Sri Lanka is a country known for its inefficiency. With 25 public holidays a year, only second to Cambodia with a score of 28, Sri Lanka is a country with unhealthy quantity of public holidays. In the other hand the public sector is known for its inefficiency and terrible quality of service. It doesn't end there. It gets only worst with politicians who are dirtier and smellier than the cow-dung my neighbor uses. For the last 20 years the Passport Office (Department of Immigration and Emigration) has been the pinnacle of Sri Lankan public sector efficiency and I am glad it still is true.

Requirements

If you are looking to get a new passport, you need the following:

• Filled and signed 35A form
• Online Photo Reference
• Original birth certificate with a photocopy
• National ID card with a photocopy
• Documents to prove profession (ex: degree certificate) with photocopy(ies)

If you just walk in to the Department of Immigration and Emigration with the originals you can get every thing else within the office it self. There is even a service to fill the form for Rs. 100.00. You can get the online photo and the photocopies done within.

Payments

You have make cash payments. I usually don't carry cash but I am glad I usually keep 20k in my wallet. Pricing is as follows:

• Urgent (one day service) : LKR 15,000/=
• Regular : LKR 3,500/=
• Lost fine : LKR: 10,000/=

Proving Profession

From what I heard from the sweet lady in the document collection the best is to use the degree certificate. They might accept an IESL ID but definitely preferred the degree certificate. A friend of mine told the same. So I think its good to take your degree certificate to prove your profession.

Process

I like to prepare upfront so I got a form and filled it in home. Then I went to Studio Tashma @ Rajagiriya and got the photo and photocopies. I parked the car at Waters Edge and walked to the office. Then I went to the floor based on the urgency.

• One day service - 2^nd floor
• Regular service - 1^st floor

At the entrance they will register your online photo reference and give you a token. My number was 1395 and the time was just 10 AM. I wonder if it means the number of applications up to that time. Keep this token with you, you are going to need it in every step of the way.

Then I was directed to a peon who arranged the documents in order and stapled them. Then I sat down until my number showed up in the screen. The screens give you information in English, Sinhala and Tamil for about the process ahead.

In no time it was my turn to walk through the corridor to Section D. A lady scanned my token and asked me to sit in front of the queue that accepts documents. I sat there and in a few minutes my handsome face :D showed up in the screen. I was served by a lady. While she checked my documents I told her that I am an engineer and that if the IESL ID card would suffice and she told its good to have the degree certificate. Since it was already attached there was no issue.

The next step was to walk to the office in left and scan for fingerprints. All 10 fingers will be scanned in the order left-4, right-4 and 2-thumbs. You need to push down hard on the glass for the scan to work. That is when I noticed some of my fingers won't exert as much pressure as others. The lady smiled and pushed down my fingers. Now the state has my finger prints, all 10 of them :D.

There after I proceeded to the cashier to pay. The payments have to be made in cash. So make sure to take sufficient cash. I think I saw an ATM in the ground floor but I am not sure, it could be a reload machine. She suggested it would take about 5 hours. I went out for a walk and have lunch.

The cashiers receipt noted that I go to Floor 1, Section C, Counter 7 to collect my Passport. As I was climbing the stairs, exactly 5 hours later, I got the message that my passport was ready for collection. Its like university. Every one wants to man the rear benches. I went and sat right in the front. In about 10 - 15 minutes it was my time (they call the name - the screens are not working or used - so its good to sit in front).

Make sure to check the bio details page to be sure they got everything correct.