The People’s Struggle Alliance has raised concerns over the government’s decision to entrust the issuance of digital identity cards to Sri Lankan citizens to an Indian company.
In a letter to Minister Vijitha Herath, the Alliance highlighted his recent statement claiming that, according to an agreement entered during the incumbent president’s Indian State tour, the power to issue digital identity cards to Sri Lankan citizens will be entrusted to an Indian company and that the government will finalise the MOU between the two parties regarding this agreement in January 2025.
“We stress that this agreement poses an inevitable danger to democratic rights, national security, public security, the state economy, and the sovereignty of the State and its people. It is critically important to review the history of allowing the issuance of digital identity cards by an Indian company,” the Alliance said.
The People’s Struggle Alliance further said; “We live in an era of information, and it is a massive risk for a country to give away its people’s information and data to another foreign country. A nation can be subjugated even just by acquiring the information of its people from another country. India is making that strategic intervention in Sri Lanka today. Given this, the public safety of the people of Sri Lanka is at grave risk.”
The Alliance stressed a proposal to immediately revoke the decision to hand over digital identity card work to an Indian company should be brought in Parliament while reaping the benefits of new technological developments. (Islandnews)
