Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a new Immigration Bill intended to modernize the country's immigration framework and replace legislation dating back to 1948, with provisions for an electronic passport system featuring biometric technology.
The Cabinet of Ministers has given its approval for the publication of a new Immigration Bill in the Government Gazette, moving the legislation toward parliamentary consideration. The proposed law is designed to supersede the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948, which has governed immigration matters in Sri Lanka for over seven decades.
The current initiative follows a setback in the legislative process. An earlier version of the bill had been presented to Parliament but stalled after the dissolution of the Ninth Parliament in late September 2024. Following this development, the government reassessed the proposed legislation in light of a Supreme Court ruling regarding the previous iteration. The Cabinet subsequently authorized the preparation of a revised Immigration Bill on August 18, 2025.
The new bill incorporates provisions for Sri Lanka's planned electronic passport system. According to Cabinet decisions made on December 10, 2025, the Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Immigration and Emigration will be appointed as the Country Signing Certification Authority. This body will oversee the integration of biometric data into electronic passport chips, modernizing the country's travel documentation standards.
The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs presented the proposal to publish the finalized bill, as prepared by the Legal Draftsman, in the Government Gazette. Following publication, the legislation is expected to be forwarded to Parliament for formal approval.
