New NIC's to be printed on a plastic card

The government has decided to issue a 12 digit national identification number card from the 1st of January 2016.

The new ID card will be first printed according to the existing system.

However the Department of Registration of Persons has taken measures to print the ID on a plastic card from February onward.

The new ID card will be introduced in order to minimize the laminating costs borne by the Department under the existing system.

The Department of Registration of Persons said all banks and state bodies have been instructed to update existing systems in accordance with the new method.