Sri Lanka’s Information Technology service sector, one of the leading US dollar earners of the country, is set to crash as a result of the decision of the Finance Ministry on the recommendation of the Central Bank headed by Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe to ban the importation of IT devices and peripherals.
This will badly affect working from home, total shutdown of many critical operations, huge cyber security threats to businesses and loss of its valuable data, asides the present exodus of skilled employees migrating an even larger amount likely to consider it, and the loss of employability to many.
The All Ceylon Communication Owners’ Association (ACCOA) said that the prices of mobile phones and accessories would go up again as per the prices announced by the major importers.
ACCOA Chairman Indrajith Perera noted that the prices of the existing mobile phones and accessories would go up to higher prices, which they could not determine.
Mobile phones have since become very essential and vital devices and the most common accessories such as chargers, back covers, displays, cables, screen protection shields and other electronic parts are also considered extremely vital to maintain the devices.
Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) cautioned that there is a serious danger of technological platforms in the country breaking down due to this decision to save dollars at present.
It also pointed out that imports of computers and allied peripherals and devices are already at a minimum level due to the shortage of US dollars in the country for the past few months.
“The proper maintenance of technological platforms has become challenging as a result of this.
Specially computer hardware items such as servers, networking equipment, notebook, laptop and desktop computers and firewall equipment are essential to carry out connected work of any type.
Issuing a statement, FITIS said that its members expect to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe and have a discussion with him on relaxing the ban.
FITIS also pointed out that the inclusion of IT devices and peripherals in the list of proscribed articles could have been due to a genuine oversight.
FITIS noted that hardware, peripherals and devices are essential to maintain the information and communications technology without breaking down.
Keeping connected the peripherals and devices live is essential for updating data systems, maintaining computer and communications networks and renewing licenses,” FITIS said.
The apex IT body in Sri Lanka said the measure of constraining many hardware products banned from being imported whilst leaving many local entities crashing can further mean the exit of many multinationals. Many software development firms accounting for export revenue are foreseen to be reduced due to equipment shortages.
FITIS Chairman Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe said that the move can seen as reducing pressure on forex reserves with the dollar crisis, in reality, the damage may be more severe with this action.
TIS Hardware Chapter President Gnanam Sellathurrai stressed that “now with the ban specifically equipment’s such as servers, network appliances, notebooks and desktops, and firewalls are the key platforms that maintain all kinds of activity online.
It can be any software which runs on the hardware unit, but the hardware is the main unit that necessitates for any of the programs to be set on any digital activity”.
Adding to the burden when replacements are needed, Sellathurrai expressed displeasure asserting that: “When devices are to be serviced, replaced, or be renewed with the relevant licenses, the choice of postponement is not the solution.
If delayed, the entire country’s technological platform may crash part by part.
“Examples would be instances where the connectivity is lost between the head office’s central infrastructure and the branch when the interconnecting device breaks off, he said.
Therefore, it is essential that an understanding regarding the intensiveness of the problem is supposed; as already due to the forex shortage, where the country has been short supplied for the past three quarters, he added.
