Sri Lanka is moving forward with plans to appoint a local Managed Service Provider (MSP) to oversee the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) platform once the initial Master Systems Integrator (MSI) contract concludes. The move ensures that local expertise will drive the long-term management, operation, and enhancement of the country’s digital identity system.
Funded by an Indian grant, the SL-UDI project’s MSI role is being considered for Indian companies. However, to strengthen domestic capacity and maintain national control, the Digital Economy Ministry and the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) have issued a Request for Information (RFI) targeting Sri Lankan IT firms with the technical skills, readiness, and financial strength required to manage the platform.
The selected MSP will take charge after the MSI completes acceptance and security testing. Following this transition, further operational assurance tests and pilot programs will be conducted, after which the Department for Registration of Persons will begin collecting biometric and demographic data. This phase is expected to start in the second half of 2026.
The SL-UDI system is a key element of Sri Lanka’s digital transformation strategy, designed to enhance public service delivery through secure, inclusive, and efficient digital identity verification. It aims to streamline services, foster digital trust, and enable future innovations across finance, healthcare, education, and e-government sectors.
The MSP selection is scheduled for December 2025, allowing a six-month overlap with the MSI for knowledge transfer and seamless transition. The long-term success of the SL-UDI initiative will depend heavily on the performance of the chosen local MSP, which will play a critical role in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem.
