IOM and the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs
(MPA&HA) have developed a national database of all Grama
Niladharis (GN) – local government officers at village level.

The GNs are responsible for issuing a variety of documents that
are subsequently used for issuing important identity documents,
including National Identity Cards and passports.

The database, known as the Integrated Grama Niladhari
Information System (IGNIS), includes information on approximately
14,000 GNs across the island and was funded by Australia and the
European Union. It will be based at the MPA&HA for
administrative purposes and linked to other government
departments.

IGNIS includes the GN's personal, official and emergency contact
information, details of transfers, promotions, replacement
arrangements, service records, educational and professional
qualifications, trainings received, language proficiency, signature
and rubber stamp, along with his or her photo.

"The system is web-based and will allow specific government
departments to share GN information and verify data online. It will
assist document verification for government border control and law
enforcement agencies dealing with migration issues, improve their
decision making processes, and enhance service delivery to the
general public," says IOM Sri Lanka's head of migration management
Shantha Kulasekera.

IOM supported the initiative by assisting the ministry in the
data collection process; designing and developing GN information
forms; developing and installing software at the ministry to input
the information; and providing the data storage equipment. It also
provided a training course for the data collectors.

For more information please contact:

Shantha Kulasekara

Tel. 5325 300 (Ext: 356), 0777 727 796

E-mail: "mailto:skulasekara@iom.int">skulasekara@iom.int

or

Stacey Winston

Tel. 5325 300 (Ext: 340) 07723662

E-mail: "mailto:swinston@iom.int">swinston@iom.int

or

Passanna Gunasekera

Tel. 5325 300 (Ext 341)

E-mail: "mailto:pgunasekera@iom.int">pgunasekera@iom.int