Mudalige questions e-NIC project over security and foreign ties

Colombo, April 30 (Daily Mirror) - Jana Aragala Vyaparaya activist Wasantha Mudalige expressed strong criticism over the government’s handling of Sri Lanka’s proposed electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) project, particularly its reported cooperation with India.

Addressing a media briefing held today (30) at the Fisheries Ministry, Mudalige alleged that Sri Lanka’s decision-making authority over the biometric ID system had been compromised and raised concerns over data security and foreign influence.

He claimed that the e-NIC project, which was first initiated in 2012, had already cost around Rs. 5.6 billion, with core software development reportedly completed, and suggested that the project could be finalised with an additional Rs. 600 million.

However, he accused successive governments of repeatedly altering the procurement process. According to him, steps taken in 2021 under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa involved bringing India into the technical development process. He further stated that a later tender process initiated in 2023 under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced controversy over the alleged attempt to award a contract to a company that had been blacklisted in Sri Lanka over an excise tax-related matter, leading to public opposition and delays.

Mudalige also referred to an agreement signed in January 2025 under the current administration, claiming it granted India authority over tender procedures related to the project. He expressed concern that this, in his view, limited Sri Lanka’s control over procurement decisions.

He further questioned the inclusion of additional companies in the process by March 2026, including the alleged reappearance of a previously blacklisted firm, and called for clarification on whether any such company had been removed from the blacklist and under what criteria.

Warning against what he described as a potential loss of sovereignty over sensitive national data systems, Mudalige urged the President to provide immediate clarification, stating that Sri Lanka must retain full control over its national identity infrastructure and data security.