Sri Lanka Advances Biometric Passport Rollout with New Immigration Bill
Sri Lanka has taken a significant step towards implementing biometric passports with the Cabinet's approval of a new Immigration Bill. This legislation establishes the legal framework necessary for collecting fingerprints and issuing electronic passports. The bill, which has been published in the Government Gazette and awaits parliamentary consideration, will replace the existing Immigration and Emigration Act of 1948. Its primary goal is to create a biometric passport system based on a 'one person, one passport' principle. Under the proposed law, applicants between the ages of 16 and 60 will be required to provide fingerprints as part of the passport application process. Chulananda Perera, the Controller General of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E), emphasized that this move will enhance the integrity of the passport issuance system by eliminating issues related to multiple identities and enforcing the 'one person, one passport' policy. This development coincides with Phase II of the Sri... 
