The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has addressed concerns regarding the impact of its new mobile device regulations on phones purchased overseas, received as gifts, or bought via courier services.
TRCSL Director General (Retd) Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath said devices already in use in Sri Lanka have been registered in the TRCSL database based on the SIM card in use. He confirmed that users of such devices do not need to register them again.
He added that, in the future, users will be able to register their devices through an online system.
Regarding concerns about the tourism industry, Herath assured that foreign tourists would not be affected by the new regulations. Instead, he said the system would enhance services for international visitors.
The clarification follows TRCSL’s announcement of new software aimed at detecting and blocking unapproved mobile phones. The commission urged the public to avoid purchasing non-approved devices and advised buying only TRCSL-registered IMEI-enabled phones.
TRCSL warned that non-registered IMEI-enabled devices will not function on local networks in the future. However, the restriction does not apply to devices connected to telecom networks before Jan. 28, 2025. (Newswire)