COLOMBO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy has introduced interim guidelines to enable the public sector to expand remote service delivery, as the government seeks to reduce pressure on national fuel reserves amid ongoing global supply disruptions.
The directive follows developments after Feb. 28, which have affected energy availability, prompting authorities to limit in-office operations and encourage digital alternatives.
A key focus of the guidelines is the use of virtual platforms for meetings and collaboration to minimize physical travel.
The ministry has recommended the use of meet.gov.lk as the primary platform for large-scale or sensitive government meetings, while allowing the use of commercial platforms within specified limits.
The guidelines also formalize the use of electronic documents and signatures. Officials are permitted to create, transmit and store documents through approved digital systems, with electronic authentication methods including digital signatures, scanned signatures, or approvals communicated through official email.
To ensure data security, the guidelines prohibit the sharing of classified information through consumer messaging applications and require password protection for sensitive documents.
The ministry further encouraged departments to enhance digital skills among staff and establish safeguards for information security. ■
