By: Staff Writer
January 12, Colombo (LNW): In a major step toward modernisation, the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka launched a significant initiative to digitise its operations, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s industrial development.
The move, which focuses on the automation of key functions at the Central Verification Division in Orugodawatte, will transform processes previously reliant on manual systems, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and reducing operational costs.
Digitisation and Enhanced Security with BOI’s Central Verification Division
The Central Verification Division of the BOI has taken the lead in the transition to a digital ecosystem by automating essential services such as the issuance of gate passes.
This digitisation aims to reduce human intervention and paper usage, resulting in smoother, faster operations. By incorporating QR codes into digital gate passes, the BOI enhances security while streamlining approval processes.
The system also integrates electronic payment solutions, offering 24/7 service availability and allowing for a significant reduction in reliance on human resources.
As part of the broader plan to revamp service delivery, the new digital platform replaces traditional paperwork with seamless digital processes, from the collection of import and export fees to the verification of documentation.
This transformation is a vital step in modernising Sri Lanka’s industrial export infrastructure.The shift from manual processes that once defined the collection of verification charges and the management of export verification procedures is a welcome change.
The integration of digital identification tools and the automation of approvals, licenses, and verifications are expected to significantly boost the efficiency of operations.
The newly implemented system is a response to the challenges posed by outdated processes that previously hindered the division’s operations.
The Central Verification Division, established in 1993, has long been a cornerstone of import and export clearances, particularly for industries operating outside designated investment zones.
However, the reliance on manual methods had become an obstacle, prompting the adoption of this new digital solution.
At the launch, BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath emphasised the importance of this initiative for Sri Lanka’s economic growth, stating that industries under the BOI’s oversight contribute to 80% of the country’s industrial export revenue.
He reiterated the BOI’s commitment to improving infrastructure to support these industries. Renuka Weerakoon, Director General of the BOI, also expressed optimism about the digital transition’s potential to enhance the ease of doing business in Sri Lanka.
With the commencement of digital gate permits, the BOI has made its first major step in what is expected to be a comprehensive transformation of the country’s industrial services, ultimately benefiting both businesses and the economy.
