国际英语新闻:Sri Lankan president takes charge of technology ministry to build technology based society

COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Office on Thursday said the ministry of defense and the ministry of technology had been brought under the direct purview of the president in order to create a technology-based society.

A statement from the President's Office said the 21st century is considered the knowledge-centric century and in order to make this a reality the government strives to build a technology-based society.

"All economic sectors including agriculture, industry and services will become technology dependent in the future. The government seeks to integrate investment in education with economic sectors to create a society armed with new technology in the 21st century," the statement said.

President Rajapaksa intends to build a culture of technology and innovation that will enhance the living standards of the people, the statement added.

Under the ministry of technology, priorities include simplification of state machinery and market process, expansion of digital governance through the use of information technology as a tool for knowledge exchange, among others.

The establishment of international electronic payment schemes, high speed data exchange system and associated mobile network across the country are also within the purview of the new ministry.

In the meantime, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara was sworn in as the cabinet minister of public security while Chamal Rajapaksa was sworn in as the state minister of state security, home affairs and disaster management on Thursday, the statement said.