Sept 13, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka has advised the authorities to ensure that all persons residing in plantation areas in the country who have completed the necessary age limit are issued national identity cards.

According to the Prime Minister this process is estimated to be completed by the 31st of December this year.

The PM has instructed the authorities to seek assistance from plantation superintendents in this process.

It is reported that Minister Arumugam Thondaman has met the Prime Minister and expressed the grievances of the plantation residents that they are unable to receive a National ID as most of them do not have birth certificates.