Sri Lanka set to introduce biometric passports

Sri Lanka is the latest country to bring biometrics into its passport system.

Reported in ColomboPage, the Sri Lankan government has just received cabinet approval to implement fingerprint data to the country’s passports.

This project is expected to cost US $5.11 million (Rs.679.7 million). Nearly all of this capital will come in the form of a grant from the Australian government, through the International Organization for Migration. According to the ColomboPage report, the International Organization for Migration, along with the Department of Immigration and Emigration will be responsible for project management and procurement.

Biometrics is nothing new for many Sri Lankans. There are currently 1.8 million migrant workers from Sri Lanka working in the Middle East and as we reported previously in BiometricUpdate.com, those looking for work in Oman now need to undergo digital fingerprinting before leaving the country.

Canada also requires biometric information from Sri Lankans applying for temporary visas, as well as from nationals from 28 other countries.

According to recent research, revenue for the global biometrics market is anticipated to reach $20 million by 2018, and national identity programs and biometric passports are major growth drivers for the industry.

Article Topics

Australia  |  epassport  |  fingerprint  |  government  |  immigration  |  International Organization for Migration (IOM)  |  Sri Lanka