President reviews status of digital ID

Thursday, 14 May 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Digital ID to will be made necessary to obtain pensions, Samurdhi allowance, and to vote
Project first proposed by President when he was Defence Secy. in 2012
President wants new ID cards issued to citizens as soon as possible

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week reviewed the current status of the proposed digital identity card, which will be issued by obtaining bio data of all citizens, the President’s Media Division said.

The review, which took place on Tuesday, focused on the new identity card which will contain the most accurate data and include information required by the departments and agencies governed under different laws.

According to the statement, this includes information that has to be furnished not only for obtaining passports and driving licences, but also for pensions, Samurdhi allowance, income tax, and casting votes.

The idea of a digital identity card was first mooted by the President when he was the Secretary of Defence, the PMD said. The initial preparation relating to the matter commenced in 2012. The new identity card will be prepared by a committee of experts under the direction of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and the supervision of a Presidential Task Force.

President instructed the officials to take measures to issue the new identity card to every citizen as soon as possible. The discussion held in this regard at the Presidential Secretariat was attended by the Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration J. J. Rathnasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Major General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Additional Secretaries to the Ministry of Defence Waruna Dhanapala and U. K. Bandara, Controller of Immigration and Emigration V.B. Sarath Rupasiri, Commissioner General of the Department for Registration of Persons Viyani Gunathileke, Registrar General N. C. Vithanage, Chairman of ICTA Jayantha de Silva and Chief Executive Officer Mahinda Herath.