Sri Lanka explores Digital Identity Council for citizen data

Mar 31, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka seeks to establish a Digital Identity Council to implement the national policy on collection, storage, sharing and use of citizens’ personal data under the proposed centralized Household Transfer Management project.

In 2015, the cabinet authorized ICTA to facilitate implementation of the centralized Household Transfer Management project. The project aims to establish a National Digital Identifier and National Digital Transaction platform where data including biometric information of citizens would be stored and shared with government organizations through a National Authentication Platform. Since this platform should be managed with the highest level of trust, proper governance and policy framework, it has been proposed to set up a Digital Identity Council. Cabinet approval has granted to draft the amendments required for the existing ICT Act in order to facilitate setting up and operation of a Digital Identity Council. Once the draft amendment is approved by the cabinet, the bill will be presented to Parliament for approval. The legal framework for the ICT policies to be adopted by the Cabinet is established through the Information and Communication Technology Act, No.27 of 2003 amended by the Amendment Act, No.

33 of 2008.