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70,000 more GCE O/L candidates yet to apply for NICs: Registration Dept.
View(s):Department of Registration of Persons is yet to receive a considerable number of NIC applications from this year’s GCE O/L candidates, says its Commissioner General (CG), R.M.S Sarath Kumara, urging school authorities to forward them without further delay.
Requesting that the applications be forwarded to the Department within the next two weeks, the CG says, of the 370,000 GCE O/L candidates this year, only 300,000 have applied to date.
According to him, candidates who are 16 years of age, as at October 31, 2014, are eligible to apply for NICs, while those who are under 16 will use the postal IC.
“Therefore, the 70,000 difference could include those who complete 16 years in November and December 2014 and January 2015,” he explains.
He said, however, applications of candidates born in November too could be accommodated, should they forward same within the next two weeks, as the Department could arrange a special programme to process them.
Stressing on the importance to follow proper instructions given by the Department, in filling the applications, the CG says there are instances where applications are not duly filled.
Citing examples of the correct procedure to be followed, CG Sarath Kumara said, NAME, DATE of BIRTH and ADDRESS, should be clearly written, while certification by the officers and the school seal are also mandatory.“In some instances, we get applications without stamps, Birth Certificates with parts omitted, unclear photos etc,” he says, adding that, guidelines in this regard have been issued by the Department to the respective school authorities as well as Grama Niladharis.
Assistance and queries regarding applications can be obtained via hotline 011 2 555 616. (DS)