By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has extended the validity of all passports that expire from June end by one year until the issuance of the e-passport project takes off in January next year.

The department announced that passports that expire after a period of ten years by June 30th will be extended up to one year free of charge. The new electronic chip-inserted e-passport will be issued to the public by January next year, and the public is encouraged to get their new passport converted to an e-passport.

A senior Immigration official told the Daily Mirror a company had been selected after calling bids to grant the printing of the new e-passport and the process is underway at present.

The department is hoping to issue about 700,000 e-passports annually once the project is underway.