Claim: All mobile devices currently in use in Sri Lanka without an IMEI number registered at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) will not get network connectivity after January 28, 2025.
Fact: This claim is misleading. The TRCSL has clearly stated that this rule will apply only to mobile devices that are bought after January 28, 2025.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) noted in a YouTube video uploaded on the official channel that mobile communication devices including mobile phones, dongles, tablets, and drones will have to be registered at the TRCSL with a clear International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The TRCSL specified that this rule will come into effect on January 28, 2025 and will effectively prevent the usage and unauthorised distribution of these devices which have been purchased overseas.
An IMEI is an identity number assigned to each mobile device, which is unique to each phone. Usually, devices bought from authorised agents of manufacturers in Sri Lanka already have IMEIs registered with TRCSL via a special license, before the devices reach consumers.
Ever since the video was shared on YouTube, there has been misinformation circulating on social media, particularly Facebook and X, that this rule will affect all mobile devices which were bought and used prior to January 28 as well.
Posts of a similar nature can be found here, here, here, here, and here.
These claims have triggered panic among citizens, making many believe that they would have to buy new devices after January 28 to comply with the new rule.
Fact Check/Verification
The Newschecker team first looked at news reports about this matter. The reports indicated that the new policy will come into effect from January 29 and that the public is notified to purchase SIM enabled devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, dongles, etc., with an IMEI number approved by the TRCSL and only from vendors possessing a valid vendor licence issued by the TRCSL. Non-registered SIM enabled devices will not be active in the telecommunication operators’ networks with effect from 29 January.
A Daily Mirror report reported similar lines, stating, “This requirement will not apply to IMEI-enabled RF-emitting devices already connected to telecommunication operators’ networks before January 28.”
We also took a closer look at the YouTube video released by the TRCSL for further clarity on the matter.
Specifying more details of the new policy, the head of the TRCSL, Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath, said that the new regulation aimed to protect consumers from any scams caused by intermediary sellers who often sold these products without a valid permit issued by the TRCSL.
“Devices already connected to authorised Sri Lankan network providers will not be affected nor will devices owned by foreign tourists which are for their personal use,” he added, confirming that the devices that were in use before January 28 would not be affected by the new law.
The official website of the TRCSL carries the following graphic which says in Sinhala that “this rule does not apply to IMEI activated devices that are connected to network service providers before January 28.”
Conclusion
Only newly bought devices without an IMEI will be affected from January 29 due to the new TRCSL policy. Devices that are already in use will continue to have network connectivity via authorized service providers after January 28, 2025.
Result: Missing Context
Our Sources
Newspaper Article titled ‘Devices requiring IMEI registration must be registered with TRCSL by January 28’, Daily Mirror LK, published on January 21, 2025
Video of TRCSL head Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath explaining the regulation, YouTube channel of the TRCSL, published on January 10, 2025
Official website of the TRCSL
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