By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAR 31, 2025: THE 7th Capacity Building Program for mid to senior-level civil servants of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka successfully concluded on May 27, 2024, in New Delhi. The program brought together 40 senior civil service officers from Sri Lanka, including Chief Secretary, Uva Province, Deputy Chief Secretary, Southern Province Assistant Divisional Secretaries, Assistant Chief Secretaries, and Directors. Participants represented key ministries such as the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic & Ocean Resources, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Local Govt., Ministry of Planning, Department of the Housing Commissioner, among others.

V. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), graced the valedictory session as the Chief Guest and delivered an insightful address to the gathering. In his speech, he elaborated on key aspects of digital governance in India, highlighting its role in enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centric service delivery. He also discussed the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) , emphasizing its impact on improving governance through seamless grievance redressal mechanisms.

Furthermore, Srinivas shed light on the principle of "Maximum Governance, Minimum Government," which aims to streamline administrative processes and enhance public service delivery with minimal bureaucratic intervention. He also spoke about Mission Karmayogi, the Government of India's flagship initiative for capacity-building and skill development among civil servants, designed to foster a future-ready bureaucracy equipped to meet the evolving challenges of governance.

Further, the session also showcased participant-led case studies on a range of critical topics, including Comprehensive Health Care Scheme for Senior Citizens in Sri Lanka's Aging Population, Effective Cadre Management in the Public Sector with a focus on Development Officers at the Divisional Level, Strategies for Enhancing Government Revenue Collection through Digitalization, Strengthening Paddy Farmers by Introducing Alternative Farming for Additional Income, and Combating Corruption for a Cleaner Sri Lanka: A Pathway to Sustainability.

Dr. A.P. Singh, Associate Professor and course coordinator, emphasized the wide-ranging topics covered in the program, spanning governance, digital transformation, developmental initiatives, and sustainable practices. He also provided an overview of the field visits to esteemed institutions, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), and the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun. Additionally, participants engaged in district attachments to Mathura, visits to PM Gati Shakti Anubhuti Kendra in Mandapam, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and the iconic Taj Mahal.

The capacity-building program was led under the supervision of Dr. A.P. Singh, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, along with Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Associate Course Coordinator & Faculty at NCGG, Sanjay Dutt Pant, Program Assistant, Monisha Bahuguna, Young Professional, among other team members.