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    HomeLocal NewsGovernment to Float Tender for 500,000 Machine-Readable Passports Amid Rising Demand

    Government to Float Tender for 500,000 Machine-Readable Passports Amid Rising Demand

    A tender for the procurement of 500,000 machine-readable passports (MRPs) is expected to be issued in the coming days, according to authoritative sources. A committee is currently preparing the necessary documentation, The Sunday Times reported.

    The daily issuance of passports has been increased to between 2,500 and 2,700, up from the previous cap of 1,500 to 1,800. This includes passports issued through one-day and regular services, as well as those processed at overseas missions and the Department of Immigration and Emigration’s (DIE) four branches. 

    The adjustment in the quota was made on the instructions of the Public Security Ministry to extend the use of the current limited passport stock. *The Sunday Times* reported last week that a surge in applications is expected, particularly from individuals seeking to take the Korean language proficiency test, who need a passport number to qualify.

    Foreign employment agencies have urged the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to ensure a continuous supply of passports for their clients, warning that persistent delays may prompt receiving countries to seek workers from other markets. In response, the SLBFE sent a letter to the Public Security Ministry requesting that around 200 passports be issued daily for prospective labor migrants. This demand is currently being met, according to SLBFE Chairman Koshala Wickremesinghe.

    A tender for the 500,000 MRPs is expected to be announced next week, with a separate tender planned for personalizing the passports. Depending on the outcome, Sri Lanka may issue a new series of passports, following the previous shift from the “N” series to the “P” series.

    The DIE is currently working through its existing stock of passports, but at the current issuance rate, this batch is expected to run out between July and September. A backlog of applications remains unresolved.

    Meanwhile, the results of the previous tender for ePassports, awarded to Thales DIS Finland OY and its Sri Lankan partner, Just In Time (JIT) Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, are still being contested in the Appeal Court by losing bidder Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

    In the interim, the DIE is using an emergency stock of 750,000 MRPs purchased from Thales to address the ongoing shortage of travel documents caused by issues with the mismanaged ePassport tender. These passports are being delivered in batches.

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