Discussions held on proposed MOU between Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and India's National Centre for Good Governance
India and Sri Lanka have embarked on a promising journey to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of Personnel Administration and Governance, following a recent meeting held in New Delhi on February 14, 2024. 
 
A focal point of the meeting was the discussion on the modalities of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) and the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) of India. 
 
The MOU aims to facilitate Capacity Building Programmes (CBP) for senior and mid-level civil servants of Sri Lanka, signifying a concerted effort to share knowledge and expertise in governance and administrative reforms.
 
The talks, aimed at weaving a closer partnership between the two nations, were led by Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DAR&PG) of India V Srinivas and Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Anura Dissanayake.
 
The delegation-level discussions also saw the participation of eminent officials from both sides, including Dharmasri Kumaratunga, Secretary, Ministry of Technology; Pradeep Yasarathna, Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government; and Nalaka Kaluwewe, Director General, Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) from Sri Lanka. Representing India, senior DARPG officials NBS Rajput, Puneet Yadav, and Jaya Dubey were also present.
 
Kaluwewe outlined a comprehensive Capacity Building Plan designed to enhance the skills of Island Service Officers of Sri Lanka over the next five years. The plan includes the development of a training curriculum and the conduct of training sessions for 1,000 officials at various levels of seniority, employing a hybrid mode of delivery.
 
The meeting comes less than a year after Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe sought India's help in establishing policy reforms, governance, capacity building, digitalization, and public service delivery.
 
During a meeting with an Indian delegation in Colombo in April 2023, President Wickremesinghe sought necessary help based on India’s experience of digital governance and participatory policymaking.
 
The envisioned partnership voices a mutual recognition of the importance of governance reforms, meritocracy, and technological advancements in public service delivery. By combining India's strength in administrative reforms and e-governance with Sri Lanka's dedication to civil service excellence, the initiative promises to set a precedent for future bilateral collaborations in the region.