The Court of Appeal has issued an order to modify an interim injunction that previously prohibited the procurement of 750,000 ordinary passports from private companies. This change comes in response to pressing needs within the Immigration Department. However, the court has decided to extend the ban on the purchase of five million e-passports until the next court date.
This decision was reached following a writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Pvt. Ltd., which challenged the prohibition against purchasing both ordinary and electronic passports from private companies.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmavardhan, representing the Controller of Immigration and Emigration and other parties involved in the case, highlighted a critical issue facing the Immigration Department. According to the Additional Solicitor General, the department currently has only 13,080 blank passports available. This quantity is insufficient to meet public demand, as it would only allow for the issuance of passports for a mere 13 working days.
The potential shortage of passports poses significant challenges for individuals seeking to travel abroad for various reasons, including foreign employment and medical treatments. As such, the Additional Solicitor General urged the court to alter the interim order to allow for the procurement of ordinary passports, ensuring that the Immigration Department can continue to serve the public without interruption.
The Court of Appeal has set the next hearing for November 6, 2024, at which time it will reconsider the petitions regarding the procurement of both ordinary and electronic passports. The outcome of this case will be crucial in determining how the Immigration Department addresses the growing demand for passport services in the country.
