Procurement to begin for SL’s Unique Digital Identity project

The Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project (SL-UDI) has decided to begin the procurement process right away.

Government representatives, including State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, met yesterday in the morning at the President’s Secretariat, and it was decided to begin the procurement work for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity project immediately.

This Joint Committee met for the second time in relation to this project as an extension of the MoU signed between Sri Lanka and India on 28 March.

The project’s progress was reviewed during the discussion, and attention was paid to the bilateral issues required for its successful completion. 

As a result, the primary goal in launching this project has been to identify a suitable supplier organisation or group of organisations to install the required information technology system in this country. The quotation for the said supplier or group of suppliers will be completed soon.

The Government of India is overseeing the software development for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project (SL-UDI). The Indian Government has agreed to contribute 3 billion Indian rupees to this cause. As a result, major automated biometric systems and other software systems will be installed with the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka’s full supervision and consultation (ICTA).

The Digital National Identity Card to be introduced by the Department of Registration of Persons will take a new look with the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project. Accordingly, the Information and Communication Technology Agency will provide all the related software and necessary technical guidance to prepare the digital identity card.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka will assist the Department of Registration of Persons in creating a National Register of Citizens as a centralised system, including biographical information, biometric characteristics, (facial, iris, and fingerprint) of citizens aged 15 and up in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. 

Data modification, unauthorised access, and identity theft are no longer possible after enrolling in the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity System. This will also aid in the prevention of unauthorised use and cybercrime. 

Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project will enable reliable and efficient access to services not only in the public sector but also in the private sector, including banks, hospitals, insurance, and other services. Thus, the project’s goal is to provide a digital identity card to all eligible individuals within a year and a half.

The progress of this project will be continuously monitored and reviewed by the Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee. Personal data collection is set to begin in 2024, following the completion of procurement for the installation of information technology systems.

Apart from State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Bagle, Chief of Presidential Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Sagala Ratnayake and Secretary of the Ministry of Technology Prof. Neranjan Gunawardena, attended the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat. 

Department of Registration of Persons Commissioner General Viani Gunathilaka, Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General M.E.M. Wininger, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka Chief Digital Officer Kanchana Tudugala, and others were among those who attended.