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Indian High Commissioner meets Speaker

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The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mr. Gopal Bagle met the Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday (03) in Parliament.

The Indian High Commissioner briefed the Speaker on the matters that were brought to the attention of the President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his last visit to India. The High Commissioner also pointed out that the main purpose of this visit was to enhance the long-term economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and India.

Also, the High Commissioner has informed the Speaker that during this visit discussions were held to improve the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, education, digital technology etc.

The speaker expressed his gratitude for the India’s support given to Sri Lanka and expressed happiness over the increase in the number of tourists coming to Sri Lanka from India.

The Indian High Commissioner, who asked for a meeting with the Sri Lanka – India Parliamentary Friendship Association, said that he expected to inform its members. The High Commissioner also said that exchange programs between the two countries are expected to be implemented.

Acting Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Hansa Abeyrathne, was also present in this meeting.

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Wimal sounds alarm over e-NIC tender to Indian firm, Cites national security risks

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National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has alleged that the ‘Punarudaya’ government has handed over the tender to develop Sri Lanka’s electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) system to an Indian non-profit company, raising serious concerns over national data security.

Addressing a media briefing, Weerawansa claimed that the tender allows the Indian company access to highly sensitive personal data of Sri Lankan citizens, including biometric information such as fingerprints, retina scans, and residential details.

He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Sri Lanka and India in 2021 during the previous government’s tenure, involving the Department of Persons Registration and an Indian firm, to develop the e-NIC system. Although it was not implemented at the time, the current government, under President Ranil Wickremesinghe, had revived the project in 2023 by allocating Rs. 3 million.

“By now, nearly 99% of the technical system has been completed locally by the Department of Persons Registration, with an investment of Rs. 5 billion,” Weerawansa said. “All necessary equipment, including fingerprint and retina scanners and personal identification systems, have already been procured.”

He accused the present administration of deliberately sidelining the completed local system and pressuring the department to transfer control to India’s National Institute for Smart Government (NISG), claiming the Sri Lankan-developed system was flawed.

Weerawansa also alleged that the tender process was conducted exclusively in India, allowing only Indian companies to apply, effectively barring any Sri Lankan firms from participation. “According to the tender, the Indian company will have access to crucial data, including the movement of people, accommodation details, and even the country’s medical requirements,” he warned.

Furthermore, he raised concerns about data privacy, noting that under the terms of the tender, the Indian company would bear only 10% responsibility in the event of a data breach.

He said the Indian Ministry of Digital Economy has already approved the tender for developing Sri Lanka’s e-NIC system. The NFF leader urged authorities to reconsider the move, citing threats to national sovereignty and personal data protection.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Piumi’s son granted bail

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The son of actress Piumi Hansamali has been granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court (No. 07) today (13).

Accordingly, he was ordered to be released on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000.

Hansamali’s son was arrested earlier today by the Welikada Police in connection with the assault on an individual in Kalapaluwawa, Rajagiriya.

He was taken into custody over the alleged assault, which was reportedly carried out along with a group, following a motor accident.

The assaulted individual has been hospitalized.

Further investigations are being conducted by the Welikada Police.

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Harley Davidsons found in Bird Park hideout

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Some twenty illegally imported high-end, high-capacity motorcycles—including eight Harley-Davidsons—were recovered during a raid conducted by the Central Anti-Corruption Task Force at a warehouse inside Bird Park, Hambantota.

Police said investigations are continuing to determine who owned the bikes and why they were hidden in the warehouse.

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