Number of pages in a 1999 Sri Lankan passport; information which appears in the box marked "ID number" on the inside back cover of the passport; meaning of "NONIC" followed by a series of numbers in the box marked "ID Number" [LKA34693.E]

According to information forwarded to the Research Directorate by the Canadian High Commission in Sri Lanka, the most recent "M series passport" contain "48 or 64 pages" as indicated on page one of the passport; the longer passport is for business people (14 Mar. 2001).

The National Identity Card (NIC) number appears in the box marked "ID number" on the inside back cover of the passport (ibid.).

If an individual does not have a NIC number or does not present a NIC number, it would be indicated as "NONIC" followed by a series of numbers in the "ID number" box on the inside back cover of the passport (ibid.).

According to the High Commission, the NONIC number "may be an indicator when fraud is suspected that the person may have used someone else's identity" (ibid.). Further, "although the Sri Lankan passport is secure, very few checks are done to confirm the identity of persons applying for the passports. Generally, NONIC passports are valid only for a single journey out of Sri Lanka. The passport is endorsed for multiple journeys only when an NIC is presented" (ibid).

This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference


Canadian High Commission, Colombo. 14 March 2001. Correspondence.