Lanka immigration headquarters to be relocated out of Colombo

Sri Lankan government has made the decision to relocate its Department of Immigration and Emigration headquarters outside Colombo.

The headquarters – currently situated in the most populous area in Colombo – Borella – is to be relocated to Battaramulla – a residential area in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – the official capital of Sri Lanka.

Immigration announced that their offices in Colombo, Kandy, Matara and Vavuniya will be closed on August 26 and they are relocated.

Immigration said that all services, except for passport issuance within 24 hours would be provided by the new headquarters in Bataramulla on August 29, the day the headquarters will be opened.

Maldivians who live in Sri Lanka therefore need to go to the new headquarters – which will be established in Isurupaya building for visa services.

The current immigration headquarters in Borella, Colombo is faced with issues due to limited space, resulting in people waiting in queue outside the building.

Sri Lankan government is currently relocating many of its offices to towns and cities outside Colombo, such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.