A special counter will be introduced at the Department of Immigration and Emigration from Monday (22) to provide passports for Sri Lankans expecting to urgently travel overseas for employment.

Due to high demand, people have been forced to wait for a period of at least two months to make an appointment at the department’s office in Battaramulla to obtain a new passport for overseas employment.

Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said that Sri Lankans required to travel overseas urgently for employment are being severely affected as a result. 

Thereby, based on a request by the Department of Immigration and Emigration measures have been taken to introduce a new counter to address the issue, he said. (NewsWire)