Sri Lanka targets first digital identity card by year-end as digital transformation gathers pace

By The Pulseline News Desk

Sri Lanka is targeting the introduction of its first digital identity card by the end of this year, as the Government moves ahead with plans to accelerate the country’s digital transformation.

The progress of the digital identity card initiative was reviewed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Digital Economy at the Presidential Secretariat.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President was briefed on the progress made towards introducing the digital identity card, while ministry officials outlined the preparations currently underway to implement the project.

The initiative is being pursued as part of the Government’s wider digital economy strategy, which seeks to modernise public services and establish a stronger digital infrastructure for the country.

The introduction of a digital identity system is expected to become an important component of this transformation, potentially providing a common digital identification mechanism for citizens when accessing government services.

During the review, the President assessed the progress of the project and stressed the importance of continuing the necessary preparations to ensure that the initiative moves forward as planned.

The digital identity card is among several projects being implemented under the Government’s broader digital transformation programme, which aims to make public-sector services more accessible and efficient through technology.

With the Government now targeting the launch of the first digital identity card before the end of 2026, attention will increasingly turn to the technical, administrative and institutional arrangements required to bring the system into operation.

The move also comes as Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen its digital economy and reduce reliance on traditional, paper-based processes across government institutions.

Further details on the rollout, including the scope of the digital identity system and how citizens will access and use it, are expected as preparations progress.