India has reportedly agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka for a Unitary Digital Identity Framework scheme, as the Sri Lankan government decided to prioritize the implementation of the unique digital identity card for its citizens as a national-level program. The development came at a time when Sri Lanka Foreign Minister G L Peiris is on a three-day visit to India. 

Under the proposed Unitary Digital Identity Framework, it is expected to introduce a personal identity verification device based on biometric data, a digital tool that can represent the identities of individuals in cyberspace, and the identification of individual identities that can be accurately verified in digital and physical environments by combining the two devices,” The Hindu reported a media statement released by the Department of Government Information on Tuesday.

On Monday, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with India, in order to obtain the grant and take the project forward. The two countries had held initial discussions during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in December 2019. 

The Rajapaksa government has been pushing for increased digitalization in the country and seeking assistance from other countries, including India, which has the Aadhar unique identity number for its citizens and residents. The Unitary Digital Identity Framework is apparently similar to India’s own Aadhar.  

Officials of the two countries are reportedly involved in finalizing the details of the proposed agreement. For over a decade now, Sri Lanka has been mulling over the idea to provide a unique digital identity card for its nationals.