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Cyberlaw and policy scorecard

In plain words

Budget 2026 promised several digital laws and systems. The systems moved ahead. The laws did not. The table shows each promise and where it stands now.

Blue tag opens the government document at that pageCalc a figure we worked outAnalysis our viewAmounts are in Rs mn unless stated. Glossary

What this tells us

Promises are still made without price tags

An independent review found 16% of Budget 2026 proposals had no cost estimate. Press reports of the 2027 speech list digital items without amounts.

Why it matters. A promise without a number cannot be tracked.

What to watch. Costed proposals in the official 2027 speech text.

Verite Research, 12 Mar 2026 Budget Speech 2027, press-reported (Daily Mirror)

Delivery is possible: payments and digital tax arrived

Online government payments expanded, and VAT on foreign digital services became law in 2026.

Why it matters. Items with a clear owner and a revenue link were delivered. Institution-building items slipped.

What to watch. Which 2027 promises have a named owner and date.

Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2026 BEFPR 2027, p. 40 Analysis

The detail

ItemPromised in Budget 2026Status, Nov 20262027 signal
Digital Economy Act and AuthorityNew Act to create DEA and Council Budget Speech 2026, p. 19Not passed Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily MirrorRe-promised for Q1 2027. Slipped. Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror
PDPA and DPA operationPDPA amended for DPA to operate Budget Speech 2026, p. 19Gazette 2498/16 brings Parts I and III into force on 1 Jan 2027 Daily FT, 10 Aug 2026DPA called "operational". No amount stated. Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror Delivered, under-resourced.
DPA staffingNot stated0 actual of 41 approved, Jun 2025 Cadre Information of Public Sector 2025No 2027 cadre data found. At risk.
SLUDI digital IDFirst card in Q3 2026 Budget Speech 2026, p. 19Target moved to late Q3 or Q4 2026 The Morning, 22 Feb 2026Rs 1,500 mn; still framed as a foundation MPIP 2027-2029, p. 16 Slipped.
Cyber Security Bill and regulatorNCSOC cited as progress Budget Speech 2026, pp. 18-19Cabinet approved 30 Apr 2026 News 1st, 30 Apr 2026; with Attorney General by Nov Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily MirrorAuthority expected in 2027. Slipped.
AIRs 750 mn for AI, datasets, scholarships Budget Speech 2026, pp. 19-20No national AI policy, per SLCERT The Morning, 22 Feb 2026; spend not reportedNational AI Centre of Excellence, inside Rs 10 bn package Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror Policy gap persists.
Startup fundRs 1.5 bn initial grant Daily FT, 8 Nov 2025Spend not reportedFund of Funds to be strengthened Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror Digital Industry project cut 49.3%. Calc: MPIP 2027-2029
GovPay and free e-paymentsNo fees from 1 Jan 2026; Rs 1,500 mn support Budget Speech 2026, pp. 19-20State-bank integration expanding Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2026GovPay expansion is a 2027 execution measure BEFPR 2027 Delivered, scaling.
Data centres and AI infrastructureRs 500 mn data centres; Rs 3,000 mn AI, cloud, data centres Budget Speech 2026, pp. 19-20Spend not reportedTariff concessions for selected data centre investors Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror
e-Government ProcurementElectronic procurement system Budget Speech 2026324 active procuring entities by Jul 2026 BEFPR 2027Next phase 2027; Rs 502 mn MPIP 2027-2029, p. 62 Partly delivered.
VAT on non-resident digital servicesCarried from earlier budgets BEFPR 2027 (Inland Revenue and VAT amendments)VAT (Amendment) Act No. 14 of 2026 enacted; B2C only KPMG TaxNewsFlash, Jul 2026No new IT tax measure reported Daily Mirror, Budget 2027 key proposals Delivered.
Digital procurement rulesNot in 2026n/aGuidelines for procuring digital solutions, H1 2027 Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror New.
Asset declaration systemDigital system by March 2026 Budget Speech 2026Go-live not verifiedNot tracked in available 2027 text.
Costing of proposalsn/a16% of 2026 proposals had no estimates Verite Research, 12 Mar 20262027 digital items listed without amounts Budget Speech 2027, press-reported text, Daily Mirror Unresolved.

Pattern. Systems moved. Laws did not. Analysis