The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) says it has received reports of an increase in illegal activities carried out using SIM cards obtained through informal methods.
TRCSL Director General Bandula Herath said SIM card issuance regulations have been updated following requests from law enforcement agencies to address the growing use of SIM cards for illegal activities.
He made these remarks while speaking at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday (10).
Under the new system, live photographs are expected to be made mandatory for people obtaining new SIM cards by the end of this year, he said.
He added that the TRCSL plans to introduce a system in 2027 to ensure 100% identification of all customers using SIM cards.
The system will be implemented in a manner that does not cause inconvenience to the general public or foreigners, he said.
The main objective is to reduce the use of SIM cards for illegal activities in the country.
The Director General also said that nearly 30 million SIM cards are currently in use in Sri Lanka, while complaints have been received regarding the quality of telecommunications services.
