SL to emulate Indian Aadhaar digital identity system: Sagala

• Trade will be conducted based on this new system in two years’ time

By Yohan Perera

Sri Lanka is planning to introduce a digital identity system similar to Aadhaar digital identity system in India and to conduct trade through that system, Senior Presidential Advisor Sagala Ratnayake said over the weekend.

 Addressing a group of entrepreneurs at UNP Head Quarters Sirikotha, Mr. Ratnayake said Sri Lanka will adopt the new system in two years.

“Sri Lanka’s trade will be conducted based on this new system in two years’ time.  People will be able to have access to Aswesuma social welfare scheme through this system. People pay for a cup of tea in the street corner through the Aadhaar system in India. People in Sri Lanka will be able to do the same in the future. All persons will get a digital number in addition to their national identity card number, This number can be used to pay for goods and services and to obtain Aswesuma payments,” he said.

“We will not be able to move on to this system in a hurry, as it will take at least two years,” he added.

Aadhaar system was conceptualized in India during the year 2009. The Indian government embarked on a US $ 13 million identification project. Thus the ‘Unique Identification Database Authority of India’ was created. Many volunteers with domain expertise were invited to create the Aadhaar system, and they designed a secure and scalable system. Accordingly, 94.2 per cent of the Indian population has been provided with a digital identity that cannot be lost or faked.  Today, millions of Indians have direct access to government subsidies such as pensions. The Aadhaar Micro ATM system is used to perform basic financial transactions on portable devices brought by bank employees to customers door steps, using their Aadhaar number and fingerprint as proof. During the COVID-19 lockdown in India, 11 million microtransactions had taken place each day.

• People will be able to have access to Aswesuma social welfare scheme through this system