In a landmark step toward modernizing overseas service delivery, the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism have joined forces to fast-track digital transformation across Sri Lanka’s foreign missions යeld at the Presidential Secretariat, the high-level meeting was convened under the patronage of Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, and Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment.
This initiative underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to a citizen-centric digital future, both domestically and internationally. At the heart of the discussions was the full-scale digitalization of foreign mission services, a move set to revolutionize how Sri Lankans living overseas access vital government services. Among the key highlights were the planned rollout of integrated digital consular platforms and the development of a globally accessible, multilingual, user-friendly web interface. “This partnership is a vital move toward ensuring that Sri Lankans overseas can access services with the speed, efficiency, and convenience expected in today’s digital age, where every process—from renewing a passport to applying for compensation, must be streamlined, secure, and user-friendly,” noted Eranga Weeraratne.
A significant component of the reform is the introduction of a cashless digital payment system and the transition to a fully paperless documentation process, particularly for passport applications, authentications, and other key services. These efforts aim to reduce red tape, eliminate delays, and foster greater trust and transparency in overseas service delivery and another key area of focus was enhancing systems that manage compensation and welfare benefits for Sri Lankan workers abroad. With improved data integration and workflow automation, the government aims to deliver faster resolutions and more equitable outcomes for migrant workers and their families.
The meeting brought together senior officials including Mr. Waruna Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Mr. Subhash Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President; Mr. Prasad Piyasena, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment; Ms. Nirmala Paranavithana, Director General of Consular Affairs; Mr. Thushara 06/20/2025 Rodrigo, Director General of Public Diplomacy; and Mr. Yapa, Deputy General Manager of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. This joint initiative represents a powerful model of inter-ministerial cooperation, leveraging technology to ensure that Sri Lankan citizens, no matter where they are in the world, have access to efficient, secure, and inclusive public services.
