• Delays in processing applications, backlog in issuing passports
• Only a few ‘one-day service’ counters can be kept open: Controller General

A shortage of Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) officers at the Department of Immigration and Emigration is exacerbating the timely issuance of passports, The Sunday Morning learns.

Meanwhile, sources within the department claim that there is a significant backlog to issue passports, with thousands of applicants yet to receive theirs due to an ongoing shortage of new passports – a claim the subject minister, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, said was being addressed. 

However, sources within the department told The Sunday Morning that there was a backlog in issuing passports, which they claim runs into the thousands.

The Sunday Morning received several complaints from passport applicants who have used the online application process and submitted their fingerprints at the relevant local district offices about delays in the delivery of their passports. There are also reports of delays in handing in and processing ‘one-day service’ applications for passports.

Staff shortage

Senior officials at the Department of Immigration and Emigration who spoke to The Sunday Morning on terms of anonymity said that a shortage of between 10-12 officers from the SLAS had slowed down the processing of applications at the department. 

It is learnt that the ongoing freeze in State sector recruitment has created a situation where there is a lack of SLAS officers to replace the ones that rotate out of their positions after several years.

When contacted, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya confirmed that there were “some” staff shortages. “Yes, there are some delays in processing applications as we have a shortage of officers. At present, we have unfilled vacancies for around 10 Administrative Service Officers in our ranks. Further, there are a few vacancies within the department, so there is a shortage of officers who are able to check and approve the thousands of passport applications we receive,” Illukpitiya said.

Illukpitiya blamed the Ministry of Public Administration and Management for its inaction in responding to multiple requests for SLAS officers to restore the operational effectiveness of the passport application processing system.

“We have written to the Ministry of Public Administration and Management multiple times but no officers have been dispatched to fill our vacancies as of today (1). We have also provided a letter of request to several SLAS officers who are willing to fill the vacancies, but there has been no response,” Illukpitiya charged.

According to Illukpitiya, the situation can worsen next year, with allocations yet to be made to replace SLAS officers who will rotate out of service for 2024.  

With the current staff shortages, especially that of SLAS officers who should be assigned to the department, Controller General Illukpitiya told The Sunday Morning that only around four or five out of the eight ‘one-day service’ counters at the department could be kept operational on a daily basis.

“There are days where a small queue forms for the ‘one-day service,’ but we are trying to manage it. There have been occasions where even I have stepped in to help at the counters,” Illukpitiya stated.

Ministry of Public Security Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka acknowledged that there were staff shortages at critical positions in the Immigration and Emigration Department, stating that the Ministry of Public Administration had been informed about it.

“When there is a shortage of SLAS officers, it is very challenging to handle the volume of passport applications received on a daily basis. There are vacancies for about 10 such SLAS officers. I understand that there are challenges in assigning SLAS officers. State sector recruitment was frozen years ago.”

Backlog

Meanwhile, sources within the department told The Sunday Morning that there was a shortage of printed passports and that there was a backlog of applications received as well, for which new passports had not been issued. One source The Sunday Morning spoke to attributed part of the problem to the failure in issuing a tender for new passports.

“There is a backlog in issuing passports and by now it has become a big issue. The backlog is almost 9,000-10,000 passports. One of the issues is that a key tender which was to be awarded earlier this year was not finalised,” an Immigration official told The Sunday Morning.

However, when contacted, Minister Alles said that there was a longstanding backlog which was being cleared as quickly as possible. Alles rubbished claims that the backlog was in the range of tens of thousands.

“So far there is no one who is without a passport. This is fake news. There is no issue in issuing passports,” the Minister stated.