COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's flagship digital identity initiative is now on the verge of becoming a reality, with India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, announcing that the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) Project is finally ready to move forward.
High Commissioner Jha said only a few remaining procedural steps need to be completed before a formal announcement can be made regarding the launch of the project.
Describing the initiative as far more than a technology platform, Jha emphasized that the digital identity programme represents a nation-building effort with the potential to transform public services, social inclusion and economic development.
He noted that when every citizen possesses a verified and trusted digital identity, social inclusion moves beyond being a policy objective and becomes a practical reality that can directly benefit people across the country.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the project's importance to Sri Lanka's emerging innovation economy, describing SLUDI as the foundational layer required to support key sectors such as financial technology, e-commerce and digital government services.
According to Jha, the introduction of a trusted national digital identity framework will create new opportunities for innovation, efficiency and economic growth while enabling broader participation in the digital economy.
He also focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence, noting that AI is fundamentally changing how businesses are established, expanded and operated across the world.
Jha said technological advancements are enabling small teams to compete with much larger organizations, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation.
He stressed that no country or company can successfully navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape in isolation and called for greater collaboration, knowledge-sharing and openness among stakeholders.
Highlighting the strong technological capabilities of both countries, the High Commissioner said India and Sri Lanka possess significant talent pools in emerging digital technologies and are well positioned to deepen cooperation in areas such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
