The Government is mulling over the issue of new Electronic National Identity Cards to all Sri Lankan citizens with effect from January next year, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

All information from the time of the birth of the child will be included in this electronic Identity Card and it is intended to issue an identification number until the child reaches the age of 10 years. An Electronic National Identity Card will be issued once the child completes 10 years.

The Government said the National Identity Card used at present will be transformed into an Electronic National Identity Card. The Electronic Identity Card will be of immense value when securing the driving license and the Passport.

This process is to be carried out jointly by the Department for Registration of Persons with the Information and Communications Technology Agency of Sri Lanka.

India too took the initiative of issuing an electronic identification number to its people five years ago.