Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2021-06-28

Amendments to the Immigrants and Emigrants Act for revision of the existing visa period with regard to the process of issuing visas of the Department of Immigration and Emigration

- In view of amending the Immigrants and Emigrants Act to revise the existing visa period with regard to the process of issuing visas of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, H. E. the President in his capacity as the Minister of Defence submitted a proposal previously to the Cabinet to publish the draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman in the Government Gazette and submit the same in Parliament for approval. The Minister of Justice was requested at the Cabinet meeting held on 2021 04 05 to study the matters pertaining to the said Bill and submit further amendments, if any, to the Cabinet. As such, the Minister of Justice has conducted discussions with the relevant stakeholders and it has been recommended to the Cabinet that it would be appropriate to pass the relevant Bill in Parliament as it is. Having considered the said recommendation, the proposal made by H. E. the President through the Cabinet Memorandum dated 2021 02 23 to publish the draft Bill prepared for amending the Immigrants and Emigrants Act in the Government Gazette and submit the same in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.