Printing of Identity Cards and Driving Licences stops due to a shortage of cards.

The process of issuing the National Identity Card (NIC) and the driving license, two of the most important identity documents for Sri Lankans, is currently facing a severe crisis. With the main objective of minimizing production costs, a new 12-digit plastic identity card was introduced in 2017, replacing the old National Identity Card that had been used in the country for a long time.

However, due to a current shortage of the relevant plastic cards, the printing of identity cards has been disrupted. According to reports, as a result of this situation, the number of National Identity Cards that cannot be issued at present stands at 1 million (10 lakhs).

The other major government institution affected by this crisis is the Department of Motor Traffic. Due to the shortage of both printing cards and printing machines, the department is currently unable to print over 650,000 (six and a half lakhs) driving licenses. Against this backdrop, many driving license applicants are currently being issued only temporary licenses.

However, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Retired Air Vice Marshal Thushara Fernando, has commented on the steps to be taken to resolve this issue in the future. According to him, several printing machines are expected to be received by mid-November, after which the capacity for printing driving licenses will be doubled. Accordingly, the Commissioner General further states that the process of issuing driving licenses in the country will be able to resume as normal by around April next year.