Sri Lanka’s passport issuance restricted amid e-passport transition
View(s):Sri Lanka has temporarily restricted passport issuance in anticipation of the rollout of e-passports, scheduled for October 2024.
This decision follows the awarding of a contract to a local-foreign joint venture after a tender process marred by malpractices and irregularities.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has urged the public to delay passport applications until October, advising only those with immediate needs to apply for urgent one-day passports.
Due to the delay in initiating the procurement process for new passports, there is a looming risk that the current passport supply may be exhausted before the e-passport system becomes fully operational.
Currently, around 50 priority applications are accepted daily, far below the usual 3,000 passports required. The reduction in issuance has led to long queues and frustration among the public, sometimes escalating to violence when applications are not accepted.
Minister Alles assured that the new e-passport will feature enhanced security measures that meet international standards.
The e-passports, expected by October 2024, are seen as a significant upgrade from the current system. However, only 900 passports are being issued daily due to the current limitations, with a small number reserved for urgent cases.
The issue was discussed during a recent meeting of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, where it was revealed that the procurement process for e-passports is in its final stages, with the first batch expected by July 2025.
Sri Lankans applying for new passports must now pre-register online, a system extended to applicants outside Colombo as well.
This transition to e-passports, requiring a significant IT infrastructure overhaul, is expected to take at least 18 months from the contract date, raising concerns about a potential passport shortage.
The joint venture between Thales and Just in Time Technologies (JITT) is expected to deliver the first batch of 100,000 e-passports by mid-2025, with a plan to supply one million annually. Additionally, 300,000 Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) will be procured to meet ongoing demand.
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