• New agency to regulate policies, manage Govt. digital services
• ICTA staff to be integrated into new agency
• Cabinet approves repeal of ICTA Act, drafting of Tech. Promotion Act
• ICTA’s project-based functions discontinued under new structure

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) will be absorbed by the proposed Digital Transformation Agency, the State Minister of Technology reveals.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath revealed that Cabinet approval had been granted subject to parliamentary approval to establish a new institution termed the Digital Transformation Agency, which would absorb the existing ICTA.

He further stated that the functions of the new agency would be different to those currently imposed on the ICTA.

“The Digital Transformation Agency will be charged with regulating policies. Also, certain services such as the Government network, cloud, and email will be provided by the agency. It will no longer carry out projects like before,” Herath explained. 

He clarified that the existing staff of the ICTA would be absorbed into the new Digital Transformation Agency as per the bill that was being drafted.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing held on 14 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana revealed that the Cabinet of Ministers had, on 11 May, approved the proposal submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Technology Minister, to repeal the existing Information and Communication Technology Act (ICTA) No.27 of 2003 and to commence the drafting of a new Technology Promotion Act. 

During the 2023 Budget speech, President Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance proposed that the ICTA be abolished since it had completed its role. 

ICTA is an institution wholly owned by the Government that was formulated and operationalised to implement the e-Sri Lanka Development Project funded by the World Bank from 2004 to 2011. Through this project, the ICTA was to be used to develop Sri Lanka’s economy, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life of the people. 

However, the sunset clause of the ICTA contained in the Information and Communication Technology Act No.27 of 2003 was amended in 2008, allowing it a permanent existence.