Immigration and Emigration Department temporarily halts acceptance of passport applications

Saturday, 13 May 2023 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Controller General confirms work underway to introduce new system to issue passports
Asserts new mechanism will be ready within two weeks
Says only prior appointments and emergency cases will be considered based on documents

The Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya announced yesterday a temporary suspension of the acceptance of passport applications, in a move to introduce a new system to issue passports.

“We earnestly request the public not to visit our headquarters unless otherwise they have already got a prior appointment or it is an emergency. We are underway to introduce a new mechanism to issue passports effectively and efficiently within two weeks,” he said yesterday.

Illukpitiya also said in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as a medical emergency, for those who had come from abroad to get a new passport or any other urgency the Department will consider their pleas on a case-by-case basis.

“After considering the documents and if we feel that it is an urgent and genuine matter, those applicants will be given a chance to obtain their passport,” he added.

The people who have come from countrywide expressed their displeasure over the sudden cancellation of accepting passport applications.