Sri Lanka Orders 700,000 Biometric ID Cards in National Digital Push

Sri Lanka has taken a significant step in its digital transformation journey by procuring 700,000 polycarbonate electronic National Identity Cards (e-NICs) from Thales, marking an important advancement in the country’s national digital identity initiative. The Department of Registration of Persons confirmed the procurement as part of a broader plan to modernize citizen identification systems by year’s end.

M.S.P. Suriyapperuma, Director General of the Department of Registration of Persons, indicated that while this initial procurement is substantial, an additional 1.6 million cards will be needed to meet the full national demand. The new e-NICs will feature advanced biometric capabilities, including fingerprint recognition, iris scanning, and facial recognition technology.

The initiative represents a significant evolution from traditional identification methods, with Thales bringing substantial experience in secure identification solutions. The company has previously implemented similar advanced ID card systems in other regions, demonstrating expertise in large-scale identity projects.

Integration with the Sri Lanka Unique Digital ID (SL-UDI) project forms a crucial component of this initiative. The system will centralize various forms of identification and assign unique identification numbers to citizens, incorporating essential documentation such as birth certificates and tax identification numbers into a unified digital framework.

The project has already achieved several milestones, with Sri Lankan banks currently accessing the repository for client verification purposes. Additionally, the government is establishing a digital population registry in Colombo to store fundamental details of all Sri Lankan citizens. The initiative also includes the issuance of digital birth certificates for individuals born after January 2021 in Colombo, complementing existing handwritten certificates.

This digital transformation aligns with global trends in identity verification technology. Similar to recent developments in remote identity validation technology by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Sri Lanka’s e-NIC project represents a growing international focus on secure digital identity solutions.

Source: Lanka News Web

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March 10, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team