of the public sector as part of a national policy would help deliver the services required by the general public more promptly and effectively.

The sub-committee also stressed the necessity for the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) to offer a more effective service in light of the latest developments and trends in the information technology industry worldwide.

Parliamentarians Johnston Fernando, Vajira Abeywardana, and State Minister Kanaka Herath were also present.