National identity card (Sri Lanka)

The original intention was to issue a book form identity card very much like the driving license of the 1970s because of the need to accommodate the 2"x2" size photos which were the norm at the time. This resulted in limited use of the ID. For example, fishermen could not use it as the book would get wet. It was necessary to make it easy to carry and waterproof while standing up to rough handling.

T. B. Ekanayake, the first Commissioner of Registration of Persons, contacted Dr. D. B. Nihalsingha, the Director of the Government Film Unit, and handed over the responsibility for the design of an easy to carry the card. Gaspe Ratnayake, the artist of the GFU, designed the card, which is the same design even today. For the first time 35mm still film was proposed by Dr. Nihalsingha and the aid of the GDR was sought. The GDR donated 5000 35mm Practika cameras along with 400-foot rolls of 35mm cine film and spare cassettes to load the film. These were issued to studios around the country with instructions as to how to pose the photo. 35mm still photography became the norm with this step and the 2"x2" Rolleiflex photos receded.

It is compulsory for a bearer to hold the card at all times (apart from the NIC, a driving license, Sri Lankan passport or temporary identification document can be used) and show the cards to police officers conducting regular screening while on patrol, checkpoints for instance. The police may detain suspicious individuals who fail to show any form of legal identification until relevant identification can be produced in person or by proxy. The NIC is also a required document for some government procedures, for commercial transactions such as the opening of a bank account, and for entry to high-security government or private premises by surrendering or exchanging for an entry pass. Failure to produce the card may result in denied access to these premises or denial of goods and services. Most notably it is required to apply for a passport (over 16), driving license (over 18) and to vote (over 18).

The NIC number is used for unique person identification, similar into the social security number in the US.

At the top center of the card the word "Sri Lanka" is printed in the Sinhala and Tamil languages.

The purple number on the right of the Sri Lankan emblem represents the Province from which the application was made. The numbers range from 1–9. The numbering convention is as follows:

• 1. Western Province
• 2. Central Province
• 3. Southern Province
• 4. Northern Province
• 5. Eastern Province
• 6. North Western Province
• 7. North Central Province
• 8. Province of Uva
• 9. Province of Sabaragahmuwa

The Department of Post has been issuing an identity card known as Postal IDs since the 1940s with a validity of five years for prof of identification related to financial transactions carried out via the postal service such as money orders. This may be gained in lieu of a NIC if the latter is unable to be issued. This is commonly used by students who have not reached sixteen or by adults who need identity document sooner than a NIC could be issued or to a person a NIC cannot be issued to. In certain cases, a driving license may be used.[1]

Sri Lanka is in the process of developing a smart card based RFID NIC card which will replace the obsolete 'laminated type' cards by storing the holders information on a chip that can be read by banks, offices etc. thereby reducing the need to have documentation of these informations physically by storing in the cloud.

• Sri Lankan passport
• Driving licence in Sri Lanka

• Department for Registration of Persons
• Postal ID