Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday, 13 November 2025 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| President Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also serves as the Digital Economy Minister, has insisted on the need to accelerate national digital infrastructure projects, including the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) initiative, National Identity Card (NIC) issuance, and the installation of 500 telecom towers under the Communication to the Village program.
He made these directions on Tuesday, Chairing a progress review meeting of the Digital Economy Ministry. The meeting reviewed the progress of digital development projects implemented by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), the Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) and GovTech Ltd., while identifying bottlenecks delaying implementation and formulating policy decisions to address them.
The President stressed the importance of building a strong foundation for Government investments in the digital economy, which he said forms a key component of the Budget 2026.
The discussion also focused on measures to attract private sector investors and market operators in developing digital infrastructure across the country, particularly through the countrywide construction of telecom towers.
He reiterated the goal of installing 500 new towers within three years to ensure greater connectivity under the Communication to the Village initiative.
President Dissanayake also directed the DRP to resolve delays in issuing NICs and instructed officials to expedite the SLUDI project, which will serve as the foundation for digital public service delivery.
Further discussions centred on establishing a Digital Economy Authority, strengthening the Ministry’s administrative and operational framework, and developing human resources to support a robust digital transformation.
Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Acting Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Chief Presidential Adviser on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, and senior officials from the Ministry and affiliated institutions were present at the meeting.
