26 June 2024, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a critical enabler of digital transformation, fostering economic growth, improving service delivery, and enhancing social inclusion. With its commitment to fostering and further strengthening the country’s DPI, the Government of Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Technology is currently working with multiple stakeholders to advance the digital transformation agenda.

One of the most promising ways to dramatically improve a country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve the lives of millions is through the implementation of DPI. Countries with safe and inclusive DPI can respond swiftly and effectively to crises. It can enable them to have innovative solutions such as digital payment platforms, which can bring more people into the financial system and transform economies.
With this motivation in mind, the Ministry of Technology, the Presidential Secretariat Support Unit facilitated by the Gates Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Office Sri Lanka and the World Bank, together with Citra Lab and Connect to Care, convened a DPI donor engagement dialogue. The forum attracted the participation of over 40 key national and international stakeholders joining from London, Paris, New York, Washington DC, New Delhi, Manila, Estonia, Norway, and Singapore, held in a hybrid format. The event complemented the recently held ‘DPI Donor Forum’ in Paris.

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to H.E. President of Sri Lanka noted, “The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to digital transformation taking steps at a policy and programmatic level, to boost the economy and services it gives to the people of Sri Lanka. A strong DPI will support the country in building forward, increasing accessibility and efficiency, and we are grateful to all partners that have come together on donor engagement to further this agenda.”

The donor forum sought to build consensus amongst key stakeholders, mainly within the development and donor communities, on the importance of DPI for Sri Lanka. The goal is to develop a portfolio of DPI initiatives, and work together to create larger, collective impact through effective support for DPI initiatives.  This dialogue also complements UNDP’s recently launched ‘DPI in Action’ series which is bringing together local partners, primarily from the public sector, to build an enhanced understanding around DPI, and brainstorm about joint initiatives that will further the DPI adoption in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the gathering, Mr. Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister noted, “The country is currently championing multiple catalytic initiatives in relation to digital transformation and this donor dialogue is a timely initiative. Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional development and achieve ambitious development objectives by investing in a robust DPI, Sri Lanka can unlock significant benefits for its citizens, government, and economy.”

Adding on their engagement in this sector, Mr. Sanjay Jain, Director, Digital Public Infrastructure  
Gates Foundation highlighted, “Sri Lanka is at a good starting point to strengthen its DPI and must look at building minimal components that can be complemented and used in multiple ways. We must begin with the use cases that will enable the services that the country will offer to its citizens.”

Furthermore, Sri Lanka is one of the first-mover countries in the global ‘50-in-5' campaign, a country-led initiative that aims to help countries design, launch, and scale components of their DPI for achieving the SDGs.

Commenting on UNDP’s role, Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka highlighted, “Recognizing Sri Lanka's commitment to advancing its digital agenda and the significance of DPI in achieving national development objectives, UNDP continues to support the effort through its expertise in leveraging technology for sustainable development. This forum brings multiple stakeholders to build consensus and help optimize the unique role played by them in propelling DPI adoption in Sri Lanka.”

Reflecting on country-led digital cooperation, Ms. Keyzom Ngodup Massally, Head of Digital Programmes at UNDP’s Chief Digital Office added: “The discussions in Sri Lanka reflect the growing interest in DPI across countries, and the importance of coming together as diverse stakeholders to mobilize resources for sustainable adoption of DPI. Besides getting the technological aspect right, ensuring safeguards upfront is necessary for preserving and protecting people’s rights at every step of their digital journey. Sri Lanka’s commitment to universal DPI safeguards reflects the growing commitment of local digital ecosystems to sustain development for everyone.”

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