P’ment passes Registration of Persons Act

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Lawmakers yesterday passed the amendments to the Registration of Persons Act enabling the government to establish a biometric centralised database to issue a national identity card of international standards.

The new identity card will be issued before the end of this year and contribute to improving the development process of the country as well as to strengthening national security. Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs S.B. Nawinne moving the Bill for second reading said the proposed identity card will also be issued for all Sri Lankans from 15 years and above.

“The new card will be provided to all citizens by registering them all under the new system. We will cancel and recollect the identity cards from those who give up their citizenship. We will also reduce the minimum age limit for obtaining a national identity card, to 15 years. Our services will be diversified and regional offices will be established. The proposed database will include the family details and the relationships.  Offences will also be charged to punish fraudsters. The biometric database will be shared with other state institutions to prevent criminal activities and to strengthen national security. However, until such a biometric system is introduced we will issue the national identity card on plastic. We will establish the biometric centralised database before the end of this year and start issuing the new national identity card,” said Minister Nawinne.

The regular national identity card had been issued since 1972 and has undergone certain changes to include computerised print replacing handwriting and black and white photos being replaced with colour. However, the issuing of a biometric digital identity card will require the department to look at a major structural changes to the technology used to produce a card.

“The department was established in 1971. Since then using the best technology available  at the time, we started issuing national identity cards. The machines used for this process require manual labour and were purchased in 1972. Ever since, these machines were in use. Material used for the identity cards were supplied by the same company for the last 41 years. However, the manufacturers of the machines used to make the identity cards, are no longer in business. There are 1,500 books maintained with the details of the cards issued. The time has come to make changes to the outdated old system. We will need a biometric digitalised database established,” added Minister Nawinne.