Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband services are currently on hold in Sri Lanka due to national security concerns.
The government requires assurances that its agencies will have the legal right to access data or communication details in cases involving national security threats, Daily Mirror reports.
In 2024, under the previous government, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) issued a license to Starlink, a satellite unit of SpaceX, to provide broadband services in the country. This was made possible after Sri Lanka’s parliament passed a new telecommunications bill, marking the first amendment to the relevant law in 28 years.
Starlink initially proposed its operations in Sri Lanka in March 2024. Under the current government, TRCSL approved Starlink’s tariff plans through ‘Starlink Lanka (Private) Ltd,’ offering five service packages ranging from Rs. 9,200 to Rs. 1.8 million per month.
Deputy Minister of Information Technology Eranga Weeraratne stated that Starlink’s services could only become operational if the company guarantees legal interception rights for national security purposes. He noted that such provisions were not included when the license was originally issued.
Weeraratne emphasized the need for security agencies to access data if Starlink is misused for unlawful activities. Until these concerns are addressed, the government will not authorize the service. Discussions between Starlink, the Defence Ministry, and TRCSL are still at a preliminary stage.
