Environment Ministry promises paperless administration using technology

By Ifham Nizam

The Environment Ministry had decided to use technology to reduce the paper use in public administration, Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jayasinghe said yesterday.

Dr. Jasinghe said they had taken steps to launch a paperless administration using e-technology as a pilot project.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing held at the Ministry yesterday, he said: “The paper is made from trees. So, the more paper we use, the more trees we have to cut down to produce more paper. Many countries in the world today use e-technology to maintain files and other documents. But in our country e-technology is rarely used for that purpose. There are piles of paper in government offices.”

Therefore, he stressed that they the Ministry of Environment had decided to initiate a programme to minimise the use of paper in administrative matters.

“We are launching a new app with the help of Sri Lanka Telecom. “Once we have initiated this process, other ministries and government departments will be able to join it,” he said.

Dr. Jasinghe also said that they had commenced discussions in that regard.