SL invites international bids to procure 15 m polycarbonate cards to issue e-NICs

Wednesday, 9 April 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka is set to invite international bids for the procurement of 15 million polycarbonate cards to rollout electronic National Identity Cards (e-NIC) as part of its digital governance initiative.

The decision to this effect was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday following a proposal presented by President Anura Kumara Disanayake in his capacity as the Digital Economy Minister.

“We need about 17 million polycarbonate cards to re-register Sri Lankan citizens and issue an Electronic National Identity Card Project (e-NIC) in the future,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting, he noted that e-NIC should be issued to all Sri Lankan citizens over 15 years.

Noting that the project was dragged out for years, Dr. Jayatissa said the Department of Registration of Persons started using smart cards for the issuance of NICs in the year 2017.