During the last five years, the Information Centre has received more than 41,00,000 calls. Many State institutions including Departments of Pensions, Motor Traffic, and Immigration and Emigration are rendering an efficient and productive service to the public thanks to the Information Unit, said Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga appreciating the Unit’s service to the nation.

He said that on many occasions foreign countries had asked him about the success of the Unit and the way it functions. He also stressed the need to develop a Government Information Service Unit in the future.

Addressing the gathering, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that by 2016, the Government expects to create 200,000 job opportunities in the field of Information Technology, increase the country’s IT literacy up to 75%, and increase the foreign revenue of this sector substantially.

In recognition of the contribution made to the progress of the Government Information Centre, merits were presented to State institutions including the Departments of Police, Immigration and Emigration, Railway, Labour, Register General and the Board of Investment.