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by Ananda Kannangara

The Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) will commence the Government's 100 day development program with the distributing of 50,000 National Identity Cards (NIC's) to estate workers in the Nuwara-Eliya District. The benefit of this program which gets under way on February 23 and 24 will be extended for their family members too. At least 143 estates in the Region will be covered under this program. At least 10 mobile services during these two days.

"This is not a novel program and we first commenced the issuing of NICs to estate workers about four years ago. But due to various reasons not more than 45 per cent of workers benefited during that period", DRP, Commissioner Wijaya Ranasinghe told the 'Daily News'.

"But under this new program which commences in par with the Governments 100 day program we have plans to obtain a complete survey of non identity card holders sometimes visiting their dwellings and arrangements will be made to give NICs to all persons."

"Then there will be no estate workers in this country with no NICs other than those who still have the Indian origin or others who have not been granted the Sri Lankan citizenship."

It is reported that the main reason for non processing NICs is due to poverty as well as lack of awareness on the importance of NICs.

Commissioner Ranasinghe also said that area police personnel, Government Agents, Grama Niladaris, Postal Department personnel and estate superintendents will assist the DRP officials to make this program a success. 

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