Sri Lankans applying for passports will have to provide their biometric data or fingerprints soon.

The Cabinet has taken a decision to this effect and the Immigration and Emigration Act is to be amended on the recommendation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Acting Immigration and Emigration Controller MN Ranasinghe was quoted as saying by Sunday Times, that they are “proposing to implement the biometrics in the passport application process from next month.”

All photography studios will be given software which they will use to obtain the photographs in keeping with the required standards. Thereafter, the applicants will have to call over at the Immigration head office so that their fingerprints – of all fingers — could be obtained.

However, some government sources were quoted as saying that it was too short for the enforcement of the Australian aided project from next month. This is both in view of the required legislation being passed by Parliament and putting administrative procedures in place.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in a recent statement: “As globalisation has led to large-scale migration, biometrics has become the standard for identity management. High standards at borders are vital to prevent cases of trafficking, smuggling, and other attempts at exploitation.”
(Emirates247)