Sri Lanka to roll out e-passports in early 2026

Sri Lanka will begin issuing electronic passports (e-passports) to the public in the first quarter of 2026, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

He said that the procurement process for implementing the new system is nearing completion. “The tender process has now been closed, and the contract will soon be awarded to the selected supplier for the electronic chips required in the new passports,” he said.

The introduction of e-passports marks a significant step forward in modernizing the country’s travel document infrastructure. Unlike traditional passports, e-passports will contain a biometric microchip embedded in the cover, storing key personal data such as the holder’s photograph, fingerprints, and other security features. These are widely recognized as more secure and harder to forge, and are already in use in many countries.

The e-passport initiative has been in planning for several years and aligns with broader efforts to digitize public services and enhance the country’s global mobility ranking.