By Sandun A Jayasekera

In a bid to bring all Sri Lankans under one National Registration, the Cabinet that met on Monday (16) gave the green light to implement a Unitary Digital Identify Framework and the ‘e – national identity card’ project.  

Co- Cabinet spokesman, Plantation Minister Ramesh Pathirana told the Cabinet news briefing held on a Zoom platform that the Government was following a unitary digital identity framework and a strategy that facilitated  realising the objective of “A Skillful Nation” which is one of the ten fundamental objectives of the national policy framework of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’.  

“This has been given priority as a national level programme. The unitary digital identification framework has been prepared jointly by Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and the Department of Registration of Persons whereas implementation of the project of electronic national identity cards has been recognised as one component under it,” Minister Pathirana said.  

Granting approval for the unitary digital identification framework for Sri Lanka that has been finalised by the Committee entrusted with the planning of the relevant programmes.  

Appointment of a Presidential Task Force has been made for assisting with the guidance required for the establishment of the unitary digital identification framework for Sri Lanka and entrusting the responsibility of the implementation of the said project for Sri Lanka is to be allocated to Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency and Department of Registration of Persons.  

The Registration of Persons Act No. 32 of 1968 will be amended for the purpose and the project will be finalised by 31.12.2022.  

The Cabinet memo had been presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.