Lankans living abroad can apply for new or renew their passport online from June 1

Sri Lankans living abroad will be able to apply for a new passport or can renew their passport with effect from June 1, Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations was told by the officials of the Immigration and Emigration Department.

Officials further pointed out that Sri Lankans who live abroad can apply for passports online without visiting Sri Lankan embassies in their countries. The committee also discussed the implementation of e-passports and the chairman of the committee instructed the relevant officials to speed up this process, the Committee said in a statement. 

The discussion also focused on other various issues including the shortcomings found in visa application online in the committee. For the above purpose, the chairman of the committee instructed the officials to quickly prepare and implement a necessary mechanism for foreigners to obtain their visas without difficulty, and to take necessary steps to further improve the facilities of Sri Lanka's international airports for both locals and foreigners.