One Day Service : passports now be issued within just four hours

Addressing recent concerns over long queues at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Mr. Pathiraja urged the public not to waste time waiting overnight, as the current system is fully capable of handling demand efficiently.

“In recent months, we observed heavy congestion with people lining up both day and night to obtain passports. As an immediate solution, we extended services to operate round-the-clock on weekdays,” he stated. “However, with the situation now under control and congestion eased, there is no need for such measures.”

Currently, tokens for the One-Day Service are issued from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on working days. The department now processes and issues approximately 2,000 passports daily under this service, ensuring that applicants receive their documents on the same day.

Mr. Pathiraja emphasized that with the improved system in place, the public can expect prompt service and are advised against forming unnecessary queues outside the department premises.