Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

What Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka does

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) is a statutory government agency established on 12 May 2003 under the Information Communication Technology Act No. 27 of 2003, fully owned by the Government of Sri Lanka. It serves as the apex body for implementing the country's National ICT Policy, coordinating digital transformation across all government ministries, departments, and state-owned enterprises. The agency's primary constituents are the Sri Lankan government (itself its sole institutional customer) and, indirectly, Sri Lankan citizens who access digitized public services. ICTA also runs ecosystem programs targeting startups, students, and women entrepreneurs through initiatives such as Spiralation, e-Swabhimani Awards, and #Suhuruliya.

ICTA's core technology portfolio centers on a digital government infrastructure stack comprising five principal platforms: Lanka Government Network (LGN 2.0) — the backbone network connecting 860+ government institutions with a target of 3,500; GovPay — a digital payment platform linked to LankaPay that processed over Rs. 2.7 billion in transactions across 252+ government entities in its first year and onboarded 200+ organizations by November 2025; Lanka Gate — a common e-services portal aggregating citizen-facing services from multiple departments; SL-UDI — a biometric-based federated digital identity system funded by an Indian government grant; and eDAS — an electronic document attestation system using biometric authentication that reduced Ministry of Foreign Affairs processing time from 6 hours to 15 minutes. Supporting assets include the Sri Lanka Museums mobile app, a Free Wi-Fi program covering 1,000+ locations, the 1919 citizen inquiry service, and the Digital Nomad Visa initiative launched in March 2026.

ICTA operates as a non-commercial public-sector entity with no revenue-generating pricing model. The agency is funded entirely through Sri Lankan government budget allocations plus grants from international development partners including the Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Services are delivered free of charge to citizens, and the go-to-market motion is policy-mandated rather than sales-driven. The agency maintains a workforce of 51-100 employees based at its Colombo headquarters. In October 2025, the Sri Lankan government formally incorporated GovTech as the successor entity to ICTA, with ICTA's liquidation expected within 3-6 months; GovTech continues the same mission with funding from the national budget, ADB, and World Bank.

Name

Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Legal name

Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Website

https://icta.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka is a statutory government agency, established 2003, that implements Sri Lanka's National ICT Policy by building digital infrastructure — including the Lanka Government Network, GovPay digital payments, SL-UDI digital ID, and Lanka Gate e-services — for use by government ministries, citizens, and the broader digital economy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Digital Transformation Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), IT, Information Security & Digital Governance (EDADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Government digital transformation
• E-government services
• Digital payment platform
• National digital identity
• ICT policy implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ICTA is a government-owned statutory agency fully funded by the Sri Lankan government. The agency operates as a non-revenue generating entity focused on public sector digital transformation. Project funding comes from national budget allocations, as well as international development partners including ADB and World Bank.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) is the apex statutory government body that implements Sri Lanka's National ICT Policy through digital government infrastructure and citizen-facing services. It builds and operates platforms such as GovPay (digital payments for government fees and traffic fines), Lanka Gate (common e-government services portal), SL-UDI (biometric national digital ID), and the Lanka Government Network (LGN 2.0) connecting public institutions. ICTA also drives digital inclusion programs including free public Wi-Fi, startup incubation, cybersecurity coordination, and citizen empowerment initiatives.

Product overview

Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) operates as the apex government body for ICT policy implementation and digital transformation. The agency's portfolio consists of multiple interconnected products and programs: GovPay serves as the core digital payment platform linking citizens to government services and processing payments including traffic fines; Lanka Gate delivers e-government services through a common portal connecting multiple institutions; SL-UDI provides the national biometric digital ID system with federated authentication; Lanka Government Network (LGN 2.0) provides the underlying network infrastructure connecting 860+ government institutions. Supporting initiatives include the Digital Nomad Visa for economic attraction, Free Wi-Fi Program for digital inclusion, Spiralation startup development program, e-Swabhimani awards for digital innovation recognition, Smart Social Circles and #Suhuruliya for citizen empowerment, Cyber Security Week for awareness, and the eDAS system for consular document processing. The agency also provides strategic frameworks through its Digital Economy Blueprint.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GovPay: Digital payment platform for government services
• SL-UDI
• Lanka Government Network
• Digital Nomad Visa
• Lanka Gate

Products and services

• GovPay Digital payment platform enabling citizens to pay government fees, traffic fines, and access government services online. Links 252+ government entities to a single electronic payment system through partnership with LankaPay.
• Lanka Gate e-Services Common e-government services portal delivering citizen-facing digital services through a unified platform connecting multiple government institutions including Labour Department, Motor Traffic Department, Immigration and Emigration, and National Transport Medical Institute.
• SL-UDI Unique Digital ID Biometric-based national digital identification system providing federated authentication for secure digital identity verification, enabling citizens to access government services. Funded by a grant from the Government of India.
• Lanka Government Network (LGN 2.0) Government-wide network infrastructure connecting public institutions for accelerated information exchange and efficient citizen service delivery. Already connected 860 institutions with plans to extend to 3,500.
• Free Wi-Fi Program National initiative providing free internet connectivity at over 1,000 public locations including universities, railway stations, hospitals, and government offices to bridge the digital divide.
• eDAS Electronic Document Attesting System Electronic system for attesting and certifying documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using biometric authentication and queue management.
• Sri Lanka Museums Mobile App Multi-lingual mobile application providing museum visitors with voice descriptions, geo-location based augmented reality, indoor positioning, and social media integration for heritage tourism.
• Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) Visa program enabling global remote workers and digital nomads to live and work in Sri Lanka, contributing to the country's digital economy growth.
• Spiralation Startup Program Startup support program providing seed funding of $5,000 per startup along with training, mentorship, and international business promotion through participation in global tech events.

Quantifiable outcome

• GovPay processed Rs. 2.7 billion+ in digital payments within first year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Immigration and EmigrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Department of Immigration and Emigration collaborates on Digital Nomad Visa initiative and SL-UDI digital identity system implementation.
• SarvodayaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ICTA-Sarvodaya Memorandum of Understanding entered into joint program to empower people through digital technology, including #stayhomestory competition.
• Facebook (#SheMeansBusiness)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Facebook's #SheMeansBusiness program partnered with ICTA's #Suhuruliya initiative to train rural Sri Lankan women in digital skills and promote entrepreneurial activities.
• Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018MaGIC experts conducted Social Innovation Camps under the National Youth Social Innovation Challenge program organized jointly with ICTA and other partners.
• UNDP Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018UNDP Sri Lanka co-organizes the National Youth Social Innovation Challenge with ICTA, Ministry of Telecommunications, and National Youth Services Council.
• Ministry of Women and Child AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs partners with ICTA on the #Suhuruliya program for economic empowerment of women through ICT.
• Eurocenter DDCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Eurocenter DDC was awarded the Lanka Gate e-Services Project for developing online services at Department of Labour, Department of Motor Traffic, and National Transport Medical Institute.
• LankaPaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLankaPay serves as the payment network partner for GovPay digital payment platform, enabling electronic payments across 252+ government entities. This partnership enables the single electronic payment system for government services.
• Ministry of Digital EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Digital Economy works jointly with ICTA on digital transformation initiatives including digital ID systems, digital payment adoption, and digital economy development strategies.
• Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerICTA implemented electronic Document Attesting System (eDAS) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Division, reducing service time from 6 hours to 15 minutes.
• Department of National MuseumsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICTA and Department of National Museums jointly developed the Sri Lanka Museums Mobile Application with multi-lingual content and augmented reality features.
• SL-CERT (Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSL-CERT functions as the focal point for cybersecurity in Sri Lanka under ICTA's coordination. Handles over 4,000 cybersecurity incidents annually and coordinates Cyber Security Week events.
• Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Digital Nomad Visa initiative aimed at attracting global remote workers to Sri Lanka for digital economy contribution.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GovTech Singapore: Singapore's Government Technology Agency is the most directly comparable peer — and notably the entity whose digital-government model Sri Lanka's ICTA explicitly mirrors (visible in ICTA's website branding). Both serve as apex government agencies implementing national digital transformation with shared service platforms, citizen identity, and payments infrastructure.
• Department of Information and Communications Technology (Philippines): The Philippines' DICT is the lead agency for ICT policy, digital government, and cybersecurity — a peer agency in both scope (e-government services + national cybersecurity) and in operating as a developing-economy statutory body with similar budget constraints.
• Ministry of Digital Malaysia / MDEC: Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) operates as an agency driving national digital economy, startup ecosystem, and digital government adoption — comparable to ICTA's combined mandate of e-government, digital skills, and startup support (e.g., Spiralation, Disrupt Asia).
• Digital Government Authority (UAE): The UAE's Digital Government Authority oversees federal e-government services, digital identity, and smart government initiatives — a direct peer in mandate and product scope to ICTA's GovPay, Lanka Gate, and SL-UDI portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Digital Transformation Agency (Australia): Australia's DTA leads whole-of-government digital transformation, established digital identity (myGovID), and digital service standards — closely paralleling ICTA's mandate to coordinate cross-ministerial digital initiatives.
• Government Digital Service (UK GDS): UK's central digital government unit operates GOV.UK as a single citizen portal analogous to ICTA's Lanka Gate, and runs identity/verification platforms similar to SL-UDI. It's a broader incumbent but serves the same 'government as a platform' function.
• Department of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY, India): India's MeitY oversees Digital India, including the Aadhaar national ID and the National e-Governance Plan — directly comparable in mandate and scale to ICTA. India is also funding ICTA's SL-UDI project, reinforcing the strategic linkage.
• Information System Authority (Estonia / RIA): Estonia's RIA operates the data exchange layer (X-Road), e-identity, and cybersecurity for one of the world's most advanced digital governments. While Estonia is more mature, the architectural model is highly relevant to ICTA's Lanka Government Network and SL-UDI roadmap.

Others

• LankaPay (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka's national payment network is ICTA's core infrastructure partner for GovPay, enabling interbank electronic payments. As an enabling infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, LankaPay is an ecosystem participant in ICTA's digital government stack.
• SL-CERT (Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team): Formerly a division within ICTA, SL-CERT became an independent legal entity in 2018 and continues to coordinate national cybersecurity under ICTA's broader mandate. It is an ecosystem participant / spun-off successor rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icta_srilanka
• Facebookfacebook.com/ictasrilanka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/403017

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka