Jagath Kumara Sumitraarachchi, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Open and Accountable Government, has called on the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to take immediate steps to issue passports efficiently, ensuring that the public is not inconvenienced.
This directive was made during a recent committee meeting where the Department of Immigration and Emigration was summoned to discuss the new “Immigration” Bill, according to a statement by the Parliamentary Communications Department.
During the meeting, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya revealed that nearly 1 million passports were issued in 2023, yet only 23% were used. With the introduction of electronic passports (e-passports) expected by the end of October, the department is advising the public to refrain from obtaining passports unless necessary.
Sumitraarachchi emphasized the need for the department to communicate these changes clearly to the public, while also stressing the department’s responsibility to issue passports promptly to those who have paid for them. He warned that failing to do so could lead to public dissatisfaction with both the department and the government.
The meeting also addressed obstacles faced by pilgrims traveling to India and Nepal, with officials pledging to remove these barriers promptly.
The committee reviewed the provisions of the new “Immigration” Bill, which has been in development since 2017 and was presented to Parliament on June 20, 2024. The bill, which has faced challenges in the Supreme Court, aims to modernize the country’s immigration laws by addressing gaps in the existing legal framework, including introducing legal provisions to combat human smuggling.
The committee also discussed the importance of adopting new technology to enhance the department’s operations and requested proposals to remove current obstacles within two weeks.
Additionally, it was announced that the procurement process for e-passports is in its final stage, with 5 million e-passports expected to be available by the end of October 2024.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney General’s Department, the Legal Draftsman’s Department, and several Members of Parliament.
