SpaceX has encountered a regulatory setback in Sri Lanka as the government has suspended the rollout of its Starlink service due to unresolved national security concerns. The government has raised issues about access to communications data, which is crucial for security purposes.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) had granted Starlink a license to operate in 2024, approved by a previous administration. However, the current government has halted the service’s launch, citing the absence of provisions for legal data interception.
According to Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Information Technology, the suspension of Starlink is due to the lack of a guaranteed mechanism for Sri Lankan authorities to access data in cases of unlawful activity. Weeraratne emphasized that, should Starlink’s satellite communication services be used for illicit purposes, the Sri Lankan security apparatus must have the legal right to obtain data related to such communications.
The original TRCSL license did not include such access provisions, and the government is now working to ensure these requirements are met before allowing SpaceX to proceed with the Starlink rollout in Sri Lanka.
Starlink’s entry into the country was initially supported by a landmark amendment to Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Act, the first such change in 28 years. This amendment was passed in parliament to facilitate the introduction of satellite internet services.
Despite this regulatory challenge, Starlink’s availability map suggests that the company still aims to launch its service in Sri Lanka in 2025.
