The government is to introduce Electronic National Identity Cards soon, Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella said today.
With the introduction of the new e-NIC existing ID cards are to be phased out by 2015. Each e-NIC will be valid for ten years.
Sources said unlike the existing manually processed IDs, which are easily forged, the e-NIC is entirely computerised with a central data base and is considered secure and tamper proof.
It is still not clear how much will be charged from the public for each e-NIC. As part of this massive and costly exercise the Registration of Persons Department, the implementing authority, will establish units in all 331 Divisional Secretariats that are spread out throughout the country to facilitate the process of issuing of Electronic National Identity Cards.
The e-NIC will include personal data of the holder in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. It will also carry each individual’s finger print and photograph.
With the introduction of the new e-NIC existing ID cards are to be phased out by 2015. Each e-NIC will be valid for ten years.
Sources said unlike the existing manually processed IDs, which are easily forged, the e-NIC is entirely computerised with a central data base and is considered secure and tamper proof.
It is still not clear how much will be charged from the public for each e-NIC. As part of this massive and costly exercise the Registration of Persons Department, the implementing authority, will establish units in all 331 Divisional Secretariats that are spread out throughout the country to facilitate the process of issuing of Electronic National Identity Cards.
The e-NIC will include personal data of the holder in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. It will also carry each individual’s finger print and photograph.
