Several failed projects by ICTA brought to light at COPE

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has come under scrutiny as the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) raised questions following revelations of massive expenditure on numerous projects launched by the agency and had fallen wayside incurring billions in costs.

The agency was summoned before the COPE panel on Tuesday (09).

During the meeting, COPE chairman Prof Charitha Herath said failures have been observed in several projects kicked off by the ICTA for digitalization of public sector, causing billions of losses.

Through the e-Pension project, the ICTA was entrusted with the responsibility of developing the hardware and software for the project utilizing state funds to initially provide pensions to the pensioners of the Western Province covering the District Secretariat, the Armed Forces, the Department of Prisons, the Department of Railways and the Department of Civil Defense, via online.

However, the project which was supposed to be implemented across the country has been abandoned with effect from November 01, 2013, due to ‘software and hardware issues’ and Rs 278.54 million has been gone to waste as a result, the COPE panel revealed.

In addition, the Google Loon project, initiated with the purpose of providing island-wide internet access had not been executed by the ICTA although more than Rs 1.8 million was spent to release the equipment for the project from the Customs and another Rs 6.4 million for project promotions.

COPE further revealed that Rs 850.47 million was approved while Rs 148.33 million was spent on the ‘Lanka Government Network’ project began by the ICTA in 2016 for establishing an efficient public service by connecting government institutions through a network. The panel stated that the progress of the project was at 17 per cent.

It was disclosed that Rs 3.5 million spent on the procurement process of the e-NIPO project initiated by the National Intellectual Property Office in 2016, has been used to pay salaries of ICTA officials.

Accordingly, the COPE chairman pointed out the need to formulate a formal mechanism to regulate financial matters.

Meanwhile, the e-Local Government project which had failed was relaunched in 2016. Rs 39 million has been spent on the project as of December 31, 2017, and the COPE reprimanded the agency for not including it in the performance reports since then.

The COPE also revealed that the ICTA had not prepared a corporate plan and that the plan which was made at a cost of Rs 2,737,000 was not executed.

Hence, the COPE directed the ICTA to conduct an internal investigation 2003-2019 and to submit a report to the panel at the earliest possible.

The COPE further expressed its displeasure over the recruitment of officials for the senior positions of the ICTA under contract basis. The panel emphasized the need to create several key positions on permanent basis and establishing a proper hierarchy within the agency.