Lending of Mobile phones to friends banned in Sri LankaNew law is going to be introduced by Sri Lanka’s government which is claimed to be aimed at cutting down terrorist activity would also forbid lending the phone to other people. Also, planning to introduce new legislation which would require mobile phone users to carry a certificate of ownership at all times when carrying their phone around.
Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) propsed that proof of identity will be provided whenever a phone is purchsed in future. This step has been taken to avert irregularities and illegal activities while minimizing threats to national security created by the irresponsible use of telephones.
Existing subscribers would be told about the new guidelines with their next monthly bill and the system would be effective the following month. The Mobile World estimates that there were some 8.5 million GSM subscribers in the country at the end of Q1 ‘08 said TRC Director General, Priyantha Kariyapperuma.
New regulations will also affect fixed wireless CDMA handsets which will be limited to being used only at their registered address.
In a move which is more likely aimed at clamping down on tax evasion, the regulator will also require mobile phone retailers have a trading license and secure the legitimate source of all handsets they offer for sale. The government imposes a six percent import tax plus sales taxes on all imported phones making smuggling a profitable enterprise.
It has been previously estimated that over 20,000 mobile phones are entering the country through illegal channels every month.
