Immigration Department officials urge govt. to appoint Controller General

The failure to appoint a Controller General at the Immigration Department over the last three months poses a potential threat to the country's national security, a senior Department official said.

Measures taken to notify the Internal and Home Affairs Ministry and the other relevant authorities have fallen on deaf ears, the official told Times Online. The Department of Immigration and Emigration falls under the purview of Minister Vajira Abeywardena.

An Acting Controller General is currently serving in the said position. However, the Acting official is not authorised to make decisions such as imposing restrictions on visa regulations and other related matters.

This lacuna provides an opportunity for external groups to exert undue pressure to influence the activities of the Department, the Senior Immigration official pointed out.

Accordingly, Department officials urge the cabinet to take immediate steps to address this issue and make the relevant appointment since it could play an influential role in the country's security as a whole.

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)