Sri Lanka to Launch Digital ID by April 2026 with Support from India
In a big move to modernise public services, the Sri Lanka government has announced plans to roll out a national Digital ID system by April 2026. The aim is to make government services easier to access while keeping citizen data private and safe.
Backed by India
The Digital ID project will be carried out by the Ministry of Digital Economy. It’s being funded by a LKR 10.4 billion grant from the Government of India, which helps ease the financial burden on Sri Lanka.
Moving from Plastic to Digital
For years, Sri Lankans have used a physical National Identity Card (NIC). Now, the country is moving towards a digital system that’s more secure and better suited for today’s needs.
The Digital ID is part of a broader plan to turn Sri Lanka into a digital economy hub by 2030.
Global Tech Platform Selected
The new system will use MOSIP—a global, open-source platform already in use in countries like Philippines, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Togo. Over 130 million people worldwide already have digital IDs through MOSIP.
Why MOSIP?
The government considered three options:
- Building its own system
- Using commercial software
- Adopting an open-source platform like MOSIP
They chose MOSIP because it’s affordable, secure, and gives the government full control over citizen data. Unlike private software, MOSIP doesn’t lock countries into long-term vendor contracts and can be tailored to local needs.
Local Control and Security
A certified Indian tech company will help set up MOSIP in Sri Lanka. However, local professionals will eventually take over full management, including:
- Handling all data collection
- Maintaining the system
- Running security checks through Sri Lanka CERT
- Hosting data on servers owned by the Sri Lankan government
Strong Privacy Measures
The Ministry says the Digital ID is built with privacy in mind. Personal and biometric data (like face scans or fingerprints) will be heavily encrypted both when it is stored and when it is sent. This ensures no one can access the data without permission.
Not Aadhaar
To clear up confusion, the Ministry said MOSIP is not Aadhaar, India’s digital ID program. Though similar in purpose, MOSIP is international and open-source, not owned by any single country. So far, no data leaks have been reported from any system using MOSIP.
More Than Just a Digital Card
Officials said the Digital ID will do more than replace old NICs. It will:
- Make public services easier to access
- Improve trust between citizens and the government
- Support secure online services
- Lay the foundation for a strong digital economy
The Ministry is urging everyone to stay informed and support the new system, saying it will benefit future generations and bring lasting change to Sri Lanka.
Also read: Google Picks Visakhapatnam for $6 Billion Hyperscale Data Centre Project
