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Audit urges urgent legal reform, transparency in e-visa deal

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5 months ago

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Dr Harsha de Silva

MPs get special audit report on the visa scam at Immigration and Emigration Dept.

SJB Colombo District MP Dr Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that the special audit report on Sri Lanka’s controversial e-visa contract, awarded to a foreign consortium by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, had been made available to the MPs.

The report includes nine recommendations, which the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance Dr de Silva said, should be implemented immediately. The audit report, by Acting Auditor General G. H. D. Dharmapala, recommends several key reforms, including legal clarity on the visa issuance process under the Immigration and Emigration Act of 1948, and the need for continuous improvement in service delivery through modern technology.

Dr de Silva said that the report has recommended that any outsourcing of services must follow proper tender procedures, include cost-effectiveness studies, and ensure transparency in revenue collection.

Audit recommendations in the report by Acting Auditor General G.H.D. Dharmapala: Identify and act in accordance with legal provisions relating to the visa issuing process for carrying out activities under Immigration and Emigration act 20 of 1948 or amend it as necessary.

1.  It is the responsibility and duty of the Department of Immigration and Emigration to provide a more efficient and friendly service to its customers by using improved methods in line with the advancement of technology, and therefore, it is necessary to work continuously towards that end.

2.  When outsourcing its services, the Department of Immigration and Emigration should conduct a cost-effectiveness study on the services to be outsourced, follow tender procedures so that all interested parties can participate, and select institutions with conditions that are profitable for the government and beneficial to the country.

3.  When entering into agreement with local/ Foreign service providers, it is necessary to determine the legality of those institutions, how their obligations are implemented within the framework of tax, laws and other regulations in Sri Lanka, and the transparency of fees and revenue collected by and on behalf of the government.

4.  GBS Technology Service & IVS Global-FZCO, VF Worldwide Holding Ltd., during the short period of its operation, this institution took steps to recover the 18 percent and 2.5 percent SSCL collected from visa applicants on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and to draw the attention of authorized institutions to calculate the income tax payable on the income earned and remit it to the Inland Revenue Department.

5.  In the course of the unilateral proposal submitted by GBS Technology Service & IVS Global-FZCO, VF Worldwide Holding Ltd., from its inception to its short-term implementation, the officers who participated in the preparation of Cabinet papers, the appointment of committees, the evaluation of committee reports, not obtaining the observations of the Ministry of Finance which has the power to collect state revenue, and who performed basic functions such as allowing visa income to be collected in a bank account in a foreign country without proper permission, should be investigated and appropriate disciplinary and other actions should be taken.

6.  Taking steps to calculate the losses and lost revenue incurred by the government through the implementation of the new project proposal and recover them from those responsible.

7.  Taking steps to select a service provider through a transparent and appropriate call for bids for a more suitable e-Visa system in the future, subject to the decisions of the case pending in the Supreme Court.

8.  This report was conducted within the scope of the Auditor General’s powers, resources, time and information presented, and therefore I did not examine whether there was any illegal or criminal activity beyond the scope of the Auditor General’s powers and resources. Therefore, if it is felt that such an examination should be conducted and it is appropriate to seek the assistance of specialized institutions or departments for that purpose then it should be done.


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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts

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5 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of  Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.

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.

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US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land

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6 hours ago

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2026/03/26

By

President

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.

The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.

We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.

The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.

Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.

The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.

Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.

Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.

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No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor

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6 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.

“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.

Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.

The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

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