Sri Lanka to issue first digital national ID by late 2026: Deputy Minister

 Says unified ‘Super App’ first phase of procurement completed, now moving into development phase

 Notes ‘GovTech’ to replace ICTA 

 Declares GovPay processed over Rs. 2.8 m transactions across 153,530 payments YTD 

 Plans to re-launch QR-based payments mechanism, integrating informal rural financial activities into formal digital system 

By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lanka plans to issue its first digital national identity card by the third or fourth quarter of 2026, with the procurement process now in its final stages, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne said.

Speaking on the Government’s digital transformation roadmap yesterday, he said the new digital ID will allow citizens to authenticate themselves securely using biometric data, eliminating the need to physically present an identity card at multiple service points.

“Instead of carrying a physical card to various locations, citizens will be able to verify their identity with 100% certainty using biometric data,” Eng. Weeraratne said.

The digital ID initiative is designed to streamline interactions between citizens and State institutions, reduce duplication of documentation, and enhance the efficiency of public service delivery. 

He said they expect the system to improve accuracy in identity verification while reducing fraud and administrative bottlenecks.

In parallel with the digital ID rollout, he said the Government is also developing a unified digital platform described as a ‘Super App,’ which will consolidate multiple State services into a single interface.

“The ‘Super App’ will bring all these services into one place, making them highly efficient and accessible,” Eng. Weeraratne said, noting that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to modernise public administration.

He said the first phase of procurement for the ’Super App’ project has already been completed, with the program now moving into the development stage. The second phase will focus on building and deploying the mobile application and backend infrastructure required to support the digital ecosystem.

The Deputy Minister maintained that establishing robust digital foundations, including secure identity verification and integrated service platforms, will enhance economic efficiency, improve transparency, and position Sri Lanka as a more digitally integrated economy within the region.

He also announced that institutional systems such as ‘GovTech’ will also be introduced to improve data sharing among Government institutions. “Once GovTech is established, it will replace the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA),” he added. 

In addition, Eng. Weeraratne said ‘GovPay,’ which was introduced by the Government as a key initiative of the digital payment system, has made remarkable progress. “Over Rs. 2.8 million transactions were made so far via 153,530 payments through the GovPay system. It has also registered 259 State institutions and facilitated over 3,800 citizen services,” he explained. 

The Deputy Minister also noted that Spot Fine payments for traffic fines are already being used successfully. 

He announced that the Government plans to re-launch QR codes for digital payments to further expand facilities so that all State payments can be made using QR codes and other digital methods. “One main goal is to bring informal financial activities in rural areas into the formal digital system,” he asserted.