Forty senior public servants of the Government of Sri Lanka will next week begin a two-week training course at the National Center of Good Governance in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program, the Indian High Commission in Colombo announced on Friday.

Earlier this year another 40-strong batch of senior Lankan public servants participated in this program.

The participating officials are of the ranks of Director, Senior Deputy Director, Deputy Director, Senior Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary etc. from various GoSL Ministries and Departments including Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, National Police Commission, Attorney General Department, Sri Lanka Customs, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies and Audit Service Commission.

A news release from the High Commission said the course will highlight ways of embracing digital technology for bringing citizens and government closer under the policy maxim of ‘Maximum Governance – Minimum Government’.

“The primary objective of this program is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and innovations that have been implemented in India to enhance governance and public service delivery. The participants will gain exposure to successful initiatives taken in India, including housing for all, leveraging digital technology, disaster management with special reference to coastal regions, health insurance schemes, public private partnerships, bringing transparency in governance, digital public infrastructure, circular economy and election management,” the release said.

Field visits will also be arranged to enrich the learning experience, offering practical insights into governance and societal dynamics, it added.

From Feb. 26 to Mar. 8, a similar program for 40 senior Lankan civil servants was concluded.

Seventeen countries have benefited from this program. They are: Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Seychelles, Gambia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Eretria, and Cambodia.