Demand for passports up by 250%: Immigration Dept.

• There is no shortage of material to issue passports
• More than 3,000 people visit the department daily

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

There is a 250 per cent increase in the passport issuing process daily at the Immigration and Emigration Department and there is no shortage of material to make passports to meet the demand, the department’s Deputy Controller and Media Spokesperson Piyumi Bandara said.  

She said that there is no shortage of material to issue passports and the stock in hand is sufficient to manage the demand for more than six months.  

She said a cabinet approval has been given to order another consignment of necessary material to meet the demand for passports.  

Considering the past six months, there was a sharp increase in issuing passports in March, and the number stood at 74,000 passports.   

More than 3,000 people visit the department daily to obtain services.  

At least 1,000 passports are being issued through the One-Day service.