Wimal Weerawansa launches a fiery attack on Anura Dissanayake’s government, claiming India is being given full access to Sri Lanka’s citizen data via the new electronic identity card system. Accusing the NPP of betrayal, Weerawansa calls for mass resistance and demands transparency on secret Indian deals. “Not even Maithripala stooped this low,” he says.
Wimal Weerawansa Blasts NPP: India Now Controls Sri Lanka’s Citizen Data via E-ID Deal
National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa has issued a scathing condemnation of the Anura Dissanayake-led National People’s Power (NPP) government, accusing it of handing over control of Sri Lanka’s citizen data to India through the controversial electronic identity card system. Speaking at a media conference at the NFF headquarters in Colombo, Weerawansa claimed the system is not only a betrayal of national sovereignty but also a dangerous invasion of personal privacy by a foreign power.
Weerawansa called on all Sri Lankans to boycott the electronic identity card being rolled out by what he called the “pro-Indian puppet regime” of Anura Dissanayake. He also challenged government officials to a public debate over the alleged risks and the broader implications of this program, which he says is backed and managed by India.
Tracing the origins of the program, he said the initiative began during the Yahapalana regime with Mohanthan Kanagasuriyam at the helm of ICTA and Ravi Karunanayake as the Minister. A cabinet paper was presented, but then-President Maithripala Sirisena delayed implementation. “Even Maithripala, who many call a weak ruler, had the spine to pause the process,” said Weerawansa.
Although the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration allocated Rs. 5 billion for the e-ID project, it never fully handed over control. He pointed out that the Department of Identity Cards had already developed the necessary technology in-house. However, the current government has opted to outsource this to an Indian firm.
“This tender document gives India full control of the system for three and a half years. After that, the Identity Card Department supposedly gets control. But India could still access the system through a backdoor,” he warned.
He alleged that the fine print in the agreement reveals only a 10% liability for the Indian company in the event of third-party data breaches, rendering the safeguard mechanisms weak and unacceptable. “This is not about me or my data. This is about every Sri Lankan’s data being handed over to a foreign country,” Weerawansa said.
He sarcastically addressed Minister of State Dr. Ketha Bent, criticizing him for blindly defending a policy that even Anura Dissanayake, back in the day, would have fiercely opposed. “Anura used to talk about the importance of protecting personal data. Where is that Anura now? All we see is a ghost,” Weerawansa remarked.
Bringing up an alarming example, he said India gave software and hardware to Iran, which turned out to be Israeli tech. That allowed Israel to monitor Iranian scientists and carry out deep infiltration attacks. “Isn’t this exactly the type of risk we’re opening ourselves to?” he asked.
Weerawansa questioned India’s trustworthiness, accusing it of stirring internal conflicts in many neighboring countries, including Sri Lanka. “Why should we trust India with our most sensitive data? If we can’t produce our own ID cards after spending Rs. 5 billion, then what’s the point?” he added.
He accused the NPP and other opposition parties of staying silent because they rely on Indian funding and influence. “The plantation political parties are all dancing to India’s tune,” he said. “If this was truly being handled by our own Identity Cards Department, we’d have no issue. But giving it to India is outright betrayal.”
According to Weerawansa, the agreement has seven hidden clauses signed with India that are still not public. “This government doesn’t even have the spine Maithripala had. They’ve committed a betrayal that no previous government has dared,” he said.
He concluded his fiery statement by evoking the late Rohana Wijeweera: “If Wijeweera were alive today, he’d be rolling in his grave.”
Weerawansa called on the public to rise up and oppose the digital ID card program. “We must not hand over our biometric and personal information to India. We must resist this sellout of national sovereignty.”
