India hands over ₹450 million to Sri Lanka to fund its digital identity project

India grants Sri Lanka ₹450 million for digital identity project, a crucial step in the island nation's digitalisation. Indian High Commissioner handed over the funds to State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath.

India has handed over ₹450 million in advance to Sri Lanka to fund its unique digital identity project, the most crucial step in the island nation's digitalisation programme being implemented through the Indian grant assistance.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said that the fund from the government of India was given on August 4.

During a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, key stakeholders, including Presidential Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, Indian High Commissioner, Gopal Bagley, and First Secretary of the Indian High Commission, Eldos Mathew and others engaged in extensive discussions on the project’s execution.

“Signifying the Indian government’s commitment to the initiative, the Indian High Commissioner handed over a significant contribution of Indian ₹450 million to Minister Kanaka Herath (State Minister of Technology), constituting 15% of the total funds required for the successful implementation of the project as an advance payment," a statement from the President's Office said.

Mr. Ratnayaka emphasised the paramount importance of adhering to a well-defined timeline to ensure the project’s seamless execution.

Acknowledging the project’s profound significance in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery process, Mr. Ratnayaka expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian government for its unwavering support in this endeavour.

"High Commissioner handed over a cheque of ₹450 million to State Minister Hon @kanakadh, in the gracious presence of Hon @SagalaRatnayaka today for SLUDI (Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project) project, which is being implemented through grant assistance by Govt of #India," the Indian High Commission in Colombo posted on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.