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Coming soon, computerized birth certificates in three minutes
Friday, 30 March 2007 - 7:14 PM SL Time
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Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has initiated a programme to issue a birth certificate within three minutes.
A high tech `Computerized Birth Registration System` introduced on a directive by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya will be available in all eight Divisional Secretariats in the Colombo District the end of this year and islandwide before the end of 2008.
A data base loaded with vital information of a new born child will be set up at every Divisional Secretariats enabling speedy issuance of certificates under one roof.
The public had to wait for weeks to obtain a birth certificate and most of those who were affected due to delays at District and Divisional Registrars` offices were students and job seekers.
The programme was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Divisional Secretariat at Ratmalana.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Minister Karu Jayasooriya said, `the equitable access to information and technology to the public is imperative for a successful transition to an efficient government is our ultimate goal.`
The ministry expects to extend the system to cover the entire country after the successful implementation of the pilot project in the Colombo District. The same high tech system would also be introduced to expedite issuance of land deeds.
`Effective use of IT can facilitate a team based approach to public service and policy decision making. A technological infrastructure could make information regarding administrative process more accessible, offering citizens an increased capacity for participation. It will enable the public agencies to develop an external orientation marked by greater collaboration, enhanced accountability and responsive decision making which were vital elements for good governance`, Minister Jayasuriya added.
The 365,000 births registered in the country in 2005, 64, 871 were accountable from the Colombo District and 41,835 of them were within the Colombo city limits.
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Roshan2007
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
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31 Mar 2007 09:02:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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Most of the countries around the world deploying e-gov portals
Our ministers boasting of computerisng the birth certificates.
Do it 1st, then boast man. |
kiwikanga
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1470
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1 Apr 2007 02:30:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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If there is any delay to issue the BC the computers will be there to pin the blame! Systems are down!!
Edited By - kiwikanga - 1 Apr 2007 02:43:21 GMT |
Abdulsalaam
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Joined: Feb 2006
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1 Apr 2007 03:56:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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I know a friend whose child was born in the Gulf. He has registered the birth in the Sri Lankan embassy in the Gulf country and obtained a Citizenship certificate from the Ministry of Defence as was the procedure then. He was subsequently requested to obtain a birth certificate as the Citizenship certificate was considered no longer valid for some reason. After several visits to the offices in Maligawatte and Pettah which took about 6 months, his application with all necessary documents including the birth certificates and marriage certificate of the parents and the Defence Ministry certificate, Hospital certificate etc., was sent to the SL embassy in the Gulf.
After another wait of 2 months, he received a certificate from the SL embassy showing a WRONG date of birth!
He is still waiting for a corrected birth certificate.
Questions
1. Why can't the Citizenship certificate issued by the Defence Ministry be accepted as birth certificate?
2. If a birth certificate was really necessary, why can't the Citizenship certificate be used by the Registrar of Births to issue the birth certificate instead of putting the helpless parents through torturous procedures subjecting them to unnecessary inconvenience and wasting thousands of man hours in the government departments?
Even without computerising, the government can do a lot to provide efficient service merely by eliminating outdated methods and procedures which make absolutely no sense. |
harini18
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 19
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2 Apr 2007 09:55:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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It is Srilanka's own program, technically developed by them.
So hopefully no one blame India if this program have any problem.
Jokes apart...It is very important for every nation to promot e-governance program in this digitized era.
Such technological developments always welcomed by people.
Edited By - harini18 - 3 Apr 2007 04:21:27 GMT |
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