Computerised NICs

by Ananda Kannangara

Sri Lankans will be issued special computerised NICs, processed according to international standards, Department for Registration of Persons (DRP), Commissioner A.G. Dharmadasa told the Sunday Observer.

The Defence Ministry, divisional secretariats, Grama Niladaris, school heads and various other public sector officials will assist the DRP to proceed with this islandwide program which will commence from the first quarter of next year.

The DRP has already opened an information centre and the new NICs will be processed in collaboration with the Institute of Computer Technology (ICT).

The Commissioner said the new NICs will not only be important to Sri Lankans who travel within the country, but also those who travel overseas considering the current security situation in the world.

He said once the processing of new NICs begins, steps will also be taken to collect data from schoolchildren over 16 years, to issue NICs from schools without delay.

Commissioner Dharmadasa said the name and the address of the card holder will be printed in Sinhala, Tamil and English.