It takes guts to question protectionism, but I guess it’s not that difficult when you are in the Prime Minister’s Office:
The Prime Minister’s Office is worried about the IT and Communication Ministry’s policy of encouraging domestic manufacturing.
The PMO has sent the Ministry a note asking for comments on how the policy aims to link manufacturing requirements to national security.
‘MARKET DISTORTIONS’
“Efforts to link manufacturing with security is questionable. It will lead to distortions in the market. Security objectives can be met through audits, tests and need to be handled separately,” states the note sent by the PMO.
The Communications Ministry has proposed a policy that makes it mandatory for companies, government institutions and telecom players to buy at least 30 per cent of their electronics and hardware requirements from manufacturing facilities in India.
The policy also stipulates that manufacturers must ensure that value addition happens locally.
The PMO’s note assumes significance in the light of the protests by the US Trade Representatives and the European Commission on grounds that the policy goes against WTO agreements.
3 Comments
Abu Saeed Khan
“DoT’s decision for locally-made telecoms gear comes three months after research body C-DoT urged the ministry to bar Chinese vendors Huawei Technologies and ZTE from bidding in the NOFN project. C-DoT is the government-owned development center for telecom technology.” Full report is here.
Rohan Samarajiva
The response:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/security-in-telecom-gear-is-a-real-issue-says-dot/article4667324.ece
Abu Saeed Khan
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) supports the PMO’s concerns.
Request For Proposals: Sri Lanka Educational Technology Survey
LIRNEasia is inviting proposals from qualified research organisations to develop a study on Sri Lanka’s Educational Technology (EdTech) landscape. The study aims to examine the current state of EdTech adoption, innovations, and the enabling and constraining factors across Sri Lanka’s education system, while assessing how educational decision-makers perceive and use EdTech and data systems.
Protecting Children Online: What is Missing from Sri Lanka’s Proposed Bill?
In an article published in the Daily FT on 30 June 2026, Attorney-at-Law and LIRNEasia Researcher Sachini Ranasinghe examines the Private Member’s Bill proposed by Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha, which seeks to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16 in Sri Lanka. She argues that the key question is not whether children need stronger protection online, but whether Sri Lanka is proposing the right solution and has undertaken the groundwork necessary to make such legislation effective.
LIRNEasia leads new Asia Observatory on Responsible AI Innovations for Development
In February 2026, the Asia AI4D Observatory: A policy and innovation network on responsible artificial intelligence was launched with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. LIRNEasia, East-West Management Institute, JustJobs Network, and EngageMedia, this three-year initiative will support Asia’s capacity to design, govern, and scale responsible (i.
Links
User Login
Themes
Social
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Contact
9A 1/1, Balcombe Place
Colombo 08
Sri Lanka
+94 (0)11 267 1160
+94 (0)11 267 5212
info [at] lirneasia [dot] net
Copyright © 2026 LIRNEasia
a regional ICT policy and regulation think tank active across the Asia Pacific