LNP – Digital ID rollout needs to be expedited – Minister Namal Rajapaksa

Though successive governments have made attempts to introduce a smart National Unique Digital ID (UID) for more than two decades, Sri Lanka has unfortunately not been able to realize this objective, said Minister of Youth and Sport, State Minister of Digital Technology and Entrepreneur Development Namal Rajapaksa.

“The new government is determined to introduce an all-purpose unique Digital ID for all citizens.”

Speaking at a Policy Dialogue on “National Transformation through Digital ID “organized by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), held as a virtual meeting and a panel discussion new minister in charge of Digital technology emphasized that the need for a Smart Digital ID has been felt more than ever during the pandemic.

“Whether it is to do systematics contract tracing, vaccination scheduling and even distributing Rs 5,000/- welfare payments could have been done more systematically and with a unique digital ID and it would have allowed the government to serve our people better.”

Ministry of Technology Secretary Jayantha De Silva and ICTA Chairman Prof. Lalith Gamage are representing the digital sphere and Department of Registrations of Persons Commissioner General Viani Gunathillaka participated in representing key government officials.

MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform) Foundation Chair Technology Committee Sanjay Jain and Dialog Axiata Vice President Navin Peiris represented domain experts and telecom industry respectively.

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