The Hon. Gayan Janaka (on behalf of the Hon. K. Ilankumaran)

¶ 01 asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism:

¶ 02 (a) Will he state— (i) reasons for significant delays in issuing passports to Sri Lankans living abroad; (ii) whether he is aware they have been unable to fly for urgent needs due to the delay; (iii) whether compensation or priority will be given to aggrieved applicants; (iv) measures to expedite and facilitate the process; (v) whether attention will be paid to digital/biometric methods to reduce delays; (vi) the cooperation between the Department of Immigration and Emigration and foreign embassies in providing expedited services; and (vii) whether mobile or on-site services will be introduced in countries with large Sri Lankan populations? (b) Will he also state— (i) whether special units will be established in Sri Lankan Embassies to handle urgent legal matters; and (ii) future measures to provide optimal services to Sri Lankans abroad? If not, why?