A total of 9,158 applications have been received through the online system during the last nine days, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya said.

He said accepting passport applications through an online system commenced on June 15.

With the new special system, the passports will be issued within three days after submitting the applications.

Earlier it took 14 working days to issue a passport under the normal procedure.

He further said that the levy for one-day service was increased to Rs. 20,000.

However, it was decide to reduce the charges of applications to Rs.15,000 if submitted through the online system.

Immigration & Emigration Dept. temporarily halts issuing of passports