E-passport given green light

Project to be implemented through PPP with Immigration Dept, ICTA and private company

Rs. 1.2 b investment to be borne by company

Cabinet gave the green light to enter into a public-private partnership with De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print to issue e-passports through the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE).

The project is considered an important feature of the Government’s vision towards digitalisation of Sri Lanka’s economy.

The Government approved the proposal made by the ministers of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure and Internal Affairs to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print to carry out the first work study on an e-passport and for ICTA to serve as a partner of the project. The company is to bring in the total investment of Rs. 1.2 billion required to implement the project.

The proposed electronic travel document will store the holder’s biometric data in an electronic format. The digitally signed data includes a copy of the MRZ in data page, digital facial image (mandatory data), fingerprint images (optional), Iris image (optional), chip authentication and validation data. An assessment on the department’s readiness for its migration to an e-passport was earlier carried out by Moratuwa University. Following the study, the department has commenced initial work on the project, the proposal informed Cabinet. Further, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has given instructions to the department to develop the overall system in consultation with key stakeholder organisations including ICTA.

De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print will be required to prepare a detailed system design and obtain a detail proposal based on that system design including the blank e-passport booklet and submit it for the consideration of the Cabinet after studying the current passport printing and personalisation system of the DIE.

The proposal approved by the Government also recommends granting permission to existing service providers of DIE associated with the current passport issuance process to carry out related integrations with the new e-passport solution.