June 06, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Immigration and Emigration Department has rolled out fresh passport seals for arrivals and departures at international airports across the nation.
Controller General of the Immigration and Emigration Department, Harsha Ilukpitiya, confirmed the deployment of these new seals at Katunayake Airport on June 1st, 2024.
Ilukpitiya highlighted that the implementation of these novel seals has commenced at various other international airports in Sri Lanka.
The new system features a blue seal for arrivals and a green one for departures.
Furthermore, Ilukpitiya disclosed that analogous seals have been introduced for ports and passenger cruise ships, with three distinct seals being designated for each sector.
Shedding light on the rationale behind this initiative, he noted that the previous seal, in use since 1948, had been susceptible to misuse, prompting the need for a more secure alternative.
Despite encountering delays in the past, attributed to several complaints regarding the fraudulent exploitation of the old seal, Ilukpitiya affirmed the department’s resolve to swiftly introduce the new seals.
Importantly, he assured that the newly introduced seals have been crafted with anti-counterfeiting features, mitigating the risk of duplication.
