A total of 186 officers will be recruited to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to address staffing shortages and support the expansion of passport issuance services, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala announced in Parliament today (May 20).
Responding to a question raised by Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna, Minister Wijepala stated that while the department previously issued around 1,200 passports daily, the current administration has increased that number to approximately 4,000 under a newly implemented program.
Due to this expansion, the department is facing a significant shortfall in personnel, prompting the decision to recruit new officers in the near future, the Minister added.
He also noted that the Department’s head office now operates around the clock to process passport applications. Regional offices in Kandy, Kurunegala, and Matara have also ramped up their output, while the Mannar office has increased its daily passport issuance from 50 to 200.
Additionally, Minister Wijepala informed Parliament that tenders have been called to implement the long-awaited e-passport scheme in the near future.
