Indian Delegation Concludes Successful Visit to Sri Lanka for Capacity Building of Public Officials

Colombo: A high-level Indian delegation led by V. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), successfully concluded an official visit to Sri Lanka from July 7th to 9th, 2024. The visit, marked by strategic meetings and productive deliberations, has paved the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation and capacity-building support for senior public officials in Sri Lanka.

The delegation’s agenda included discussions on a collaboration roadmap between the NCGG and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA). This collaboration aims to establish capacity-building programs for 1,500 Sri Lanka Administrative Service Officers in India from 2024 to 2029, including faculty development programs and district collector-level interactions.

On July 9th, the Indian delegation made a courtesy call on Prime Minister H.E. Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena at the Parliament premises. This meeting underscored the robust bilateral relations and India’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s ongoing governance reforms under the “Neighbors First” policy. The delegation also held meetings with key Sri Lankan officials, including E.M.S.B. Ekanayake, Secretary to the President; Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister; and Mr. Pradeep Yasarathne, Secretary Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Provincial Council and Local Government, to further strengthen collaborative efforts.

During their visit to the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), the Indian delegation interacted with Director General Nalaka Kaluwewe, senior faculty, and alumni of NCGG. They shared best practices in adopting next-generation administrative reforms with officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. It is noteworthy that NCGG has previously organized three capacity-building training programs for Sri Lankan officers, training a total of 95 civil servants from Sri Lanka.

V. Srinivas delivered an insightful oration on “Centralized Public Grievance Redressal System: A Foundation for SMART Government” at the SLIDA main auditorium. Attended by over 150 senior public civil servants of Sri Lanka, the session highlighted advancements in India’s efficient public grievance redressal system and its potential relevance to Sri Lanka’s public administration.

The delegation also visited the Colombo District Secretariat and the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat to observe the functioning of the Registrar Division, which issues vital documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates. Several informal interactions with senior official dignitaries provided ample opportunities for strengthening interpersonal bilateral relations.