Visa mess : 7 questions from Sajith Premadasa

May 6, 2024 at 4:54 PM

Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has raised seven key questions related to Sri Lanka’s newly introduced on-arrival visa application system which came under fire recently.

Concerns were raised on the new process, following a video on social media, showing a traveller claiming that the process had been awarded to an Indian company which was levying extra processing fees and causing delays.

Addressing the media today, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles clarified the said incident and also provided details on the move to provide Sri Lanka’s visa application system from a state-run platform to a global visa processing service, VFS Global. 

Slamming Minister Alles for failing to address the matter properly, Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa further criticised the minister for penalizing the whistleblower.

Taking to ‘X’, the Opposition Leader raised the following key questions from the relevant authorities.  

  1. When cabinet papers were submitted for VFS selection?
  2. What were the factors that led to choosing VFS at 25.77 USD over 1 USD per arrival that SLT Mobitel offered?
  3. Considering Sri Lankan visa approval requires only a passport copy as opposed to visas of some other countries that need VFS for extensive documentation, how was the outsourcing justified?
  4. When cabinet papers were submitted, did the Tourism minister object on the basis that higher fees might impact arrivals, are there any written observations he made on the papers? 
  5. Did the Tourism Minister object to the scrapping of the most popular 30-day visa category?
  6. At any point has the Tourism Minister who claims he is not involved been in conversation with any VFS officials?
  7. Why is VFS involved in SL tourism promotion and how was the scope of work and costs calculated? 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa warned that Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was at stake and that this confusion could not continue.

Also commenting on the matter, Opposition MP Harsha de Silva raised questions on the USD 200 million that had been proposed by IVS- GBS Global Services for the new visa issuance system. 

“Can this be real?! IVS-GBS global to invest USD 200 million (tech for website and cameras?) as per Cabinet Memo justifying outsource at USD 18.50+/visa. @VFSGlobal added later to original consortium? Where did this investment go? #SriLanka Gov MUST answer unless below is fake!” MP de Silva said, taking to ‘X’. 

Sharing the Cabinet paper, the SJB MP said the investment offered by the company covers the technical equipment and software knowledge for the system integration to be made with the Department of Immigration and Emigration. 

Questioning the government for details on the proposed investment, MP Harsha de Silva said the Sri Lankan Government must provide an answer to prove it is not fake. (Newswire)