Effective from today (28th), the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has mandated that all radio frequency (RF) emitting devices, including those requiring International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration, must be registered to operate legally. This includes cell phones, wireless networks, drones, radar, and other electromagnetic energy-emitting devices used in industrial, medical, and consumer applications.
TRCSL’s Director General, Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath, explained that the new system aims to enhance security, curb the importation of illegal electronic devices, and streamline mobile device tracking. Users must obtain proper registration by providing the relevant model number of their devices. The initiative also seeks to ensure that only high-quality, certified electronic devices are allowed to operate.
The decision follows numerous issues arising from the purchase of illegally imported devices, which have contributed to significant tax revenue losses for the government. The TRCSL will implement an automated system to identify registered devices by the end of this month. IMEI registration will also allow authorities to block unauthorized or stolen devices from accessing local networks.
Foreign visitors arriving in Sri Lanka will not be impacted by the new regulations concerning devices brought into the country, but new imports or personal devices must be registered via the TRCSL’s online system. Devices already connected to telecommunication networks before today will be exempt from the registration requirement.
