New electronic ID in December

by L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

A new electronic National Identity Card will be introduced at the end of this year by the Department for Registration of Persons.

Under the new system those above 15 years of age would be entitled to apply for the National Identity Card.

"The issuing of a new ENI card (Electronic National Identity card) was undertaken after a careful study of the present NIC. A series of discussions were held in this regard with the relevant authorities such as Police, Security Forces, Central Bank, Immigration and Emigration Department and Education Department as well said the Commissioner General of Department for Registration of Persons, A.G. Dharmadasa.

"Before the end of this year all Divisional Secretaries in the island numbering 331 will have a separate unit of the Department for Registration of Persons set up in their offices to issue ENI cards.

The construction work of 230 units have been completed and 91 units are in progress. The construction work of the balance 10 units in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts will commence soon", he said.

He said that manual processing would be replaced by computerisation of departmental data. The project will be financed by the World Bank, he said.

"NICs had been issued since 1972 and files relating to 15 million people are with the department.

"The ENI card will include the personal data of the holder in Sinhala, Tamil and English. It will bear the holder's fingerprint as well. It will however be valid for ten years.