The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a new regional office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in the Jaffna district.
Currently, the only regional office in the Northern Province is located in Vavuniya, requiring residents from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu to undertake lengthy travel to access immigration and emigration services. Given the growing number of passport applications from the Northern Province, the need for a more accessible facility was highlighted.
The proposal to set up a regional office in Jaffna was discussed during the Jaffna District Coordination Committee meeting held on 31st January 2025, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was agreed that a dedicated office in Jaffna would significantly improve service delivery for residents in the northern districts.
Following this recommendation, the Cabinet approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to proceed with the establishment of the office. The new regional office will be located within the premises of the Jaffna District Secretariat and is expected to begin operations within this month. (NewsWire)