Questions were raised yesterday over the government’s move to award Sri Lanka’s proposed digital identity card project to an Indian company despite strong objections previously voiced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake while in the Opposition.

National Trade Union and Civil Front Convener Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, addressing a media briefing in Colombo, called on the Government to immediately clarify reports on the tender process and the alleged involvement of a foreign company in handling sensitive biometric data of Sri Lankan citizens.

Dr. Sanjeewa claimed that the project involved the collection of highly sensitive personal information, including fingerprints, iris scans and other biometric details, warning that transferring such data to an external entities posed serious national security and privacy risks.

“The world today runs on data,” he said,recalling statements previously made in Parliament by President Dissanayake himself when he was in the Opposition. According to Dr. Sanjeewa, the President had at the time expressed serious reservations over foreign involvement in the digital identity card initiative and warned of the dangers of surrendering citizens’ data to outside parties.

However, Dr. Sanjeewa alleged that the current administration was now proceeding with the same project and taking steps to award the contract to a selected Indian company.

He further asked whether the tender had been awarded to a company previously linked to controversial transactions and alleged tax-related irregularities in Sri Lanka, claiming that investigative reports had identified the firm as a “questionable” entity.

Dr. Sanjeewa warned that data trafficking had emerged as one of the world’s most lucrative illegal industries and stressed that any misuse of biometric data could have irreversible consequences for national security.

He also argued that Sri Lanka possessed sufficient technical expertise to implement the project independently through local professionals and institutions.

Claiming that the overall project value exceeded Rs. 40 billion, Dr. Sanjeewa urged the Government to make an official statement clarifying the tender process, the identity of the selected company and the safeguards in place to protect citizens’ personal data.

By Chaminda Silva

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena over alleged violations of court-imposed bail conditions in connection with the production of allegedly unsuitable sureties.

The move came after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) requested the court to revoke Chandrasena’s bail and remand him until the conclusion of trial, arguing that the conditions under which bail was granted had been breached.

The Commission told court that two individuals produced as sureties for Chandrasena were later found to be unsuitable and had allegedly been presented in a manner that undermined the court’s trust.

The matter was taken up when a motion seeking the issuance of a warrant to arrest and produce Chandrasena was called before Magistrate Bodaragama. Chandrasena had earlier been released on bail in connection with the controversial 2013 procurement of a fleet of 10 Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Meanwhile, Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva remanded two suspects, identified as Mohamed Rizwan and Mohamed Irshan, until May 13 after they were produced by Keselwatte Police in connection with furnishing sureties for Chandrasena.

Police told court that the two men, residents of Sanchi Arachchiwatte near the Hulftsdorp court complex, had acted as sureties in exchange for Rs. 15,000 each despite having no personal connection to the accused.

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Election Commission to take necessary steps in accordance with the law to conduct elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council.

A three-judge bench comprising Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando and Sampath Abayakoon delivered the ruling in a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two residents of Sainthamaruthu.

The petitioners said they were residents within the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council area and the area had not been included in a 2020 gazette notification calling for nominations for the local government elections. They contended that the omission amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

In its judgment, the Court also directed the President, represented by the Attorney General, to issue a gazette notification specifying the number of wards, their boundaries, names, numbers or alphabetical designations assigned to each ward, based on recommendations of the National Committee for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council.

The Court held that such steps were necessary to ensure that the electoral process proceeded in accordance with the legal framework governing local government elections.

Counsel Suren Gnanaraj appeared with Rashmi Dias for the petitioners.