COLOMBO
In a significant move towards strengthening digitalization in Sri Lanka, the Indian government has granted INR 450 million in advance to the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project (SL-UDI), one of the most crucial steps in the island’s transformation into a digital society. The grant, which makes up 15% of the total required funds for the project, was handed over in a ceremony on Friday in the presence of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s key officials, including Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Presidential Staff, and State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath. Indian High Commissioner, Gopal Bagley, and other significant figures were present during the handover, underscoring the Indian government’s commitment to the endeavour. Extensive discussions on the project’s execution were held, focusing on a well-defined timeline to ensure a smooth implementation process. The Indian High Commission in Colombo highlighted the gesture on platform X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, detailing the grant assistance to the SL-UDI project. The SL-UDI initiative aims to collect essential biographic and biometric information such as facial, iris, and fingerprint data, aligning with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. These data will be centralised to issue identification cards, leading to more efficient government services, financial inclusion, and support for welfare programs. Ratnayaka expressed gratitude towards the Indian government and emphasised the project’s significance in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The initiative commenced with the signing of a MoU between Sri Lanka and India in March 2022, followed by the introduction of the Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC).
The Indian government’s oversight in software development for the SL-UDI project signifies a robust collaboration between the two nations, marking a new milestone in the shared vision of technological advancement and economic upliftment.