The computer system breakdown of the Department of Immigration and Emigration has also affected the services at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the department announced.

Further, the Department of Immigration and Emigration notifies that it has taken measures to provide the airport services manually as usual, instead of the automated system.

Earlier, the issuance of passports was temporarily suspended due to a breakdown in the computer system of the department.

Accordingly, the relevant department announced yesterday (Nov 08) that it has suspended issuing passports via all regional offices including the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla.

Accordingly, the Department of Immigration and Emigration has suspended accepting applications for passports until the system is restored.

As a result of this, a heated situation had reportedly occurred in front of the Immigration Department this afternoon as a large number of people who had arrived to obtain their passports had voiced their protest. 

However, the officials of the department and police officers had then arrived and explained the situation and sent them away.