- Launch set in 18 months
The Ministry of Digital Economy is due to call for tenders by the end of this month or in July for procurement related to the development and implementation of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) platform, with the launch expected 18 months later, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne confirmed.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Weeraratne said that the project was currently in the procurement phase and that a Request for Proposal (RFP) had already been issued as part of the tendering process.
“There is no contract signed with any company at this point. The process is open,” he said.
The delay, he explained, was because the RFP process was still being sorted out.
The SLUDI initiative, which seeks to create a digitally verifiable identity for every Sri Lankan citizen, is a cornerstone of the Government’s broader digital governance strategy.
According to officials, the platform will integrate biometric data and demographic details, enabling a range of services, from public administration to digital banking, to be securely accessed via a unified digital identity.
Weeraratne further clarified that the SLUDI platform and the Electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) project were being pursued as complementary initiatives.
“They are two separate projects, but they will work hand in hand. SLUDI is expected to be launched first, while e-NIC will follow. The reason for this is because they are both part of the same ecosystem, and for e-NIC to work, the digital ID should be activated,” he said, noting that while both projects were moving forward in parallel, SLUDI was currently leading the implementation timeline.
The SLUDI platform, once implemented, is expected to be interoperable with a wide range of public and private sector systems, potentially revolutionising citizen access to services.
A key feature will be its use of biometric authentication, aimed at enhancing security, reducing identity fraud, and streamlining service delivery.
Weeraratne claimed that the full implementation of the SLUDI project would require about 18 months. “The e-NIC project will be launched soon after the SLUDI project is launched. We are trying to have them both be launched around the same time,” he stated.
Previously, the SLUDI project drew attention after reports claimed that an agreement had been signed with an Indian firm to develop the system. However, Weeraratne categorically denied such reports, confirming that no company had been awarded a contract yet and that the process remained open and competitive.
The SLUDI project has been developed with technical guidance and consultation from the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), with a framework designed to adhere to international standards of digital identification, including privacy and data protection principles.
The Deputy Minister added that more concrete dates for implementation would be determined following the tender process.
The launch of the SLUDI platform is also expected to dovetail with the Government’s broader digitalisation roadmap, which includes reforms in e-governance, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure aimed at modernising the Sri Lankan economy, and improving transparency and efficiency in public service delivery.