The government has clarified that the end of September is not the official launch date for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Sri Lanka, but the deadline for telecommunication stakeholders to reach a final agreement on implementing the long-awaited service.
The clarification follows media reports that MNP would be launched in September after Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne addressed Parliament on Wednesday.
According to the Deputy Minister, discussions are currently underway between the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), the Ministry of Digital Economy, and telecommunications operators to resolve outstanding issues and accelerate the rollout of MNP.
He said that if telecom operators fail to reach a consensus by the end of September, the TRCSL will intervene by issuing regulatory directives under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act and the conditions of operators' licences.
The Deputy Minister further said that if the deadlock continues, the government is prepared to fast-track the implementation of Mobile Number Portability ahead of Fixed Number Portability (FNP), ensuring that mobile subscribers are not affected by disputes unrelated to the service.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting consumer rights and introducing MNP at the earliest opportunity, adding that the official launch date will be announced separately once implementation arrangements are finalised.
