The Cabinet has approved amendments to the regulations governing the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, including provisions to re-register subscriber details for SIM cards issued before Aug. 2, 2019.
The existing Subscriber SIM Card Registration Regulations No. 01 of 2019, published under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991, apply only to SIM cards issued after that date, the government said.
As a result, telecommunications service providers lack complete subscriber information for some older SIM cards, creating challenges for legal and criminal investigations, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
“Several difficulties have been identified during judicial proceedings as well as criminal investigations,” he said.
Accordingly, the need to update the regulatory framework to address current requirements has been identified, he said.
The proposed amendments include new provisions for registering subscribers aged 16 to 17 and for issuing SIM cards to foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, a proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as Minister of Digital Economy to introduce new regulations for the re-registration of pre-Aug. 2, 2019 SIM cards, and to amend the existing regulations where necessary, has received Cabinet approval. (Newswire)