• Calling tenders end-February: Controller General
• Embarkation cards can be filled out online
• Implementation pending since 2017

In order to improve global recognition of the Sri Lankan passport, the Department of Immigration and Emigration will be introducing an electronic passport (e-passport) with rollout expected in the first quarter of 2024.

This was revealed by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles recently. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Immigration and Emigration Controller General I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya said the process had already started and had already received Cabinet approval.

“The next step is to call for tenders and we are hoping to publish the call for tenders in newspapers by the end of this month. The tender will also include the required software update to implement the new system. The chosen supplier will need 8-10 months to prepare the system so we are hoping to start implementing this by the first quarter of next year.”

It is learnt that the e-passport is an additional sheet with a microchip inserted to the existing passport. The microchip is said to include biodata as well as biometric data – fingerprints and a standardised photograph – of the holder. 

Last week, Minister Alles also said 50 Divisional Secretariats had been assigned to obtain biometric details of the citizens for the passport. These are apart from the already-existing four branches.

Ilukpitiya added that these Divisional Secretariats would be equipped with new fingerprint machines to ease the process. “We are hoping to introduce an online form for the passport application process to make it more efficient. Soon, a person will be able to log in to our website, fill out the relevant form, go to the nearest Divisional Secretariat and give their fingerprint, and receive the passport via post within three days.”  

From 1 January, the arrival and departure cards to be filled out at the airport, also known as the embarkation card, can now be filled out online by Sri Lankans going abroad and visiting tourists.

“This was introduced to computerise the whole system for easier reference. It will also be easier to track down people through the relevant embassies. I request the public to use the online system before going to Katunayake and save time.”

The e-passport was first put forward in August 2017 as a joint proposal between the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Telecommunications for which Cabinet approval was granted as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). 

The proposal, though it garnered much attention, was not implemented until it re-emerged in February 2019, when the then State Minister of Home Affairs announced that Sri Lanka would be introducing an electronic identity card and an electronic passport for citizens within the year. However, this initiative too never saw the light of day. 

“The passport we are using now was introduced in 2006 and no update has occurred since. If we are to keep up with the global changes, we need to improve our technology. We are already too late,” Ilukpitiya said.