The Role of Technology in Promoting Inclusive and Transparent Governance in Sri Lanka

This study investigates the role of e-governance in promoting more transparency and inclusiveness in the public sector of Sri Lanka. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of such initiatives, like the e-Sri Lanka program, based on semi-structured interviews with policymakers, ICT experts, and citizens in Sri Lanka, supported by secondary data analysis. These findings indicate that automation cuts down corruption and, consequently, greatly improves the aspects of transparency, while significant digital literacy divides exist, along with other forms of infrastructure and questions of trust, especially among rural populations and other deprived groups of citizens. The study thus calls for holistic policy reforms, selective infrastructure development, and capacity-building programs as a prerequisite for overcoming these barriers. Emphasizing data protection and public-private partnership, the research underlines the need to align technological solutions with socio-economic realities across diverse populations. By addressing these gaps, Sri Lanka can unlock the full power of e-governance to enable effective, equitable, and transparent governance.