Digital Economy Strategy initiatives are moving ahead as Sri Lanka targets a $30 billion digital economy by 2030, with the first digital identity card expected by year-end and vehicle fine payments shifting fully online from September.
Digital Economy Strategy advances with new ID cards, online fines and expanded digital services
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reviewed the progress of several major digitalisation programmes as the Government accelerates efforts to expand Sri Lanka’s digital economy and improve the delivery of public services.
The review covered projects being implemented during 2026 by the Ministry of Digital Economy and institutions under its purview. Among the key milestones discussed was the planned issuance of Sri Lanka’s first digital identity card by the end of this year.
The Government is also preparing to move vehicle fine payments entirely online from September. The initiative is being implemented through GovPay, a digital platform designed to make financial transactions between citizens and the Government faster and more convenient.
According to the President’s Media Division, the necessary infrastructure is already in place to facilitate online payment of vehicle fines across the country. The move is expected to reduce reliance on cash-based transactions while making the payment process more accessible and efficient.
The progress review also covered the National Super App, which is intended to bring multiple public services together through a more convenient digital platform. Alongside the Super App, officials updated the President on the National QR Drive, which aims to encourage digital payments and reduce the use of cash.
Another major component of the Government’s digital transformation Sri Lanka programme is the National Data Exchange (NDX). The system is designed to enable secure and transparent data sharing between Government institutions while helping streamline the delivery of public services.
The President also reviewed the Number Portability project, which would allow mobile subscribers to change telecommunications networks without having to change their existing telephone numbers. The initiative is expected to provide consumers with greater flexibility and encourage competition within the telecommunications sector.
Digital procurement and services were also included in the review, alongside the Public Impact Champions Network (PIC-Net), which has been introduced as part of the Government’s broader effort to digitise public services and improve administrative efficiency.
President Dissanayake instructed officials to focus on establishing the Information Technology Service as an All-Island Service. The objective is to strengthen the availability of specialised digital and technology expertise across the public sector and support the Government’s wider transformation programme.
The review extended beyond individual digital platforms to include infrastructure, skills development and institutional capacity. Officials discussed the Data Transmission Unit, the planned AI Data Centre and training and educational programmes conducted by the GovTech Academy.
The GovTech Academy is expected to play a role in developing digital, information and communication technology skills within the Government and public service, while also supporting innovation and improving institutional readiness for new technologies.
Progress in establishing GovTech was also assessed, including the development of the required technological infrastructure and recruitment of personnel. The institutional framework is expected to support the implementation of multiple government technology projects under the Ministry of Digital Economy.
The President separately reviewed projects being implemented by institutions under the Ministry, including the Department for Registration of Persons, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), Data Protection Authority, GovTech, Sri Lanka Telecom-Mobitel and Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company.
The television programme digitisation project and other ongoing initiatives were also reviewed as part of the wider assessment.
The scale of the programme reflects the Government’s ambition to increase the value of Sri Lanka’s digital economy to US$30 billion by 2030. Achieving that target will require not only new technology platforms but also stronger digital infrastructure, skilled personnel, effective regulation and greater adoption of digital services by businesses and citizens.
The planned digital identity card is one of the most significant projects in this effort. A national digital identification system could provide a foundation for more efficient access to public services and enable greater integration between government institutions, subject to appropriate safeguards around privacy and data protection.
Similarly, the expansion of online payments could contribute to a wider shift towards a more digitally connected economy. The move to make vehicle fine payments exclusively online from September represents a practical example of how digital services can change routine interactions between citizens and the Government.
The review was attended by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Adviser to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Ministry of Digital Economy Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala and heads of institutions under the Ministry.
The latest progress review indicates that Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy Strategy is moving beyond individual technology projects towards a broader transformation of government services, infrastructure and economic activity. The effectiveness of these initiatives will ultimately depend on how quickly they translate into reliable, accessible and widely used digital services.