Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath stated that long lines have formed at the Passport Office due to increased demand following the government's receipt of new Passport Books.
Speaking to the media, Minister Herath confirmed that Sri Lanka will continue receiving additional passport supplies in batches, with the first few arriving last week and the next 100,000 expected by mid-November.
The government has placed an order for 750,000 passport books, which will allow for continued issuance over the next four to six months. Currently, only 1,600 passports are being processed daily, a reduction from the standard 3,500, due to the new passports being issued in batches.
A separate stock is reserved for urgent needs, such as cabin crew, military personnel, and individuals traveling for medical emergencies or family deaths. Minister Herath reassured the public that efforts are underway to address the shortage and requested that only those with immediate needs apply to obtain passports at this time.
