Sri Lanka advances biometric passport rollout with new immigration bill

Sri Lanka is advancing new immigration legislation designed to facilitate the nationwide rollout of biometric passports. The proposed bill, which has been published in the Government Gazette, aims to replace the Immigration and Emigration Act of 1948 and establish a legal framework for the collection of fingerprints and the issuance of electronic travel documents.

The system will operate on a “one person, one passport” principle to combat identity theft, forgery, and the use of multiple identities. Under the new regulations, applicants between the ages of 16 and 60 will be required to provide fingerprints. This transition is part of the Sri Lankan Biometrics Project (SLBP), which includes the introduction of an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

By adopting these international standards, Sri Lanka seeks to improve border processing efficiency, enhance security at ports of entry, and ensure better compatibility with international immigration systems, aligning itself with regional neighbors like India and the Maldives.