National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa launched a fierce attack on the Anura Dissanayake-led National People’s Power (NPP) government, accusing it of surrendering Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and compromising citizens’ privacy by handing control of the country’s digital identity card system to an Indian firm.
Speaking at a press conference held at NFF headquarters in Colombo, Weerawansa said the rollout of the electronic national identity card (e-ID) system is “a dangerous betrayal,” claiming that control over Sri Lankans’ most sensitive biometric and personal data is being outsourced to a foreign government.
“This is not merely a policy misstep. This is the wholesale handover of our citizens’ private information to a foreign power. India will not only build and manage the system for three and a half years, but through backdoor access, could retain control even after so-called handover to the local department,” he charged.
Weerawansa claimed the digital ID program, originally proposed under the Yahapalana government, was temporarily halted by then-President Maithripala Sirisena.
“Even Maithripala, who many deemed weak, had the courage to put the brakes on this. Today’s government doesn’t even have that backbone,” he said.
He said that the Department of Registration of Persons already possesses the capacity to develop and manage the ID system internally, citing Rs. 5 billion allocated during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration for the same purpose.
Weerawansa also alleged that the agreement with the Indian firm contains “seven hidden clauses” that have not been disclosed to the public.
He further claimed that under the terms of the deal, the Indian contractor is liable for only 10% of damages in the event of third-party data breaches, a figure he called “an insult to the concept of data protection.”
Recalling geopolitical examples, he warned of long-term consequences and referenced allegations that Indian-supplied tech to Iran included Israeli backdoors used for espionage.
“Is this the risk we’re willing to take with 22 million people’s private data?” he asked.
Noting that the NPP government has turned into a “pro-Indian puppet regime”, he accused other opposition parties of remaining silent due to Indian influence and funding.
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