Over 1,000 dual citizenship applications to be cleared shortly

The Department of Immigration and Emigration is struggling with a backlog of over 3,000 dual citizenship applications which have piled up over the past few months with some applications lodged  over  seven months ago remaining unattended.

At least a 1,000 of these applications have got the all clear from the relevant authorities including clearance from the Police and the State Intelligence Service (SIS) but the applications have stalled at the Department level.

The main dual citizenship applicant is required to pay US $ 2000 (around Rs.600, 00) with the spouse and unmarried children less than 22 years of age US $ 500 each with this category of applicants contributing substantially to the income of the Department.

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala when contacted by the Sunday Times admitted the clearance of dual citizenship certificates has slowed down and  said that he has instructed the Department to immediately commence the issue of certificates to around 1,000 applicants whose background checks  have been completed and issue the certificate within a week.

“There has been a delay but I have instructed the Department officials to ensure that the work is expedited,” he said. The Citizenship Division of the Department comes under a Deputy/ Assistant Controller of Immigration and Emigration which handles the applications.

Many of the applications for dual citizenship are submitted through the Sri Lanka Overseas Mission. “Applicants are inconvenienced by the delay in the issuing of the certificates as those who have taken foreign citizenships need the dual citizenship from here for their land/property transactions, financial activities etc.,”  an applicant told the Sunday Times.

According to the Performance report of the Department for 2023, over 7,300 dual citizenship were issued but the latest statistics are not yet available.