The Sri Lankan Government has issued a clarification stating that Mobile Number Portability (MNP) will not be introduced in September, following media misinterpretation of parliamentary remarks by a senior official.
The Government has moved to correct confusion surrounding the timeline for introducing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Sri Lanka, clarifying that September is not the launch date for the service. The clarification followed remarks made by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne in Parliament, which were reportedly misreported by some media outlets.
According to the Government statement, the Deputy Minister had merely indicated that ongoing discussions between the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), the Ministry, and telecommunications operators are attempting to resolve outstanding issues necessary for implementation. These discussions are aimed at facilitating the eventual rollout of the service across the sector.
The Government emphasized that the end of September represents a deadline for stakeholders to finalize their agreements, not the official launch date. Should operators fail to reach consensus by this deadline, the TRCSL has been authorized to issue a regulatory directive under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act and relevant licence conditions to move the process forward.
The Government reiterated its commitment to introducing Mobile Number Portability as soon as practical, while maintaining focus on consumer protection standards. Officials stated that an official launch date will be announced separately once preparations are complete.
