Are electronic signatures legal in Sri Lanka? What are the main laws regulating electronic signatures?
Electronic signatures are legal in Sri Lanka. They are primarily governed by the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006 (as amended in 2017) (ETA), the Evidence (Special Provisions) Act No. 14 of 1995, and the Sri Lanka Certification Authority (SLCA) Regulations of 2017.
What is an electronic signature in Sri Lanka?
The Electronic Transactions Act defines an "electronic signature" as any letters, numbers, symbols, images, characters, or any combination thereof in electronic form, applied to, incorporated in, or logically associated with an electronic document, and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to authenticate and/or approve the electronic document, to determine its authenticity or integrity, or both.
What types of electronic signatures are recognised in Sri Lanka? What are the respective requirements for each?
Sri Lanka recognises two types of electronic signatures: Simple Electronic Signatures and Certified Electronic Signatures.
1.Simple Electronic Signature
Used for commercial contracts, informal agreements, and low-risk transactions.
It has legal effect but may require additional proof in the event of a dispute.
Identity verification methods include email verification, PIN codes, or biometric authentication.
eSignGlobal's default electronic signature offering can satisfy the Sri Lankan requirements for a Simple Electronic Signature.
2.Certified Electronic Signature
It is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature under Sri Lankan law.
It must be issued by a government-recognised Certification Authority (Sri Lanka Certification Authority – SLCA).
Required for, inter alia, government filings, financial transactions, and notarised agreements.
Signatures provided by eSignGlobal, through integration with local recognised trust service providers, can meet the Sri Lankan requirements for a Certified Electronic Signature.
Which industries in Sri Lanka have additional requirements for electronic signatures?
Financial Sector: Banks and fintech companies require Certified Electronic Signatures for high-value transactions.
Healthcare: Digital medical records and e-prescriptions must comply with privacy and security regulations.
Government Services: Business registrations, tax filings, and e-government services require Certified Electronic Signatures.
In which situations in Sri Lanka must traditional (wet-ink) signatures be used?
Traditional signatures must be used for the following instruments or in the following scenarios:
Wills.
Licenses issued to operators of telecommunication systems.
Bills of exchange.
Powers of attorney.
Trusts.
Contracts for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any interest in such property.
Any other documents, acts, or transactions as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under Section 24 of the Electronic Transactions Act.
★Disclaimer：
The Content of this page is for reference only. It aims to provide background information on the legal framework of the national electronic signature. Please note that the contents of this page do not constitute legal advice and should not be used or relied on as legal advice. For any legal questions concerning your use of electronic signatures in a particular jurisdiction, we recommend that you consult the relevant legal counsel.eSginGlobal Do not be liable for any express, implied or statutory representations or warranties of this page or the materials thereon, including, but not limited to, representations, guarantees or warranties of merchantability, applicability or accuracy for a particular use.