CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Apply for passports only for urgent needs: Minister
Colombo ,August 9 (Daily Mirror) - Public Security Minister Tiran Alles requested the people to apply for passports only if they are urgent and advised those who can wait to delay their applications till October, when new e-passports that meet international standards will be available.
Addressing the media, he stated that the introduction of the new e-passport, which meets International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, will improve Sri Lanka's position in the Global Passport Index.
The new e-passport, featuring enhanced security measures, will be issued by the end of October this year and is expected to significantly boost the country’s Passport Index ranking.
Currently, Sri Lanka's passport ranks 193rd in the world, but the release of the e-passport is anticipated to raise the ranking to above 50.
"The new passport will include a microchip that securely stores all the owner's details, making it easy to retrieve at any airport worldwide. I am personally aware of the difficulties Sri Lankans face with their current passport. However, with the new e-passport, people from our country will no longer encounter such issues during airport checks," he said.
Minister Alles also noted that in the past, only 23 percent of issued passports were actually used, with the rest obtained for safekeeping. Currently, the department is issuing 1,000 passports per day to meet urgent requirements, prioritizing those with immediate travel needs.
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