News
Cabinet approval given to VFS-Global – Minister Alles

By Saman Indrajith
Opposition MPs in Parliament called on Public Security Minister Tiran Alles to focus on rectifying the mess created by visa facilitating agency VFS-led consortium instead of trying to frame a youth who criticised it at the BIA.
Minister Alles said the awarding of the contract to VFS had been approved by the Cabinet, and Parliament had approved revised visa fees.
JVP/NPP MP Vijitha Herath said that the government’s move to institute legal action against the youth who had expressed his displeasure would lead to public outrage. “Everybody knows now that the youth in question intervened against a wrong move by the government. Because of his intervention, the government decided to suspend the foreign agency that issued visa to foreigners and brought down the fee from 100 dollars to 50 dollars. His action led to save 50 dollars taken from the foreigners being shifted out of the country. He used his freedom of expression to inform the entire nation of the wrongdoing. He is the one who opened the
eyes of the Cabinet and rectified the error. If the government takes legal action against him,not only the members of the legal fraternity, the entire nation will stand by him, all progressive forces will support him. The government would further worsen the mess,” Herath said.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that Minister Alles had misled the House when talking about VFS.
Minister Alles said that he did not speak of VFS in Parliament but only about increasing visa fees. “The VFS proposal was submitted to the Cabinet and then it was referred to a Cabinet subcommittee which studied that report for three months. Thereafter it was returned to the Cabinet and was given approval. I did not speak of VFS in Parliament,” the Minister said.
Kiriella called on the Secretary General of Parliament to bring Hansard to the chamber to ascertain the veracity of the standpoint taken by the Minister.
Alles said the agreement had been made after a proposal was made by the company. The Cabinet has given its approval for the deal.
Kiriella reading out from Hansard proved his point that Alles on a previous day had spoken about VFS in Parliament. “How could this be done on a Cabinet approval, financial control powers are with Parliament,” he queried.
SJB Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar said that the deal between the government with IVS-GBS-VFS Global was worth 840 million dollars over its 12-year lifetime.
The firm was charging 18.5 dollars per visa and a 5 to 7 dollar ‘convenience fee’ on top of the government visa fee from tourists trying to enter Sri Lanka.
Marikkar said the VFS Global was placed to earn cash flows of up to 100 million dollars a year based on tourist promotion targets of the industry, over the contract period.
The firm would earn 35 million dollars in 2024, 43 million dollars in 2025, 49 million dollars, 56 million dollars in 2026, 62 in 2028, 68 in 2029, 74 in 2030, Marikkar said reading out from a document.
The group would earn 80 million dollars in 2031, 86 million in 2032, 92 million in 2033, 96 million in 2034 and 100 million in 2035 million. VFS Global group stood to earn 840 million dollars over the period of the contract which was renewable every two years. The deal was awarded without a competitive procurement process, Marikkar said.
NFF leader MP Wimal Weerawansa said that Minister Alles had told the media that the youth’s conduct at BIA which is an international airport could not be approved. We know that there are many other happenings at the BIA that we do not see in other international airports. I call on the Minister not to take action against this youth.
News
Secretary to the President meets with heads of the Health sector

A special discussion between Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and the heads of the health sector was held on Tuesday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, it was discussed that a committee would be formed to explore possible steps that could be taken through the President’s Fund to reduce the number of patients on long waiting lists for surgeries in government hospitals.
The committee is expected to submit a report on the matter within one month. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, as indicated by the Secretary to the President.
The discussion highlighted the significant number of patients, including those requiring cardiac, ophthalmic, and paediatric surgeries, who are currently awaiting procedures on long waiting lists at government hospitals.
Attention was also given to the potential support that could be provided by the President’s Fund and other relevant sectors to address the challenges faced by these patients.
Additionally, discussions were held regarding the possibility of conducting surgeries after regular working hours at government hospitals. The challenges faced by doctors and staff were also thoroughly discussed during the meeting.
The discussion was attended by several key officials, including Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, along with directors and specialist doctors from major hospitals across the country.
News
Govt. plan to boost revenue with taxes on vehicle imports unrealistic, warns Harsha

By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that vehicle imports would be affected by unusually high prices. Commencing the Second Reading debate from the Opposition side, Dr. de Silva said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, in his Budget speech, projected a substantial portion of tax revenue from vehicle imports. “What is the feasibility of such expectations, given the current price surge,” the MP queried.
“Who can afford to import vehicles at these rates? I do not believe there are enough affluent individuals in Sri Lanka to sustain vehicle imports at these exorbitant prices.”
Providing examples of the dramatic price increase, Dr. de Silva pointed out that a Toyota Raize now cost Rs. 12.2 mn, a Toyota Yaris Rs. 18.5 mn, and a Toyota Prius a staggering Rs. 28.9 mn.
“Someone mentioned that a Toyota Vitz could be available at Rs. 1.4 mn.”
Dr. de Silva said that the government aimed to increase tax revenue by 1.6% of GDP with a significant portion expected from vehicle imports. However, he warned that achieving that target was unrealistic under current circumstances. The government must reassess its reliance on this sector for increasing tax revenue,” he said.
News
SLN receives shallow water multi-beam echo sounder from Australia

Giving a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s hydrographic capabilities, the government of Australia handed over a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) during a ceremony held at SLNS Rangalla today (18 Feb 25). The formal ceremony was held under the auspices of the High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, marking new chapter in the discipline of hydrography.
The Australian government provided the Sri Lanka Navy with this Multi Beam Echo Sounder to enhance its hydrographic capabilities. This advanced equipment will enable the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) to conduct precise hydrographic surveys, essential for creating nautical and electronic charts for international use. The device will also facilitate the production of high-precision nautical charts, ensuring safer maritime navigation.
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