Computer printed data from next year:

IDs go hi-tech

The Department for Registration of Persons is to go hi-tech and issue National Identity Cards with computer printed data from next year.

The programme which is in keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana concept of introducing modern technology to all Government Departments to ensure an efficient and fruitful service to the public.

This scheme is implemented under the personal supervision of Commissioner General A.G. Dharmadasa on the instructions of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka who is also Minister of Internal Administration.

The first identity card under this programme was issued at a ceremony at the Department for Registration of Persons presided by Internal Administration Ministry Secretary U. Vidanapathirana on Tuesday.

An Internal Administration Ministry communique said the Department for Registration of Persons commenced the issuing of National Identity Cards in October 1972.

The data was entered in the NICs in handwriting then.

The issuing of NICs was delayed due to inherent mistakes involved in this process. The new procedure of computer printing would help overcome delays in issuing NICs.

Accordingly, all NICs relating to persons born on or after January 1, 1991 completing 16 years would be issued NICs after entering their data through computer printing.

All NICs would be issued through this procedure within the next three months.

However, both categories of NICs hand written and computer printed will be valid.

Commissioner General A.G. Dharmadasa had emphasised that this NIC is different to the electronic NIC programme proposed by the Department. The electronic NIC project is still being finalised by the Department. Once it comes into force, activities of the Department would be decentralised to Divisional Secretary level.