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SLT Mobitel offered same service at USD 1 per person but VFS charges USD 25 plus – SJB
On-arrival visa controversy:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SJB has called upon the government to explain why the Department of Immigration and Emigration had entered into an agreement with VFS Global-led grouping for the issuance of online visas against the backdrop of SLT Mobitel offering the same service at a much lower cost.
Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP, and former SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said that SLT Mobitel offered to issue an online visa per person at USD 1 whereas VFS-led operation charged USD 25.70 per person.
The disclosure was made at a media briefing held on Monday at the Opposition Leader’s Office at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha.
Prof. Peiris and Rahuman demanded that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government come clean on the issue.
Dissident SLPP MP Prof. Peiris recently aligned himself with the main Opposition SJB.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration recently finalised a tripartite agreement with GBS Technology Services and IVS Global FZCO being the prime contractor and VFS Global being the technology partner for the Sri Lanka government’s new E-Visa solution.
Referring to an expert evaluation of the controversial deal submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers, Prof. Peiris emphasised that the government had outsourced the vital function that shouldn’t have been removed from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, under any circumstances, contrary to the report submitted by its own committee, headed by T. V. D. Damayanthi S. Karunaratne, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.
The committee included Director General, Emigration and Immigration I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial and Local Government Champika Ramawickrema, Chief Financial Officer, Ministry of Public Security Ms. M. P. D. P. Pathirana and Additional Director General representing the Treasury M. R. G .A. Muthukuda.
They questioned the rationale in outsourcing responsibilities of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in the absence of serious shortcomings on their part. They insisted that Public Security Minister Tiran Alles should take responsibility for the situation. Minister Alles has denied any wrongdoing on his part or that of his Ministry. The SLPP National List MP claims both Parliament and Cabinet approved the project.
Former MP Rahuman asked whether Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, sanctioned the outsourcing of the Department of Immigration and Emigration functions.
At the onset of the briefing Prof. Peiris alleged that the latest deal was as corrupt as the February 2015 Treasury bond scams. Claiming that the Treasury bond scams had been perpetrated to fund the general election later that year, Prof. Peiris asked whether the incumbent government was in the process of raising funds for the forthcoming presidential poll.
The former Law Professor said that there hadn’t been any requirement, whatsoever, to involve an external party in operations performed by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
Prof. Peiris emphasized that the USD 25.70 charged by the service provider is in addition to the visa fee received by the government. Pointing out that citizens of several countries, including India, China and Russia had been exempted from visa fees, Prof. Peiris said that they, too, were fleeced by the online visa provider to the tune of USD 25.70.
Alleging that the whole exercise was meant to benefit VFS Global led grouping and its local agents, Prof. Peiris warned that tourism could suffer quite a serious setback. “This could discourage tourists. The government cannot be unaware of the consequences, especially against the backdrop of Tourism Minister Harin Fernando disowning the tripartite agreement.
Prof. Peiris said that the tripartite agreement should be examined taking into consideration two issues. First of all, the government should explain the circumstances under which SLT Mobitel offer had been rejected and how tenders were called.
Prof. Peiris said that the government shouldn’t resort to this sort of clandestine deal against the backdrop of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and donor countries repeatedly demanding transparency and accountability on the part of the government. The internationally recognised law academic declared that the whole process was flawed and contrary to the law of the land regardless of denials at different levels.
Pointing out that the agreement had been signed for a period of six years, Prof. Peiris said that there was provision for extending it for six more years. “But in case the government has to rescind the agreement, who will take the responsibility for paying compensation to the external party?” he asked.
The former Minister alleged that the government in a desperate bid to suppress the truth was threatening public servants not to discuss the sordid issue with the media.
Ex-MP Rahuman said that the latest deal exposed the mentality of members of the Cabinet. At a time, the IMF had been mounting pressure on the government to introduce a new law to tackle corruption at all levels, they perpetrated another mega corrupt deal.
Referring to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle’s declaration that the Cabinet approved procurement of medicines now under investigation, Rahuman said that the Cabinet had lost public faith. The former MP said that Parliament approved increases in visa fees but not the outsourcing of services contrary to Minister Alles’s claim.
Rahuman said that according to the agreement the government received the right to examine the service provider only after completion of 10 years of service of the stipulated 12 years.
A progress review meeting on reforms and modernisation initiatives at Sri Lanka’s key state revenue-collecting institutions was held on Thursday (15) at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, with the participation of representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and officials of the Revenue Administration, Reform and Modernisation Bureau (RARMB) of the Presidential Secretariat.
At the meeting, the IMF representatives commended the revenue collection efficiency of the Department of Inland Revenue, Sri Lanka Customs and the Department of Excise, the country’s three leading state revenue-collecting institutions. Extensive discussions were also held on the progress of the reform and modernisation programmes being implemented at these institutions.
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake outlined the progress achieved by the three institutions to date and the reforms planned for implementation in the future.
The IMF representatives also highlighted the importance of strengthening risk management, developing human resources and ensuring the efficient operation of computer systems at the respective institutions.
Senior Additional Secretary to the President Seevali Arukgoda also attended the meeting. The IMF was represented by Cindy Negus, Senior Economist in Revenue Administration for the Asia and Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Central Asia regions; Alison Lister, Revenue Administration Adviser; and Gregory Toppin, Resident Revenue Adviser in Sri Lanka. A group of senior officials from the Revenue Administration, Reform and Modernisation Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat also participated.
(President’s Media Division)
By Anuradha Hiripitiyage
Electricity tariffs should be reduced by between 3 and 5 percent instead of being increased by 2.88 percent in the fourth quarter, as proposed by the National System Operator (NSO), Electricity Consumers’ Association Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said.
Addressing a media briefing in Maradagahamula, Divulapitiya, Gampaha, yesterday (16), Dhammika said a proper assessment of electricity generation costs, including the contribution of hydropower, could justify a reduction in tariffs.
He said the NSO had sought approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for a 2.88 percent tariff increase, which was expected to generate an additional Rs. 4,438 million.
However, the Commission had indicated that an increase of only 1.46 percent was warranted, amounting to Rs. 2,245 million, he said, adding that even this increase was unnecessary.
Dhammika alleged that the proposed revision sought to pass on to electricity consumers the financial burden arising from the non-arrival of five coal shipments and failed tenders.
“The Government had said that the burden of coal-related losses would not be passed on to the public. It is therefore unjust to make consumers bear these costs,” he said.
He pointed out that the PUCSL had forecast that hydropower would account for 32.34 percent of total electricity generation in the coming quarter, while the cost of such generation would represent only 3.45 percent of the overall cost of electricity production.
Consumers should benefit from the lower cost of hydropower generation rather than bear the burden of more expensive thermal power generation, he said.
Dhammika also questioned the inclusion of Rs. 669 million in capacity charges that had not been approved by the PUCSL, as well as a further Rs. 1,069 million to repay loans relating to incomplete projects.
Including such charges in the proposed tariff revision was unjustifiable, he said.
The PUCSL has given the public until October 30 to submit their views on the proposed tariff revision.
Dhammika said the possibility of increased hydropower generation in the coming weeks, as reservoir levels rise, should also be taken into account when determining electricity tariffs.
He maintained that tariffs could be reduced by 3 to 5 percent if hydropower generation was properly assessed and coal-related losses and unapproved charges were excluded from the calculations.
He further claimed that electricity tariffs could be reduced by as much as 10 percent through the promotion of renewable energy and the effective use of solar power and battery storage systems.
The Electricity Consumers’ Association urged the Government to withdraw the proposed tariff increase, insisting that consumers should not be made to bear costs arising from coal supply problems and other disputed charges.
By S.K. Samaranayake
Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiri Chapter has called for the immediate release of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who is currently serving a prison sentence, following a court ruling.
The Asgiri Mahanayake made the appeal when a delegation of senior prison officials, including Assistant Commissioner of Prisons and Director of Operations Senaka Pallegedara, called on him on the 16th.
During the meeting, the prelate warned that the continued incarceration of Ven. Gnanasara Thera could lead to a volatile situation and cause public agitation.
Responding to the appeal, the prison officials informed the Mahanayake Thera that the authority to order the release of Ven. Gnanasara Thera did not rest with the Prisons Department but with the President.
Other senior prison officials, including Rajeev Srimal Silva, Sampath Warnakulasooriya and Mangala Welivita, were also present at the meeting.
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