The Government has clarified that the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service will not be launched in September, correcting media reports based on remarks made by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne in Parliament.
In a statement, the Government said the Deputy Minister had only stated that discussions were ongoing between the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), the Ministry and telecommunications operators to resolve existing issues and enable the implementation of the service.
It said the Deputy Minister had noted that if stakeholders in the telecommunications sector fail to reach a final agreement by the end of September, the TRCSL would take steps to issue a regulatory directive under the provisions of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act and relevant licence conditions.
The statement stressed that the end of September is the deadline given for operators to reach an agreement and is not the official launch date of the MNP service.
The Government said it remains committed to introducing the facility at the earliest possible opportunity while protecting consumer rights, adding that the official launch date will be announced in due course. (Newswire)