|
|
 |
| Sunday, 28 April 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Immigration and emigration goes on-line by Jayanthi Liyanage
The department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) will be going on-line by end 2002. The move aims to control human smuggling and on one hand, make information freely available to the expanding in/out-flux of local and foreign tourists envisaged via the peace process, relaxation of visa procedures and the latest addition of India and Bhutan to countries from which tourists can visit Sri Lanka with 30-day visas. Two links from the Sri Lanka Telecom will join DIE with the Katunayaka Air Port and the Colombo Harbour in a project costing Rs.144 million, resulting in faster clearance of passengers, easy detection of fraudulent acts and retrieval of black-listed persons and forged visas on screen. Funds for all the software, hardware, KVG-generators and other infra-structure have come from the Government, with the total cost of the on-line effort running up to Rs. 200 million. Currently, DIE is receiving the expertise of Informatics (Pvt) Ltd. to train the Air Port cadre with the required computer training. "People visit other countries for pleasure, work, educating children and medical treatment," says N. Bambaravanage, Controller, DIE. "With the opening of the economy in the late seventies and the job boom in West Asian and Gulf countries, people needed more passports. When they didn't get visas, they forged identities. These passports were not accepted in many countries which blamed the authorities for issuing low-quality passports. If you don't know the language of the country you are visiting, you cannot explain your problem. Which is why we need a computerised system." One way is for three departments to share one central data base under one roof of a 15-storeyed building, to be constructed in 2-hectares of land, close to Sethsiripaya. They are the DIE, the Registration of Persons Department and the Registrar General's Department which issues passports, national identity cards (NIC) and birth certificates respectively. "The idea is to have one unit number of 16 digits per person," says Bambaravanage. "When a baby is born, this will be the unique number which will be his birth registration number, NIC number at 16 years of age and passport number." One only has to click in to access this central data base whether it be a case of applying for a bank account, checking movements of people or drawing information required by the Police or Law Enforcement authorities. By 2003, DIE hopes to issue a new series of passports, called the "N Series", with better security features, to eliminate corrupt practices. "What we use now is one of the most advanced state-of-the-art technologies, conforming to the International Civil Aviation Standards of issuing passports," which Bambaravanage illustrates by turning to the first page of a passport where the colour photo, signature and the particulars of the owner is scanned and laminated, to prevent tampering. The pages have a security number which can only be seen under a special light, a security thread, a golden lion hologram beneath one's signature, raised intaglio printing, water marks and needle print, which if changed, can be detected easily. By typing the NIC/passport number, in ten seconds, the DIE can access the entire passport, with details of any previous passport you have possessed, on the computer screen. If a housemaid dies in the Middle East and her local whereabouts needs to be located, the system can assist greatly. "This year, we will implement a "sticker visa" in place of the present "rubber stamp" visa, so that corruption linked to the issue of visas will be minimised," the Controller said. From early April, prospective travellers have the access to the DIE's web site, www.immigration.gov.lk to obtain information on applying for passports, visas or dual citizenship. The site details the 73 countries from which tourists can visit Sri Lanka without a visa but with a return ticket and a 30-day landing endorsement on arrival at Katunayake. It responds to complaints and enquiries from the public, sets out the visa fee structures of different countries and enables one to download passport applications. "On-line services will be available when the computer system gets going in full swing," promises Bambaravanage. "This will enhance transparency so that no body can send you from pillar to post to obtain your travel documents !" Website www.immigration.gov.lk Enquiries 1.Controller- [email protected] 2. General information - dielan [email protected] 3. Citizenship - [email protected] 4. Passports - [email protected] 5. Visas - [email protected] DIE statistics: 1,000 passports/are issued on same-day service 600 passports/were issued on normal service 343,624 total passports/were issued last year. 209,532 passports (same-day ser vice)/year 2001 38,542 visas issued or extend ed/year 2001 2,500 people/ visit DIE everyday. Rs. 7M/is earned as revenue through pass ports/visas/ citizenship everyday. Urgently required! 1. The approved Authorised Officer cadre to man the arrival and departure counters at the Air Port stands at 106.Of this, retirements and dismissals have resulted in eight vacancies. To fill these, Treasury approval was obtained, exams conducted and interviews held before the elections. Urgent action is needed from the Public Service Commission to appoint the eight officers. 2. The Police needs to flex its muscle to rid Station Road of touts and bogus 'JPs" procuring a fast buck from naive DIE customers. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
