Under the provisions of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991, the Subscriber SIM Card (Subscriber Identity Module SIM) Registration Regulations No. 01 of 2019 were gazetted on August 2, 2019. However, these regulations apply only to SIM cards issued after that date.
As a result, telecommunications operators do not possess complete subscriber information for some customers who obtained SIM cards prior to August 2, 2019. This situation has reportedly caused difficulties during certain law enforcement and investigative processes.
Authorities have also identified the need to update the current regulations to address present-day requirements. These include introducing provisions to register subscribers aged between 16 and 17 years, as well as issuing SIM cards to foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the President, in his capacity as Minister of Digital Economy, to introduce new regulations. These regulations will provide for the re-registration of subscriber information for SIM cards obtained before August 2, 2019, while suitably amending the existing 2019 regulations to align with current needs.
