An Electronic National Registry project under the Ministry of Defence costing more than Rs 14.5 billion will store personal data of all Sri Lankans. The issue of a new Electronic National Identity Card (ENIC), as announced by the Government in July this year, will be issued free to all Sri Lankans based on the data stored in this Registry. This will replace the NICs issued by the Department for the Registration of Persons.

A newly created Ministry of Urban Development along with Defence, Ports and Highways and the Ministry of Economic Development will have the highest allocations for next year, according to estimates in the Appropriation Bill to be presented to Parliament on Tuesday.