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| Friday, 14 May 2004 |
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by Manjula Fernando Sri Lankans travelling to the United States of America will be fingerprinted from now on as part of a new US visa technology introduced to enhance security while minimising fraud. Between 12,000 to 14,000 Sri Lankans apply for US visas annually. Introducing the new technology to the Media at the US Embassy yesterday, Acting Consular H.Williams told reporters "the new Visa program launched in Colombo today is part of a global initiative that began in Europe and Central America in September 2003 to reduce fraud involving visa processing and enhance security." Thus, the visa applicants will be required to place two biometric indicators, a photograph and finger prints of the two index fingers in his application as proof of identity, which will be matched upon his entry to the United States. "The new process is expected to ensure safety of the travellers as well, the US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead who hosted the media briefing said "Wouldn't you be glad to know that the people travelling next to you are not imposters," the Ambassador said. The ambassador also said that the annual figure of imposter cases reported in Sri Lanka was relatively low. "The local authorities are highly co-operative in getting documents verified and we hardly encounter forged documents." He commended the high technology we have added to prevent fraudulent documentation. Under the new visa processing technology a photograph of the visa applicant will be taken automatically with a camera fixed to the counter of the visa processing officer. The finger scanning will be made using a special electronic scanner, with no ink involved. "We have about 120 countries where visas to America are issued and by October the new technology will be introduced to almost all of them," the Acting Consular said adding that they have already covered almost two thirds of this target by now. Deputy Chief of Mission James Entwistle and Public Affairs Officer Bruce A Lohof were also present at the occasion. |
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