Biometrics Figure in Sri Lanka Passport Office Revamp

Passport office revamped (Sunday Observer)

Immigration and Emigration Controller General Chulananda Perera says his Department is engaged in a major revamping process, with new amendments to the existing Immigration and Emigration Act to keep it in tune with the demands of a post conflict nation.

The Controller General says the Act will introduce severe punishments to those who commit offences such as aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, document forgery and impersonations while it will provide necessary legal backing for bio-metric capturing for future passport issuance.

He added, "The Electronic Visa Authority Scheme which met with a lot of resistance at the outset has now found its own course. ETA scheme has earned the State Rs. 600 million from January 1 to March 28."

Excerpts from the interview