Sri Lanka started a procurement process in partnership with the Indian Government for a national digital identity project. The project had been on the government's agenda during the past months, but the procurement was officially launched last week.

Only Indian suppliers can bid on the project, including collecting face, iris and fingerprint biometrics. While the Information and Communication Technology Agency is meant to oversee the biometric system's implementation, The Indian government will oversee software development in the joint initiative. The resulting national ID program is expected to resemble India's Aadhaar digital ID program. The project's goals include more efficient delivery of government services, reduced corruption and increased financial inclusion.