India has made headlines for its commitment to assisting Sri Lanka with transforming its digital infrastructure, particularly focusing on citizen-centric initiatives. This partnership was solidified during a significant meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on December 16, 2024, held in New Delhi. Their discussions outlined several collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka’s digital services and financial systems.
During the meeting, President Dissanayake expressed his admiration for India's successful digital initiatives, particularly its widely praised UPI system. He noted how these innovations have increased transparency and improved governance back home. This recognition played a pivotal role as both leaders discussed implementing similar systems to establish efficient government services and financial transactions for the citizens of Sri Lanka.
One of the key aspects of their agreement is the acceleration of the Sri Lankan Digital Identity (SLUDI) project. This initiative aims to refine how government services are accessed, making them more streamlined and accessible to the populace. By incorporating India’s experience, the Sri Lankan government hopes to create digital systems conducive to improving public service delivery.
Modi assured his Sri Lankan counterpart of India’s unwavering support for the implementation of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which Sri Lanka aims to establish. The agreement includes forming a joint working group to evaluate the deployment of such infrastructure based on India's established systems. This includes upcoming discussions on introducing DigiLocker, which will enable citizens to store their important documents securely online.
Another significant stride discussed was broadening the scope of digital financial transactions. An important step has already been taken with India's introduction of the UPI system to Sri Lanka, primarily targeted at Indian tourists since February 2024. The leaders agreed to take this initiative one step forward by encouraging the use of digital payments among Sri Lankans, promoting efficiency and reducing the need for cash transactions.
The collaboration extends beyond just digital payments and identity systems. India and Sri Lanka have committed to exchanging knowledge on various platforms, such as Aadhaar, GeM gateway, and PM Gati Shakti among others, which are pivotal for effective governance. These exchanges will facilitate the cultivation of systems analogous to India's well-regarded digital frameworks, culminating in improved service delivery.
President Dissanayake didn’t just focus on governance improvements during this visit. He also took the opportunity to tap on potential economic collaborations through direct engagement with Indian business leaders. During his time at the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum, he urged Indian entrepreneurs to seize the investment opportunities within Sri Lanka’s burgeoning economy, particularly within sectors like tourism, renewable energy, and technology. Dissanayake emphasized how these areas would benefit from increased Indian investment, enhancing the economic partnership between both nations.
Overall, India’s aid to Sri Lanka is not merely about technology transfer but also about nurturing strong ties through economic collaboration and digital empowerment. By leveraging India’s experience and frameworks, Sri Lanka is poised to experience significant transformations in its public services and financial transactions, leading to greater benefits for its citizens.
Such collaborations could reshape Sri Lanka’s fiscal ecosystem and public governance, marking the start of a more digitally empowered country. This partnership sets the stage for global observers to watch how closely related countries can innovate together to tackle contemporary challenges through digitalization.