The Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, in this debate on the Ministry of Digital Economy, I wish to clarify digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation.

¶ 02 - Digitization is simply converting existing data into digital form—putting data into computers. - Digitalization is computerizing a manual process—for example, turning manual bill payments into an online process. - Digital transformation integrates processes end-to-end, enabling payments, oversight of collections by local authorities, data-driven decisions, and rectifying deficiencies. It establishes robust data systems and transforms workflows for better decision-making. This is what we expect from the Ministry.

¶ 03 We aim to: improve productivity in industry and services; expand economic opportunities; enhance public service delivery; and raise transparency in governance and public finance. These directly spur growth. The President’s “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” policy pledged this, and we take it seriously—hence a dedicated ministry.

¶ 04 Key actions: - Adopting high-tech and good practices, learning from India, and operationalizing SLUDI. By 31 December last year, about 15% was completed. - Strengthening ICT infrastructure: allocating Rs. 160 million to establish a Data Protection Authority (DPA); building the GovPay platform—about 85% complete by 31 December. The total allocation here is Rs. 13,623 million.

¶ 05 Our approach is citizen- and human-centric, with life event-based strategies so people can handle real-life needs in the digital world.

¶ 06 This requires legal power and regulation: personal data protection and privacy; security of digital transactions; online user safety; organizational data-handling obligations. We must operationalize the Personal Data Protection Act, develop a Digital Security Bill framework, and establish protocols to protect systems against cyberattacks and safeguard national security—for example, securing the power grid and the financial system. We have allocated Rs. 15.77 billion to make the entire public service efficient.

¶ 07 Some trivialize that socialism, public service, and digitalization do not go together. That is nonsense.