Sri Lanka implements new biometric enrollment process for eID cards

Sri Lanka’s Department of Registration of Persons is aiming to collect the biometrics and biographical information of all citizens by the end of June, in preparation for the issuance of biometric electronic identity cards, according to a report by the Daily Mirror.

P. Viyani Gunathilake, general commissioner of the Registration of Persons Department, said the old laminated identity cards were used since 1972.

“The NICs used today have been changed at several occasions according to the requirements and special needs of the country,” Gunathilake said.

Gunathilake said the department is hoping to collect the biometrics and photographs of all individuals over the age of 15 years by the end of June.

The department will then establish a national registry and a central database containing the biometrics and biographical data of all persons.

“For that the department is seeking the relevant legal authentications and later as the third step the Electronic National Identity card would be issued,” he said.

The new electronic ID will have security features that prevent tampering, counterfeiting and forgery, including the person’s photograph, biographical data, fingerprints and blood type.

The electronic ID will also comply with relevant international standards, such as those implemented by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Last June the Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration said last June that it will begin to issue biometric passports this year in an effort to to prevent document forgeries.

Article Topics

biometric database  |  biometrics  |  eID  |  facial recognition  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  Sri Lanka