Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna,— To ask the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) of the number of applications that are received per day for obtaining new passports;

(ii) of the number of applications that have been received by now for obtaining new passports;

(iii) of the number of new passports issued per day;

(iv) whether he is aware that a long time is spent after applying to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for obtaining a new passport or extending the period of validity of an existing passport; and

(v) of the steps that have been taken to resolve this problem?

(b) If not why?