Returnees from Libya:

No fines for fresh passports

Disna MUDALIGE

Cabinet approval was granted to issue new passports to returnees from Libya without charging a fine as a penalty, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Information Department yesterday he said that many returnees from Lybya were reported to have lost their passports with the war situation prevailing in that country.

This decision was taken on a proposal by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Usually the Immigration and Emigration Department charges a fine of Rs 10,000 from an applicant to re-issue a passport which has been lost before 10 years of its validity. However a special concession will be granted for returning Sri Lankan workers from Lybya considering the difficulties they encountered. An expeditious programme is being implemented by the government to bring back the Sri Lankans working in Libya after the eruption of war situation in that country.