Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-05-09

Drafting of a new Immigrants and Emigrants Bill

Cabinet has granted approval to enact a new Act reviewing the Sri Lanka Immigrants and Emigrants Act No.20 of 1948, taking into consideration, the timely needs. As such, a Committee comprising of Experts conversant with the subject has been appointed to study the subject specific matters. The Department of Immigration and Emigration has prepared a Report, pertaining to the provisions to be included in the new Immigrants and Emigrants Act based on the recommendations of the said Committee.

Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Prime Minister and Hon. S.B. Navinne, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Wayamba Development, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a new Immigration and Emigration Bill incorporating the provisions proposed in the said Report, was approved by the Cabinet.