The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) will proceed with issuing directions to implement mobile number portability under the Sri Lanka Telecommunication Act and the conditions of operators’ licences by the end of September, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne told Parliament today.

He said the government will, if necessary, commission mobile number portability first, ahead of fixed services, so that the majority of subscribers are not forced to wait on disputes that do not concern them.

Mobile number portability allows consumers to switch service providers without changing their existing numbers. The Deputy Minister emphasized that this step would ensure fairness and convenience for millions of mobile users across the country.

The initiative has been in the pipeline for several years. In August 2020, TRCSL began preliminary measures to introduce number portability. A company named Lanka Portability, comprising all telecom operators, was formed, and TRCSL granted approval for mobile number portability in October 2021.

In 2022, the Commission laid the framework for implementing both mobile and fixed number portability. By 2023, legal clearance was announced for service providers to roll out the system in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

After decades of delay, the government is pushing mobile number portability, giving telcos until September to agree on its implementation. Otherwise, the government will impose a mechanism, Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne tells Parliament. pic.twitter.com/i85YvpDNUT

— Ranga Sirilal (@rangaba) August 6, 2026

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Developing countries must be given equal opportunities when creating a global AI governance framework, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne told the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 in Shanghai, China.

He stressed that global AI governance must involve Southern Hemisphere nations at the decision‑making table, not merely inform them afterward.

Delivering a keynote under the theme “Partnerships for a Shared Future”, Weeraratne said AI is already reshaping public services and economies worldwide, making it vital that the benefits of this transformation are distributed fairly. 

“The real issue is not whether society will change, but whether the benefits are shared equitably,” he emphasized.

Weeraratne outlined Sri Lanka’s progress in building a strong digital foundation through the DIGIECON 2030 programme, highlighting the establishment of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) platform and plans for a national AI institute to advance research, ethics, and innovation.

He underscored that developing nations must retain the right to manage their own digital infrastructure while engaging with international AI systems. For global security rules to be meaningful, he said, developing countries must be empowered to implement them.

 “The success of AI should be measured not only by technological progress but by how it improves the lives of ordinary people,” he added.

Sri Lanka was represented at the summit by Deputy Minister Weeraratne, Digital Economy Ministry advisor Sumudu Ranayake, and regional state representatives, alongside digital ministers and industry leaders from across the world. (Newswire)

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In a move to strengthen Sri Lanka’s regulatory approach to virtual assets, the Ministry of Digital Economy, together with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), convened a high‑level awareness forum on Monday (15) under the theme “Collaborating for a Secure Digital Future: Virtual Assets.”

Presided over by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, the session brought senior policymakers, regulators, and industry experts together to examine global precedents, domestic market realities, and risk‑management strategies aimed at shaping a secure and compliant digital financial ecosystem.

During the forum, distinguished industry experts Nisal Chandrasekara and Dinindu Thewarathanthri served as resource persons, delivering comprehensive insights across three core strategic areas:

• The Sri Lankan Market Reality: Evaluating the domestic operational landscape of peer-to-peer (P2P) channels and offshore trading platforms, alongside a rigorous assessment of the economic and structural risks inherent to entirely unregulated financial environments.
• Global Precedents: Analyzing successful regulatory frameworks and adaptational strategic pathways implemented by established regional hubs, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia, to identify practical models suitable for Sri Lanka.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Focusing on essential security and compliance protocols, including advanced transaction monitoring, stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls, and the integration of blockchain traceability tools.

Furthermore, the session provided participants with a foundational understanding of how virtual assets are created, traded, stored, and utilized across modern economic sectors. 

This included brief overviews of primary use cases such as specialized investment products (including Exchange-Traded Funds [ETFs] and self-custody holdings), efficient cross-border payments and remittances, the tokenization of real-world assets, and capital formation for emerging startups through strategic token issuance. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka is preparing to launch a dedicated research centre for 6G and next‑generation wireless technologies by the third quarter of 2026, in collaboration with international partners and the private sector, it was reported.

According to The Sunday Morning, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said discussions are in their final stages, with officials confident the centre will be operational within the planned timeframe. 

He further said that the initiative is expected to bring together global stakeholders and local industry players to advance research and innovation in cutting‑edge telecommunications.

Deputy Minister Weeraratne went on to state that while plans for the centre are progressing steadily, the rollout of 6G technology in Sri Lanka will take longer. 

He noted that 5G networks still require further development, and local operators must recover existing investments before transitioning to the next generation. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, says Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) – Mobitel has recorded a profit of over Rs. 6.5 billion last year. 

Addressing the media, he said the institute has been converted into a profit-making entity following a change in management and leadership. 

“SLT-Mobitel was considered a loss-making entity and was facing the threat of being sold. However, it has made a turnaround as a profit-making entity within a year,” he said. 

Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne added that the government intends to further develop the state entity. (Newswire)

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The government has assured that no government or civilian data was compromised following the unexpected collapse of the Lanka Government Cloud (LGC) in mid-October this year. 

Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said the assurance was given by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, in Parliament recently in response to a question raised by Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake. 

According to the statement, Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne had clarified that a technical issue brought on by a storage drive exceeding 100% utilization and initiating an automatic shutdown protocol was the cause of the incident, rather than a cyberattack.

“This was a controlled shutdown rather than a systemwide failure. After thorough validation to guarantee all data remained secure, services were restored by Saturday night,” the Deputy Minister informed Parliament. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne says steps are being taken to liquidate the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).

Deputy Minister Weeraratne said the institution, which was established with World Bank support, has now fallen to a deplorable state.

He further said that the institution at present is in a condition where it cannot be brought to its former state. 

Eranga Weeraratne revealed that, similar to the former government’s decision, the current government too has decided that it should be liquidated.

“Firstly, we know the country needs an authority to make digital policies. So we have proposed establishing a Digital Economic Authority. The ministry is undertaking the necessary work in this regard. Secondly, we need an institution for the policies to be implemented. The GovTech Sri Lanka institution has already been established for this,” he explained. 

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne expressed these views while speaking during a recent televised interview. (Newswire)

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In a landmark move, Google will provide its advanced AI platform, Gemini, along with a suite of premium student benefits, free of charge to students across Sri Lanka. 

The announcement was made on Monday (29) by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne at the inaugural National AI Expo and Conference in Colombo. 

This initiative marks the culmination of months of collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Google, aimed at expanding access to cutting-edge digital tools and learning resources, the Deputy Minister said. 

Students across the country will soon gain free access to artificial intelligence technologies, cloud computing platforms, and digital education materials, ushering in a new era of opportunity.

“This is a game changer,” said Deputy Minister Weeraratne. “It will level the playing field and put our students on par with anyone, anywhere in the world.”

The program is expected to significantly enhance Sri Lanka’s national capacity in AI development and digital literacy, empowering the next generation to innovate, tackle complex challenges, and compete on a global scale.

However, the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of ethical engagement, urging students to use these powerful tools with responsibility and a sense of social purpose.

“This is not just about using AI,” he added. “It’s about mastering it with wisdom, compassion, and purpose,” he added. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne says the government has decided to construct 100 communication towers to cover areas with weak telecommunication connections in Sri Lanka. 

According to Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, the communication towers are to be constructed to address issues of weak signal in rural areas.

He further said that 75% of the expense for the construction of one communication tower is to be borne by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne says the government expects to commence the issuance of Digital National Identity Cards (ENIC) from January 2025.

Addressing the media yesterday, Deputy Minister Weeraratne said all new NICs will transition to a digital format and that this initiative aims to address the delays currently experienced in obtaining NICs.

Giving further details on the initiative, he said the estimated cost of implementing the digital identity card system is Rs.20 billion.

He said that the government has decided to cover half of this cost through assistance from India to meet the financial burden.

Clarifying rumours surrounding the involvement of an Indian Company in the ENIC initiative, Deputy Minister Weeraratne requested the public not to be misled by unfounded claims made with various political motives.

The Deputy Minister explained that biometric data for the digital national identity card initiative has not been handed over to an Indian company, as claimed by many.

He said an agreement under the former government had provided access to the Indian Company, but under the NPP government, the agreement was amended.

Deputy Minister Weeraratne revealed that under the amended agreement, the Indian Company will only assist with the technical setup, while only Sri Lanka will have access to the system when uploading biometric data. 

He further clarified that under the ENIC initiative, only three key data will be collected as biometrics, which are fingerprints, face recognition, and iris recognition. (Newswire)

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