May 10, Colombo (LNW): The Government is preparing to roll out a nationwide initiative aimed at accelerating digital modernisation throughout Sri Lanka’s public sector as part of its broader Digital Economy Strategy.
The programme, titled the Public Impact Champions Network (PIC-Net), is expected to strengthen institutional efficiency while improving the standard and accessibility of public services delivered to citizens.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), instructions regarding the implementation of the initiative have already been communicated to Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, heads of departments and leaders of State-owned bodies through an official circular issued by Presidential Secretary Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Under the new framework, selected Government institutions will nominate four officers each to act as digital transformation representatives within their organisations. These officers will work together to encourage innovation, modernise administrative processes and improve the overall public service experience through greater use of technology.
Authorities believe the initiative will help create a more responsive and digitally capable public sector by streamlining workflows, strengthening coordination and promoting more efficient service delivery mechanisms.
The appointed officers will undergo specialised training programmes focusing on areas including digital governance, process redesign, organisational change management and service improvement strategies. The initiative will also feature hands-on workshops, mentoring sessions and expert-led guidance designed to build practical skills.
Officials said the long-term objective is to establish a countrywide network of nearly 400 digital transformation leaders who will continue to support innovation within their respective institutions even after the formal programme concludes. The network is also expected to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Government bodies to ensure sustained institutional development.
The programme will be jointly overseen by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Digital Economy and GovTech Sri Lanka, which will coordinate implementation and provide strategic guidance.
Meanwhile, with financial and technical backing from the Asian Development Bank, a team of management consultants has been appointed to support the execution of the programme, including the evaluation and selection of nominees submitted by public institutions.
