Commissioner General of Registration Persons Department R.M.S. Sarath Kumara, has instructed in a circular, that all Divisional Secretaries and Grama Seva Niladharies countrywide, must educate their respective householders on this matter and encourage them to apply for their NICs as early as possible to ensure they obtain their NICs before August 17, the date of the General Election 2015.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that he had decided that it be compulsory for all voters to produce their NICs at polling centres to establish their identity and those who have no NICs may be given the ballot paper as malpractices could take place if election laws were to be relaxed.