As a solution to the shortage of passports that have arisen due to the improper management of the e-passport tender, Thales, which won the tender, and Minister of Public Security Vijitha Herath stated that the order of 750,000 e-chipless passports given by the previous government to its Sri Lanka representative, Just In Time Technologies, will not be cancelled.
That the previous government’s decision to give the order to Thales and its Sri Lankan agent, Just in Time Technologies, whether right or wrong, will not cancel the order. Commenting on the new government’s decision not to cancel the order, the minister said that if the order is cancelled, there will be a shortage of passports.
He also stated that the first part of the stock of 47,500 e-passports of Thales Company was to be received in Sri Lanka on a date between the 15th and 20th.
Minister Vijitha Herath also said that 100,000 passports will be received at the end of November as the second batch without e-chip.
However, the minister also stated that Thales has not yet provided the samples of the new passport to the Immigration and Emigration Department of Sri Lanka.
Minister Vijitha Herath also said that before a country introduces a new passport, its copies should be sent to the International Civil Aviation Organization for approval.
Therefore, the minister also stated that the new government will purchase 750,000 e-passports without damage as ordered by the previous government for an amount of US$ 3.7 million.
