Announces national proposal for future-ready technology and digitally-enabled citizens to usher in change and growth
The company, one of the most powerful players in the telecom and technology sectors, cites outdated legacy systems, inefficiency, corruption, high operational costs and waste in critical sectors and services as the main reasons for accelerating a system change in the country.
A press release said the new regime change he is proposing will make digitally empowered citizens, with digitization of identities and strong digital security and privacy, its foundation. This will serve as a building block for new technological innovations that can strengthen digital commerce and e-governance in all aspects of operations critical to the county.
SLT-MOBITEL has identified healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, tourism, justice, and banking and finance as critical services and sectors that can thrive more efficiently and transparently under this new system, the press release said.
Commenting on this new system shift for the country, Rohan Fernando, Group Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom said: “Sri Lanka, like Singapore, has the potential to become a smart nation and make innovative technologies the backbone of all areas of operations.
“In this way, key issues that the country is currently facing can be addressed and critical sectors and services can be transformed into highly efficient, transparent and profitable systems that in turn can transform people’s lives. Our vision is to move the country towards e-governance and digital commerce.
“We have the broadest footprint along the value chain and an unparalleled capacity to serve the needs of technology companies, large corporations, public and governmental institutions. With our capabilities and strong infrastructure across the country, we believe we are best equipped to take on this challenge and bring about the change that the people of this country want to see.”
What is today SLT-MOBITEL started over 160 years ago as a state-owned national communications service provider, transformed over the years into a highly profitable and efficient publicly traded conglomerate offering technology and connectivity solutions, turnkey technology platforms, advanced network backbone services and digital infrastructure.
“SLT-MOBITEL’s brand unification initiative in 2020 brought together the best services in fixed and mobile technology. It couldn’t have come at a better time as the same year witnessed a dramatic increase in the need for technology and connectivity solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this increase and understanding the demand of the future, we have expanded our fiber network to 65,000 km across Sri Lanka, offering fast and accessible broadband services to increase digital capacity in the country,” the press release reads.
“SLT Group has the largest data centers in the country and our long-standing partnerships with global technology giants such as Microsoft, Oracle and VMware mean we are well-equipped to provide the most secure hosting services for public and government institutions, large corporations and foreign investors.
“As we continue to invest in infrastructure, our efforts are now focused on developing technological solutions to the challenges the country will face today and tomorrow. SLT-MOBITEL is digitally ready for the system change that we all want to see in Sri Lanka,” said Fernando.
As part of this system change proposal, SLT-MOBITEL will focus on healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, tourism, justice, and banking and finance, the press release further states:
E-Healthcare
Access to medical care is a basic need. However, the healthcare sector today faces many challenges that prevent citizens from accessing services and data. Our proposal aims to digitize the healthcare sector and will revolutionize the industry. It provides access to real-time information, remote patient monitoring, preventive care, timely support, health analytics, and overall better patient care with privacy and security. The digitization of the sector will provide healthcare practitioners and citizens with access to information at all times and will also improve efficiency and profitability for the industry.
online education
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent economic challenges, access to continuing education has become another national priority. These macroeconomic factors have left children and teachers with no choice but to switch to online education. However, rural areas have limited access and teachers need to be trained in digital technology and eLearning solutions. eLearning and smart classrooms must be actively promoted as the future of education.
With these factors in mind, we have outlined the steps to digitize the education sector in Sri Lanka. The more than 10,000 schools in the country can be provided with high-speed Internet access over the company’s extensive fiber optic network, processes can be automated through the adoption of digital tools and technologies, while libraries can be digitized for inclusive and continuous access. Additionally, teachers and students will be introduced to Learning Management Systems (LMS) to build a more agile and effective education sector.
e-transport
With the increasing urbanization of the country, traffic and the congestion it causes are having a direct impact on the economy. Loss of time when traveling, excessive fuel consumption, increased wear and tear of cars and more frequent road accidents have a negative impact on national productivity.
SLT-MOBITEL proposes the digitization of the country’s transport sector. From multi-modal tour schedules, online ticket reservations, tracking apps for public transport such as buses and trains, providing on-site WiFi and enabling cashless payments, the transport sector in Sri Lanka has enormous potential to become more efficient and productive.
E-Farming
Sri Lanka’s food security has become a national priority amid a variety of issues faced by local farmers, inhibiting their ability to meet demand. The current agricultural value chain faces obstacles at every stage – erratic climate patterns and the emergence of pests and diseases affect yield; Price volatility, lack of accurate demand and supply information affect farmers’ profitability; and distribution can be inefficient and disorganized, resulting in high waste.
We are driving the digitization of Sri Lanka’s agricultural value chain with the Helaviru Digital Economic Centre, a platform offering farmers easy access to information and insights, as well as a trading platform for transparent transactions. The company is also accelerating the digital adoption of farming communities through capacity-building programs and the adoption of smart farming solutions.
e-tourism
Tourism is a critical sector for Sri Lanka, particularly to bring in much-needed foreign exchange. However, the industry is currently grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent global and local economic challenges. Data analysis and insights will be crucial to identify Sri Lanka’s competitive advantage over other countries in the region and rebuild a thriving tourism industry.
We are currently developing a single web portal for all potential tourists to digitally enable the country’s tourism sector. This platform will be a central tourism hub, providing tourists with the information they need to plan their own stays or connect them with tour operators who have pre-planned options. This platform will also provide much-needed data and insights about the visiting tourists that can be used to further develop the industry.
E-Justice
Justice delayed is justice denied – the main problem currently plaguing Sri Lanka’s judiciary. From the high number of court cases through to sentencing, limited access to information, outdated systems that require multiple physical documents, and a lack of integration with the judiciary, all delay the process and make it inefficient.
Our proposed solution is the complete digitization of the Sri Lankan judicial system. From setting up a digitized recording process, to an automated platform for setting hearing dates in commercial courts, to a virtual solution for court hearings when logistics becomes an obstacle, and digital integration via other bodies (e.g. the police) is increasing more efficient implementation of the country’s judicial system.
banking and finance
In a world where more people work, play and live online, a world of opportunity awaits Sri Lankan businesses and entrepreneurs. Connectivity speed and access are critical to that future. Our vision to transform the current banking and finance sector to meet the demands of this future envisions the digitization of this critical sector so that it can support cashless transactions and become a catalyst for the advancement of e-commerce in Sri Lanka .
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