Government moves to cut paper use in Parliament
– The Government is taking steps to reduce paper usage in Parliament and the public sector through digitalization, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament today.
Responding to a question on digitalization and paper usage, the Prime Minister said Parliament spent Rs.45.3 million in 2023, Rs.58.7 million in 2024 and Rs.73.1 million in 2025 on Hansard reports, Order Books, agendas and other printed materials provided to MPs and Ministers.
She said the printed materials were produced based on requests made by Parliament, while a program was now being developed to reduce paper usage. Following a request by the Treasury Secretary, the Committee on Parliamentary Business had considered the possibility of providing parliamentary reports entirely in digital form, she said.
A survey will be conducted among MPs to determine their preference for digital or printed documents. MPs who prefer digital copies will receive documents electronically, while printed copies will continue to be provided to those who request them.
The programwill be implemented on a date to be decided by the Committee on Parliamentary Business after the survey is completed.
Dr. Amarasuriya said ministries and government institutions were also taking steps to digitalize their operations and reduce paper usage, although the process would take some time.She said the digitalization of government processes would eventually facilitate the electronic exchange of files and other official procedures.
