Sri Lanka’s digital ID project has landed in hot legal waters as the Supreme Court ordered notices to be issued to the President, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Cabinet members over petitions challenging the controversial MoU signed with India. Petitioners warn that the deal risks handing over citizens’ biometric data and sovereignty on a silver platter.
The Supreme Court today directed the petitioners’ lawyers to serve notices to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Cabinet ministers and other respondents in a case filed by Wimal Weerawansa and others. The petitions seek to invalidate the Memorandum of Understanding signed with India to implement a digital identity card system for Sri Lankan citizens.
The petitions were heard before a bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Sampath Wijeratne. Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne informed the court that Cabinet members named as respondents had not yet received formal notice. The bench instructed the petitioners to reissue notices and scheduled the next hearing for October 17.
The petitioners argue that Cabinet decisions on January 27 and June 2 were taken without informing Parliament or the public. They claim the 2022 MoU with India, which allows an Indian company to handle the project, bypasses Sri Lanka’s procurement process and jeopardises sovereignty, national security and independence. The petition alleges the agreement would transfer Sri Lankan citizens’ biometric data to India, effectively opening the door to foreign interference.
The petition further states that while the Department of Registration of Persons was preparing a local digital ID program, the government arbitrarily handed the project to India, violating constitutional rights. The petitioners demand the court strike down the MoU and prevent the project’s implementation.
The legal battle highlights mounting public distrust, with critics branding the digital ID scheme not just a technology upgrade but a national security time bomb.
Why have they not followed the procurement procedure.
No president or PM can sign MOU with a private organization for government procurement.
They can only do so if it is with an overseas government organization under G2G corporation. .