Brief
Sri Lanka aims for year‑end digital ID pilot amid funding talks with India
A Ministry of Digital Economy official said the MVP will target government staff and cost about INR 3 billion.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Sri Lanka intends to launch an in‑house pilot of its Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL‑UDI) system by the end of 2026, according to a Ministry of Digital Economy official quoted by Biometric Update.
The pilot will focus on government employees and will be built on the Modular Open‑Source Identity Platform (MOSIP). The initial phase is expected to be funded by the INR 3 billion grant already provided by India, with a similar amount needed for the next stage.
Negotiations continue over a funding gap for the full national digital ID system. Bids from shortlisted Indian firms for the Master Systems Integrator role exceeded the Indian grant, delaying procurement of the complete MOSIP‑based platform. Sri Lanka plans a phased rollout, ultimately covering roughly 17 million National Identity Card holders.
Key facts
- Sri Lanka aims to pilot its SL‑UDI system by the end of 2026. (biometricupdate.com)
- The pilot will initially target government employees. (biometricupdate.com)
- India has provided an INR 3 billion grant for the initial phase. (biometricupdate.com)
- A second INR 3 billion is expected to be required for the next stage. (biometricupdate.com)
- The full system plans to cover about 17 million national ID holders. (biometricupdate.com)
Sources
- [1] biometricupdate.com — originally reported as “Sri Lanka targets year-end digital ID pilot as funding talks with India continue”
