Nearly 900,000 mobile SIM cards currently active in Sri Lanka lack verified identity details and will be deactivated if required information is not submitted, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne told Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Speaking in Parliament, Weeraratne said 897,802 SIM cards in the system do not have proper identity verification.
He explained that the new regulations are intended to address gaps in the 2019 SIM registration framework and ensure full compliance with registration requirements.
According to the Deputy Minister, 245,811 business SIM cards are also currently in use, with some unregistered SIMs allegedly being linked to serious crimes, including large-scale robberies.
He stressed that law enforcement authorities require accurate subscriber data for investigations, warning that the absence of verified information enables criminal activity.
Weeraratne urged users of SIM cards without proper registration details to submit the required information promptly, noting that failure to comply will result in deactivation.
He added that the move is essential to curb crime and strengthen national security, rejecting opposition claims that the new regulations are misleading or unnecessary.
