Dr Sarath Obeysekera

 My son came for a holiday from the UK  after 8 years and wanted to renew/obtain new dual passport which has expired.

We went to get one day service at 8 am to the passport office 

Handed over all the documents but the  NIC he had was issued several years later in 2015 hence they needed another letter from the NIC office that he did not have a NiC previously

He went abroad when he was 8 where he did not have a NIC 

 At counter 17, the passport officer wanted a letter from the NIC office in the same building indicating that my son did not have a NIC previously ( this was never mentioned  anywhere) 

 We went  to room 20 and handed over forms requesting the said letter to the officer  who  is handling the papers 

He left office for half an hour after taking over the dossier and all were lamenting and grieving). 

 Waited and waited and we were given another letter again by Room 20  to go to the legal division of the NIC office on a different floor to get a written confirmation

 I had  to limp and walk up again to get another  NIC copy to give to the legal Branch 

 The waiting time was four hours but a colleague promised to help to get it in one hour as we requested it asap 

The legal office promised to give the said letter in one hour and it never happened 

 We were waiting  and noted  that the  legal ladies walking in and out for tea may be for an early  lunch but our letter never came 

 After three hours  we got the letter after pestering  ( we thought that we would never get it) we had  to go back and hand over the documents again to receiving passport counter 17 and to pay 20000 whopping rupees 

Finally handed over papers by 12.30

Noon 

In the evening I went to collect the passport with an authorization letter from my son

At the counter, I was told to get a Controller to Approve despite my son has signed and given to me 

I told the clerk firmly How am I going to find a controller at 6 pm

He shouted and said to get it somehow ( 

 My son keeps telling me that he does not need a Dual passport! I told him that he should have one so that he can own some properties after we die!

 He said that he does not need any property because he may never come back 

The Crux of the matter is that our government servants   should work efficiently and serve the people rather than blaming some corrupt politicians  (like HE said)

Another incident 

My daughter wanted to get her dual

Passport extended in UK and visited UK High Commission in June 2023

They charged a whopping 140 £ and sent papers to Colombo on June 24 and the new passport never came 

When reminded the clerk at HC had told her       If you know anybody in Cololmbo get him

To follow up ) 

I had to go to the passport office with someone whom I knew 

 The passport office said that they were waiting for a copy of her British passport to include a statement that she is a dual citizen HC in London was keeping mum though

It was handed over I

 After that, I pushed the passport office in Colombo  and couriered back her passport

I physically visited the Passport office with my colleague to help

 I told her that it was  couriered 

 When she  inquired from HC she  was informed that it was still in Colombo, (it was already lying on the counselor’s table ) I found that it reached London  after I called the Counsellor from Colombo

I was informed that my passport was delivered after four months 

What a mess!

HE The High Commissioner should revamp the HC service in London where our own people get harassed all the time 

 Over to you JB sir

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera