News, Top Story

Supreme Court suspends controversial VFS Global deal

02 Aug, 2024

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court issued an interim order suspending the controversial visa deal between the Government and a private consortium, IVS-GBS and VFS Global.

The order was issued based on a number of Fundamental Rights petitions, including those filed by MPs M A Sumanthiran and Rauf Hakeem.

The Cabinet of Ministers had earlier approved signing an agreement, to streamline and enhance the visa application process for foreigners visiting Sri Lanka.

One of the petitioners,?Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), called for action against the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

This matter was filed in the public interest, considering the lack of transparency and non-adherence to guidelines in the decision-making and procurement processes that impact the tourism industry, the national economy and national security. The Petitioners argued that the fundamental rights of the citizens to equality and the right to information, as guaranteed under the Constitution under Articles 12(1) and 14A, have been violated through the actions and inactions of the respondents.

Among the respondents named in the petition were the Minister of Public Security, the Controller General of Immigration, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, GBS Technology Services & IVS Global- FZCO, VFS VF Worldwide Holdings LTD, the Cabinet of Sri Lanka and the Attorney General.? (Colombo Gazette)

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