The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has reported an increase in illegal activities committed using mobile phone SIM cards obtained through informal methods.

TRCSL Director General Bandula Herath stated that regulations governing the issuance of SIM cards are therefore being revised.

Herath made these remarks while attending a press conference held at the Department of Government Information yesterday (10).

“We have updated the regulations governing the issuance of SIM cards following a request from law enforcement agencies, including the police, which reported a significant increase in illegal activities involving SIM cards over the past two to three years and called for action to address the issue,” he said.

Under the revised regulations, individuals purchasing new SIM cards are expected to undergo enhanced identification procedures, including the submission of a live photograph, once the new requirements come into effect, most likely by the end of this year, he said.

“Once this system is introduced, we hope to implement a programme in 2027 to ensure 100% customer identification for all mobile phone and SIM card users. This will be implemented in a manner that does not cause inconvenience to the general public or foreign nationals.”

The primary objective is to minimise the use of SIM cards for illegal activities in the country, he noted.

“Nearly 30 million SIM cards are currently in use in the country. One of the concerns raised by users is the quality of service. At present, we operate based on the data available from the respective service providers. However, we do not yet have a system in place to independently monitor and verify this information with greater accuracy,” he added.