IT device import ban endangers certain platforms – FITIS
The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) stresses that there is a danger of the technological platform of the economy breaking down due to the Government’s ban on the import of IT devices and peripherals due to the dearth of dollars prevailing in Sri Lanka at present.
Issuing a press release, FITIS says that it is expecting to meet the President and have a discussion with him regarding relaxing this ban. FITIS further states that it conjectures that including IT Devices and peripherals in the list of proscribed articles could have been due to a genuine oversight.
The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) is a collection of united organizations dedicated to the advancement of the information and communications technology industry in Sri Lanka. FITIS is the apex body of the ICT industry in the country that comprises eight sectors (Chapters).
Relative to the other spheres of the economy, information and communications technology is a specialized sector. Its major speciality in it is that it maintains the technology platform, which is the foundation of the whole economy of the country. In other words, in today’s modern technological world, information and communications technology is the backbone of the country’s economy.
The other speciality is that all goods and services manufacturing and supply industries in the country including the banking and finance industry, the construction industry, the mass communications and media industry and the industry of tourism depend on information and communications technology. Hardware, peripherals and devices are essential to maintain the information and communications technology without breaking down.
The imports of computers and allied peripherals and devices are at a minimum level due to the dearth of US Dollars in the country for the past few months.
The proper maintenance of technological platforms has become challenging as a result of this. Especially computer hardware items such as servers, networking equipment, notebooks, laptops and desktop computers and firewall equipment are essential to carry out connected work of any type.
Keeping connected peripherals and devices live is essential for updating data systems, maintaining computer and communications networks and renewing licenses.
In this background, it is not only the information and communications technology industry sphere that will be paralyzed under the recently imposed ban on the import of IT peripherals and devices. All goods and services manufacturing and supply industries of the economy will be paralyzed, further paralyzing the national economy. The most dangerous situation is that, even now, these sectors are already paralyzed to a certain extent due to the COVID pandemic, global economic recession, dearth of dollars and political and social instability. FITIS is expecting to discuss with the President and get this ban relaxed because this is a national requirement.