( December 20, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Department of Registration of Persons has issued a circular instructing people to hand over their identity cards to the relevant authorities if travelling overseas for a period longer than six month, The Colombo Post, reports.
According to the report; "citizens leaving the country will have to hand over their IDs to the Registrar of the Department of Registration of Persons, to an officer of the Ports and Airports Authority or Immigration and Emigration. The circular was first issued in November this year to various authorities including the Ministry of Defence, Divisional Secretariats and the Foreign Employment Ministry"
If a citizen fails to hand over his or her ID they could face a fine of Rs. 1,000/- or a jail sentence of up to six months.
No official reason has been provided regarding this move.
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