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VFS Global again offers to cooperate with govt. following exposure by NAO
…withheld over USD 1.4 mn belonging to SL, funds routed through foreign banks
Outsourcing and technology specialist VFS Global, investigated by the National Audit Office (NAO) over the controversial online visa issuance scheme, yesterday (29) expressed its readiness to cooperate with the Auditor General, or any other relevant authority.
In a statement issued through a PR agency, VFS Global claimed that though they, on 07 November, 2024, offered to provide ‘full support and any information which may be required’ to the Auditor General, no response had been received. According to the statement, VFS Global made the offer after hearing of the NAO move to conduct an audit. However, VFS Global remains committed to extend its support to the Auditor General, the company said.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government entered into a controversial outsourcing agreement with GBS Technology Services & IVS Global FZCO (IVS-GBS), V F Worldwide Holdings Ltd (VFS Global) on 21 December, 2023, for provision of e-visa and other related services. On behalf of the government, the Department of Immigration and Emigration entered into the agreement.
The VFS statement claimed as per the terms of this agreement VFS Global had a limited role as technical partner as the IVS-GBS was the prime contractor.
Sources familiar with the issues relating to the agreement, pointed out that the then Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Illukpitiya, on 23 September, 2024, was given two years’ imprisonment for contempt of court, following his failure to comply with an interim order related to the issuance of electronic visas.
The Supreme Court bench that gave the order consisted of Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva, and Arjuna Obeyesekere.
The NAO audit report, dated 03 October, 2025, revealed GBS Technology Services and IVS Global-FZCO, operating under VFS VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., collected both the 2.5% Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) and 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) from visa applicants, between April and August 2024, but conveniently failed to remit these taxes, causing a loss of $ 1,418,360 to the Government ($ 172,970 in SSCL and $ 1,245,390 in VAT).
The audit also revealed the company earned an additional $ 1.8 million from visa-fee-waiver countries, where visitors were exempt from visa fees but were still charged a service fee.
The audit exposed major financial and procedural irregularities, including tax evasion, foreign remittance violations, and breaches of procurement law.
NAO also disclosed that visa fee revenues were routed directly to foreign bank accounts, managed by the private service providers, instead of being deposited into official Sri Lankan government accounts. This practice prevented the govermentt from independently verifying the actual income generated, creating, what the report described as, “a significant accountability gap.”
Top Opposition spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris repeatedly pointed out that the government entered into a new agreement at the expense of arrangements implemented by Mobitel Private Ltd.
NAO highlighted that the proposals for the new agreement had been submitted on 08 September, 2023, and the Cabinet of Ministers appointed a committee to evaluate it on 11 September, 2023, and approval was granted on 11 December, 2023, and finalised on 21 December, 2023 (SF)
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island after 1.00 pm
Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
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