Tyrant Alles claims ‘mafia’ behind long passport lines

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles claimed that a “mafia” is behind the long queues for passports at the Immigration and Emigration Department.

He stated this in response to an allegation made by NPP MP Vijitha Herath.

Long queues have formed outside Immigration offices in recent days due to a shortage of new blank passports.

During a press conference held today by the National People’s Power (NPP), the party blamed the government for the crisis surrounding the issuance of passports.

Minister Alles responded to the allegations at a press conference at the Ministry of Public Security today, explaining that long queues were not caused by a shortage of passports.

He alleged that the online appointment slots, which are available at midnight, are quickly captured by a particular group who use more than 100 SIM cards to secure the appointments. These appointments are then sold to innocent people for around Rs 45,000.

“When I came to know about it, I immediately asked to stop the online system and let them join the queue. But then the queues never ended,” he said, adding that certain individuals wait in the queue and then sell that spot for Rs. 20,000 or Rs. 25,000.

“After that I made a decision and asked the police to take over the queues and they were given instructions on how to do that. After that day the queues will be over at 10:30 – 11:30,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the minister also denied reports that a group of Immigration Service officials had traveled to the factory in question in Poland to investigate the production process of the new passports.

“They said that the immigration chiefs went to Poland because of the passport problem. These are outright lies. Now the passport chief is here with me,” he said.