In a 29 September 1997 telephone interview, an official of the High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Ottawa stated that the first two digits of the National Identity Card (NIC) refer to the year of birth of the NIC holder. The NIC number of a person born in 1977, for example, would thus begin with 77 (ibid.).

In a 19 January 1996 telephone interview, an official at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa stated that the letter "X" on a NIC means that the holder was under 18 years of age when s/he applied for the card. The designation "V" on a NIC means that the card holder was 18 years of age or above at the time s/he applied for the card. The letter "V" also indicates that the card holder has the right to vote. Sri Lankan nationals can apply for National Identity Cards when they reach the age of 15.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Ottawa. 29 September 1997. Telephone interview with official.

_____. 19 January 1996. Telephone interview with official.