Instant IDs by January

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The National Identity Card will be issued within two hours by next January by the Registration of Persons Department, Commissioner General of Registration of Persons Department Jagath P Wijeweera said yesterday.

Addressing a media conference at the Registration of Persons Department, the Commissioner General said that measures have been taken to shift this unit to a separate temporary but spacious building, with all facilities within the Registration of Persons Department premises. He added that it is designed to introduce an electronic queue management system reducing the hardship faced by applicants.

Wijeweera stated that the one day service is also being conducted amidst difficulties. “Nearly 1,000 persons apply for this service and they will also receive this service under the same unit.”

He said that the Registration of Persons Department has also taken measures to establish a CIT Unit in the department enabling them to issue National Identity Cards in Sri Lanka for persons who have dual citizenship and residing in foreign countries.

He added that the unit has to be opened even before January as there are large a number of such requests and most have no residents here. Wijeweera said that these Sri Lankans have all the right to have an Identity Card issued by the Sri Lankan government and the government is also willing to provide the service.

He added that such applicants are requested to deal direct with the Registration of Persons Department.The Commissioner General said that measures have been taken to call for tenders for the Digital Identity Cards project under the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

He added that the issuance of Digital Identity Cards would commence within two years.