The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, as a former Minister of Information Technology, I am pleased to speak today. I served about eight months. From 4 January 2019, I began to draft two key laws to build the legal environment needed for progress in IT: the Personal Data Protection Bill and the Cybersecurity law. When a new President came in 2019 and we went into Opposition, both drafts had been prepared, translated and approved by Cabinet. However, with the change of administration, these two professionally drafted, internationally aligned laws were delayed. At least the Data Protection Act was eventually passed; I am pleased. But it is still not fully operational—necessary regulations and appointments are pending. I trust this will be done to raise standards in our IT sector.

¶ 02 We also need our own Cybersecurity law. Its passage is repeatedly delayed. Please get it approved urgently; I know drafting is complete. This is a priority. The IT sector can build our economy; to attract investment, cyber-protection is critical. I regret that nearly six years after I left office, this law is still not passed.

¶ 03 Our Government is poor; the rich do not pay tax, or underpay. Our tax collection process is archaic; forms are difficult and opaque, discouraging compliance. Some digitization happened last year, a good step. But we need a system where individual income tax is calculated without forms—based on income and expenditure, with simple rates, and at year-end the due amount is sent to the citizen’s mobile phone automatically. Finland operates such a system and was willing to share it with us. It is clear and simple, reduces rates, but ensures everyone pays on their income. Digital checks prevent over-spending beyond income and reduce scope for illicit funds to be used. We can implement this; the technology is familiar.

¶ 04 I also want to note a project we started that is said to be still ongoing—the National Data and Identity Interoperability Platform. It enables verification of each citizen’s identity and secure information exchange. I appreciate the priority given by this Government to digital identity; it is correct and urgent. Today there are major issues in information exchange and verification between State and private sectors—banks, insurance, Inland Revenue, Customs, Motor Traffic, Excise, CEB, CPC, LECO. We need interoperability so the State can function efficiently. Therefore, I urge that the National Data and Identity Interoperability Platform be completed swiftly and successfully; we are ready to share our experiences.

¶ 05 ICTA was formed decades ago to popularize IT and improve State use of it; former Minister Eran Wickramaratne was its first Chair and did pioneering work, followed by others who also served well. But ICTA’s model no longer fits today. It should be wound down and replaced by institutions aligned to current needs. There is professional consensus on this, but practical issues have delayed it. I am glad the Government shares this policy; please act quickly. Legal changes can proceed in parallel with technical work.

¶ 06 We are also very concerned about the state of our courts. We have a strong legal heritage, but in technology adoption we lag behind Malaysia, Singapore and even Thailand. Automation has improved the quality and reduced delays elsewhere—Malaysia reduced homicide case completion, including appeals, to about 1.5 years from over 10 years a decade earlier by automating criminal justice processes. Evidence management and related processes can be greatly eased by automation, in criminal and civil matters alike. Our court automation project started some time ago; pilots run in a few courts. It is time to scale; young lawyers are ready, seniors too, and judges must also take up the challenge. This is a mature project and can be completed in one to two years at relatively low cost. Please prioritize court automation; it impacts not only justice but also the economy—investors assess contract enforcement timelines. We often fail that test. Establish a project management unit in the Ministry of Justice or under your purview and proceed urgently. Automation will catalyze broader cultural change in the legal field; those unwilling to adapt will have to step aside. There is no alternative.

¶ 07 Hon. Deputy Minister, we are happy that Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, a practically successful expert in telecom and digitalization, has leadership in this area. Technology and management both matter. But still ICTA’s structure is unsettled; the Ministry lacks a permanent Secretary; Dr. Wijayasuriya’s placement in the hierarchy is unclear. He should be placed at the top of the State apparatus for this agenda. In countries where digitalization has succeeded rapidly, the President or Prime Minister led it, or someone at that level. This gap is fixable in days or weeks—make the appointments, place Dr. Wijayasuriya appropriately. The challenge is not in your Ministry alone; it arises when dealing with Public Administration, Motor Traffic, Elections, Finance, the Central Bank—when access and interoperability are resisted. The digitalization leader must be high enough in the hierarchy. If laws are needed to structure this, the Opposition will support.

¶ 08 In our IT economy, we say US$3.4 billion, but the true value is higher. During the crisis, the economy survived in part due to the invisible earnings of tens of thousands of IT professionals. There are many women in this sector, but participation is still relatively low due to sectoral challenges. We had organized “Women in Digital” to protect and promote women in IT and enhance professional skills. It has become inactive; I request the Deputy Minister to re-establish it.

¶ 09 With my limited time, I conclude by stating that our party is ready to extend all necessary support to the Government with regard to the IT sector. Thank you.