February 10 (Citizen.lk News) - The Cabinet has approved amendments to SIM card registration rules, introducing measures for the re-registration of subscriber details for SIM cards obtained before August 2, 2019.
The original Subscriber SIM Card Registration Regulations No. 01 of 2019, issued under the Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991, applied only to SIM cards issued after that date. This left gaps in subscriber information for older SIM cards, creating challenges in legal and criminal investigations.
The new amendments also provide for the registration of subscribers aged 16–17 and the issuance of SIM cards to foreign nationals visiting the country.
The proposal, submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Minister of Digital Economy, is aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, improving the accuracy of subscriber data, and supporting law enforcement and national security efforts. Officials say the changes will modernize SIM registration processes to meet current operational and security needs.
