• Claims India can gather information about citizenry

The National Freedom Front criticised the Government for continuing the earlier plan to allow an Indian firm to issue an electronic National Identity Card for Sri Lankans.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Party Leader Wimal Weerawansa alleged that despite the Registration of Persons Department’s plans to continue the Electronic National Identity Card Programme in Sri Lanka and having acquired the necessary devices for the same, the Government had exerted pressure on the department to hand over this task to the Indian firm.

“A decision has been taken to give all information relating to our bio data to an (Indian) expert firm,” Weerawansa said, claiming that the relevant tender stipulates that only an Indian firm can apply. He opined that this allows India to monitor Sri Lankans’ lives.