Department of Registration of Persons Special mechanism to issue NICs for GCE O/L exam students

A large number of NIC applications come to the Department with so many  shortcomings and we cannot issue an NIC for these applications

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The Department of Registration of Persons has put in place a special mechanism to issue identity cards for students who would sit for the GCE O/L examination this year.  
Accordingly, all students who sit the GCE O/L examination this year but are still to obtain a National Identity Card (NIC) will have to submit their duly completed applications before March 31st, 2020 to the head office of the Department of Registration of Persons, or its regional offices, Commissioner General of the Department, P.V. Gunatilaka said.   

Mr. Gunatilaka said each and every Sri Lankan citizen is legally required to obtain an NIC on completion of 15 years of age under the provisions of the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Act No 08 of 2016. Therefore, all students who sit the GCE O/L examination are practically over 15 years of age and must obtain their NIC, he added.  

All NICs issued from 01.01.2019 are of international standard and acceptable globally. Hence, the picture of the applicant attached to the NIC must be of highest quality and pictures for the NIC have to be obtained from the approved studios. Over 2,000 studios have been registered island wide under our department for this purpose. The studio will send the picture online to the Department and the applicant will be issued with a receipt for the picture. The applicant must also get the approval of the picture from the school Principal or the Parivenadipathi before referring the picture to the Department.   

“We have noticed that a large number of NIC applications come to the Department with so many shortcomings and we cannot issue a NIC 
for these applications,” Mr. Gunatilaka said.  

Applications for NICs can be downloaded from the website of the Department of Registration of Persons, from the School Principals, Grama Niladari and Divisional Secretariats. It is essential that the application has to be filled correctly in Sinhala or Tamil (mother tongue) and in English.   

A true copy of the Birth Certificate of the application certified by the District Registrar is also mandatory to accompany the application and also the application must be signed by the applicant without touching the lines of the cage given in the application because the applicant’s signature will go into the NIC.   

The applications must also have to be certified by the Principal or the Parivenadipathi with their signature and the official seal before sending them to 
the Department.  

 Principals and Parivenadipathis are advised to forward NIC applications early to prevent a last minute rush and delay in issuance of NICs.