New biometric IDs within two months

The new electronic National Identity Card project set to be implemented in two months will cost the Government more than eight billion rupees, a top official said yesterday.

Sarath Kumara, Director General of the Department for the Registration of Persons said the project would be taken up for approval in Parliament on Tuesday.

The new identity card with

an electronic chip would store biometric details including prints of all fingers while the photographs used would be in keeping with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), he said.

Mr. Kumara said the identity card would be renewable every 10 years until the age of 65 and thereafter there would not be a requirement for renewal, unless the card was damaged or a major change in details.

With the implementation of the new project, the Government would also increase the jail term from three months to one year for any fraud committed regarding the identity cards, while the fine would be increased to Rs. 500,000.

The Director General said the person possessing the identity card could provide details of the family members to be included in the data base, but that would not be compulsory.

The data base would be linked with the Immigration Department and the Registrar General’s Department.

He said details from the data base would be released to any institution only on the request of the Identity card holder or on a directive from a court.

Mr. Kumara said training had been given divisional secretariat officials regarding the issue of the new identity cards and persons will be able to apply through the respective Grama Niladhari divisions to obtain the new identity cards.