Sri Lankans to get smart e-NIC s soon
View(s):Sri Lanka is to introduce a new National Digital Identity (NDI) smart card to all citizens commencing from next year to secure all financial and non-financial digital transactions, a senior cabinet minister revealed.The aim of the move is to reduce forgery and fraud, and to fulfill future national security needs.The NDI will carry a unique number with 12 digits in all other relevant data bases such as , passports, tax file, customs documents, vehicle registration, voter registers, welfare registers, bank data bases, utility bills etc.
This smart card could be used as passport, bank credit debit card and even for bus or taxi fares as well as other financial transactions in the near future Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka said. Apart from using it to increase tax collections, it can also serve to regularize various other systems such as welfare payments which will help reduce corruption, delays, waste and enhance efficiency, he added.At least 15 million e-NICs are needed to distribute among the citizens,a senior official of the Department of Registration of Persons said adding that special units will be set up at Divisional secretariats to facilitate the process. The government will spend Rs.700 million for this project he revealed.