Public Security Minister Tiran Alles announced in Parliament that a total of 58,304 individuals were granted dual citizenship in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2020. This announcement was made in response to a question posed by SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilaka.
Minister Alles provided detailed statistics on dual citizenship applications and approvals over the six-year period:
- 2015: 17,126 applications received, 16,184 granted.
- 2016: 14,802 applications received, 13,933 granted.
- 2017: 9,549 applications received, 8,881 granted.
- 2018: 9,750 applications received, 8,747 granted.
- 2019: 8,702 applications received, 7,405 granted.
- 2020: 3,988 applications received, 3,154 granted.
In total, 63,917 applications were submitted for dual citizenship during this period.
The Minister also addressed issues related to the passport application process, highlighting that while a one-day service is available for a fee of Rs. 20,000, standard passport issuance under normal procedures takes about two weeks. He noted challenges in the online application system, such as incorrect contact details and unmonitored email addresses, which can cause delays.
Minister Alles emphasized the importance of accurate data entry and communication to ensure a smooth and timely passport application process.
