Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka: Direct Application to the Govt

I came here several weeks back to register the finger prints as part of renewing my passport online.The process was fast as we arrived by 9.00am.[Update regarding Online Application:As of August 15th 2024. The government wants us to wait till October as the new e-Passport is introduced, so they ask only those who need a passport urgently to apply.Also they have restricted the number of Passports distributed per day. I am not sure of the numbers.You can apply online in normal and urgent categories, most of the time the quota for the Urgent application is finished for the day even at midnight. Urgent costs you 15,000 and will get the passport couriered to you 3 days after finger print. The normal category you will be sent the passport on registered mail 30 days after the finger print ]The One Day service has a huge line.Several things to point out - There is a food court and several small bakeries at the floors - There is a Lost and Found box and seems like many lose their IDs and important Docs here - No power for lifts and Escalators at least for the visitors. -Main entrance is Blocked for public and a board says 'Reserves for Ministers' - There are multiple floors of Car park but not for the public it's for the staff. -There are shops and individuals around the building doing services related to passport applicationNot a pleasant place to be. Better apply online if you have all the important documents that need to be submitted without complications.

Service is becoming very good! But on the ground floor, there is very limited information given: for example 1. in the place where birth certificate copies are issued, only one person of a family can stay there, and others have to leave the place including children. But it's not written there. 2. In the National Identify card section, it's showing big boards to show where should we go to get several categorized services! But considering that, if you go to the 9th or 13th floor! Then they will tell me this area is not for the outsides, but it's not mentioned in any of the places. Also in the inside restaurant the service and quality is very poor. We ordered biriyani and got biriyani-type rice with typical Sri Lankan style devel chicken parts and egg (No minchi samball or BBQ chicken! Even though the price is high the quality and the service are unsatisfactory! Regarding other services in this place, I mean the passport office is satisfactory!

Time is 6.00 pm. 11 hours after coming to this place to get my passport renewed.still waiting but seeing the last mile.Extremely disappointing and dissatisfactory service to obtain Passport as at 12/12/24.People are quite literally suffering for over 12 hours in long queues and waiting lines to get a passport through one day service.This is all to check and validate details of 2 pages of A4 and scan finger prints . Most often details that are available in the systems poorly synchronized.We develop world class software solutions in this country for global market and yet this government institutions are incapable of implementing a hassle free system to tax paying citizens who are also paying a great sum of money to expedite the process.I saw an old lady being turned back because there was a letter mismatch between her birth certificate and ID card. Both documents issued by some government body. She had passed probably 5 checkpoints after 10 hours of waiting in queues until the last check point for officers to point that out.In an age where we talk about AI and machine learning it is revolting to see how these institutions process are still in the Middle Ages. Their system implementers alike. Not having enough passport documents to issue , not having a proper resource planning should not be entertained. It’s the minimum expected.Relevant authorizes please change this

Congratulations to the Immigration & Emigration Department. I wish to place on record the efficient service of your Department. My Husband applied for the online one day service. As requested we arrived at the Department at 9.45 am and obtained a token we had to wait till our number was called in order. Our number was called at 12 noon but during our stay there was no hassle. The place was Air conditioned and we were very comfortable and there was a small canteen too.We completed our submission in 3 hoursThe staff was very courteous and Our documentation was smoothly carried out.Our Heartfelt Thanks goes out to the Newly Elected Government and the Minister, The Commissioner and staff for a courteous well excellent job.

It looks me to 07 hours to get my ID. Seems no proper communication in each department. And food prices are very high in the premises Very bad coutomer service.And after taken my ID I went to take my Pass port. Waitred morning 4.am to 2pm . 10 hours there to get my pp in one day.but couldn't get the token Because they said that my reason for to go abroad is not urgent for them. I went to 4am there. And around 8.am security checke my file's and asked to go inside. I waited around 2pm to get the token to get the pp. 03 idiots was there on the token room checked my files and said can't issue the token. My question is why don't this 03 idiots couldn't check and rejected my document in the gate at 8.30 am. Why I was there for10 hours to get the token.After several arguments I was back to home. One of my friend has found the contact in d office to get appointment in Cost of 10k. That's true...Disgusting government service.