PSA Questions Digital ID Plan, Demands Govt Clarification on Reported Indian Company Deal

The People’s Struggle Alliance handed over a letter to the Ministry of Public Security on 17 January, requesting clarity on the government’s alleged decision to entrust an Indian company with issuing digital identity cards and obtaining biometric data.

Addressing the media, Wasantha Mudalige stated, “We recently revealed that the government plans to issue digital identity cards containing the biometric data of citizens, and that an Indian company will be tasked with this. Several ministers, including the Acting Digital Minister, have confirmed this.”

Mudalige emphasised that while the group is not opposed to issuing digital identity cards, they are concerned about the collection of highly private biometric data for this purpose. He questioned the necessity of including sensitive details such as iris patterns, fingerprints, and facial features in the new ID cards, suggesting that the existing ID cards could simply be digitised instead.

The government has justified the Digital ID project by claiming it will help systematise the tax system. However, Mudalige criticised this reasoning, pointing out that ordinary citizens already pay taxes, while large corporations and wealthy individuals are often the primary tax evaders.

The group demanded answers to several key questions, including:

What was the cabinet’s decision regarding the Digital ID card?
How much will the project cost the Sri Lankan government?
Why is the Indian government providing financial assistance for the initiative?
What specific biometric data will be collected?
What safeguards are in place to protect this data?

Mudalige also expressed concern that the Digital ID could infringe on citizens’ political and civil liberties, calling for urgent government clarification.

The People’s Struggle Alliance submitted these questions to the Ministry of Public Security but was informed that the relevant officer was unavailable. Instead, the Acting Commissioner of Registration of Persons accepted the letter and assured that a response would be provided within 14 days, Mudalige said.

“We are closely monitoring this issue. As an alliance, we will not accept any measure that undermines the freedoms of the people. If the government proceeds with this anti-people programme, we will rally citizens to oppose and defeat it,” Mudalige warned.