All ten fingerprints on your passport By Anthony David View(s): View(s):

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided that applicants for Sri Lankan passports should provide their biometric data or finger prints.

For this purpose, the Immigration and Emigration Act is to be amended. The move comes on a recommendation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence.

The Ministers forwarded their decision to the Cabinet Sub Committee on Legislation headed by Minister Susil Premajayantha. The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development has been asked to explore the possibility of incorporating a clear definition of “biometric features.”

Acting Immigration and Emigration Controller M.N. Ranasinghe told the Sunday Times, “We are proposing to implement the biometrics in the passport application process from next month. Under these systems, photography studios will be given software which they will use to obtain the photographs in keeping with the required standards. Thereafter the applicants will have to call over at the Immigration head office so that their fingerprints – of all fingers — could be obtained.”

However, Government sources said time was too short for the enforcement of the Australian aided project from next month. This is both in view of the required legislation being passed by Parliament and putting administrative procedures in place.The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in a recent statement: “As globalisation has led to large-scale migration, biometrics has become the standard for identity management. High standards at borders are vital to prevent cases of trafficking, smuggling, and other attempts at exploitation.