LIRNEasia » public services

Wireless Unbound – Mckinsey Report on wireless benefits

Chanuka Wattegama — Wed, 23 May 2007 02:52:15 +0000

The report examines the untapped potential that the mobile / wireless devices have in provisioning of next generation of business and public services.

This report , prepared and published by Mckinsey and Company, can be a very valuable tool for the professionals in the public sector as well as the industry. It makes a point that the next generation of services for the evolving knowledge society would be provisioned through mobile / wireless devices.

http://mckinsey.com/clientservice/telecommunications/WirelsUnbnd.pdf

$53 Million for Wiring Sri Lanka

Indi Samarajiva — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 08:11:30 +0000

From Lanka Business Online:

The World Bank late Tue approved US$ 53 mn to roll out the e-Sri Lanka project, which aims to bridge the digital divide in Sri Lanka.

Rolled out through the Information Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA) over a five-year period starting Nov., the project aims to improve public service delivery, increase private sector competitiveness, promote new sources of growth, accelerate social development, bridge the digital divide, and support peace.

ICT diffusion across the country will be the enabler for development throughout the key sectors of the economy.

The funds will come through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Banks concessionary lending affiliate, with 40 years maturity and a ten-year grace period.

“This is an exciting program and we are delighted to be able to provide support for it,” says Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka. “It supports the three key aims of our country strategy: it underpins peace by connecting the North and the South; it enhances the prospects for growth, not only in the IT sector itself, but also by raising productivity growth in other sectors; and it advances the cause of equity, by improving the access of the poor to a range of public services.”

… if you have any background on this deal please feel free to start a thread below. I believe Rohan mentioned that the World Bank traditionally doesn’t give money for infrastructure, but that something was negotiated.

Public Administration in an e-Economy

Indi Samarajiva — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 04:49:07 +0000

The service sector drives network economies and information societies. The foundation of this sector is the communication network. As such, modern network economies depend on effective reforms in telecom infrastructure to strengthen links among local, national, regional and international networks and markets.

Professor William H. Melody
Technical University of Denmark
London School of Economics

… in his presentation on public administration in an e-economy to the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.

Melody further explained that e-government, as the application of new technology to deliver public services – is efficient, effective, and responsive. Timely application of new technology will make the government better, cheaper and faster.

Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, co-chair, reported that the Sri Lankan government is taking steps to reengineer itself as a viable e-government.

This bi-monthly executive seminar series is being conducted to raise e-gov awareness among public servants. Participants in this inaugural session included senior secretaries and officials from relevant ministries and organizations like the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). This program is backed by T.M.K.B. Tennakoon – Director of SLIDA, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva – Executive Director of LIRNEasia and CISCO Internet Business Solutions Group.