New features in ID under fresh Act

Irangika RANGE

The Government has decided to amend the Registration of Persons Act No.32 of 1968 for converting the issuance of National identity Cards (NICs) from a manual to a computerised process.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing, Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that new features will be introduced to the NIC which will make certain existing provisions in the Act redundant.

This will be a more effective system and all three languages will be included to the help NIC bearers. It was also noted that the Act has never been amended and that the penalties stipulated for various offenses in the Act do not serve as effective deterrents in today's context.

The amendment identified will be submitted to the Legal Draftsman for necessary steps. A memorandum supporting this submitted by Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka as Minister of Internal Administration was approved by the Cabinet.