“Whatever conspiracies they attempt, I will not back down” says President Anura

10-Nov-2025

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the digital identity card would be issued from the third quarter of next year, regardless of any schemes or attempts to obstruct the initiative.

He made this statement while presenting the 2026 Budget in Parliament on November 7.

Elaborating on the proposals related to the digital ID, he said:

The digital infrastructure programme will begin in March next year, and the digital identity card will be distributed in the third quarter.

He added that during the preparation of the digital ID, some individuals went to court claiming that citizens’ data would be sent overseas and therefore the project should not be allowed. He expressed his gratitude to the judiciary for dismissing these cases without taking them up for hearing.

Court rejects petition against Digital Identity Card; Minister thanks judiciary

Some individuals went to court arguing that personal data could be transferred abroad when preparing the Digital Identity Card, and therefore the project should not be permitted. However, the court declined to take up the case for hearing, and I express my gratitude to the judiciary for dismissing the petition.

We will give a firm assurance that none of our data will be sent outside the country. In this modern era, a digital identity card is essential. Therefore, regardless of the pressures exerted, the work of preparing the digital identity card will not be halted, he said.