Daily News Editorial

A timely relocation

 29 August 2016

The Department of Immigration and Emigration is moving to a brand new home today. “Suhurupaya” the new multi-storey building in Battaramulla, Sri Jayawardhanapura, has been tailor-made for the requirements of the Department, one of the frontline agencies of the Government of Sri Lanka.

This was a long-awaited move as most other government agencies and departments had already moved to Sethsiripaya and other buildings in the Battaramulla area which has plenty of transport links. The Department of Immigration and Emigration was up to now housed in a rather cramped rented building at Punchi Borella. While the location itself was convenient, it did not offer many other facilities such as parking and good washrooms. Parking was especially a nightmare as only one private car park was available and once it filled up, it was practically impossible to find a parking space. The building was located in a narrow, highly congested road, which compounded the problem.

We hope that the new building complex will solve most of these problems. A spacious building was essential for the Department which receives thousands of people including foreigners every day. The former premises was so congested, it is a miracle that no one was injured in a stampede. The parking problem too is likely to have been addressed – no one will mind paying a parking fee if ample space is available.

The former premises also had a smattering of privately-operated photo booths and eateries. We do not know whether these operators had been given accommodation in the new building, but the Department stands to earn more if it too can operate a photo/photocopy booth and a cafeteria open to the staff and the public. No room should be allowed for beggars and touts to harass visitors coming to the building. There will also be an additional demand for public transport and the Department should work with the SLTB and the Private Bus Owners Associations on strengthening the 163, 170, 171, 174, 177 and 190 fleets.

The new building will enable the Department to be more efficient, productive and technologically advanced. In fact, Sri Lanka was among the countries that pioneered the concept of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This system has since been adapted by many countries, including developed countries such as Canada. Within a few years, it should be possible for an applicant to lodge a passport application entirely online, apart from the biometric (fingerprint) registration requirement for which centres can be established islandwide. Even now, the passport photographs taken by approved studios are sent online to the Department, with the applicant not required to get a printed photograph. More awareness needs to be created about biometric passports, with most countries now demanding that all visitors should be in possession of such passports. If biometric info can be included in all passports, it will also end the discomfiture of having to give one’s fingerprints at a foreign embassy or Visa Service Centre.

Biometric or not, there are signs that the Sri Lankan passport is gaining more recognition post-war and post-2015. Many countries have relaxed entry requirements for Sri Lankans, who can now travel visa-free or with e-visa to 40 countries and territories including Singapore and India. Indonesia recently introduced a Visa on Arrival process for Sri Lankans while Malaysia plans to offer the e-Visa facility to Sri Lankans from November. The authorities should negotiate with more countries especially in Asia and Africa to gain improved access for Sri Lankans. As Sri Lanka’s economy and Per Capita Income improve, more countries are likely to offer e-visa or visa-free facility to Sri Lankans. It is a pity that SAARC citizens cannot travel entirely visa-free within their own region yet due to certain geopolitical considerations, but this too should be addressed.

The Department also faces the challenge of addressing the problem of illegal immigration of which there are two aspects – foreigners overstaying in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans who try to migrate abroad illegally by boat. Visitors from certain countries can blend in very easily with the local population and it is very difficult for the Department alone with its limited resources to nab them. Public and Police cooperation must be sought in this exercise. The latter category has seen a decline, but the Department should continue awareness programmes in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on the futility of trying to reach foreign shores illegally.

The resumption of the Dual Citizenship Programme, stopped arbitrarily by the previous administration for undisclosed reasons, has been a great success with the Department inundated with thousands of applications from Sri Lankans domiciled abroad. This gives them a renewed sense of belonging to the Motherland. All Sri Lankans living abroad must be encouraged to regain their Sri Lankan citizenship.

As more Sri Lankans travel overseas on business, leisure and employment, the Department of Immigration and Emigration will naturally have a bigger workload in the years to come. “Suhurupaya” will hopefully rise to the onerous challenge of this inevitable extra demand and expansion.