The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today (10) that the current Cabinet of Ministers has decided to review the legality of agreements entered into during the previous government period for assigning the issuance of electronic visas to private companies.

The announcement was made by Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, during the hearing of fundamental rights petitions filed by former MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Patali Champika Ranawaka, along with current MP Rauff Hakeem. 

The petitions challenge the earlier Cabinet decision to hand over the eVisa process to private firms.

The case was taken up before a three‑judge bench comprising Chief Justice Prireethi Padman Surasena, Justice Achala Wengappuli, and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere.

The Additional Solicitor General told the court that a sub‑committee has been appointed by the present Cabinet to examine the legality of the agreements, and requested time to update the court on the progress.

Presenting facts in court, Petitioner M.A. Sumanthiran, noted that although the current government has decided to cancel the transaction, the petitioners intend to continue with the case. 

He also pointed out that members of the present Cabinet have been named as respondents.

The bench ordered that notices be issued to the Cabinet members and directed that the petition be called again on September 29. (Newswire)

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Global visa processing service, VFS Global, says it had communicated to the Office of the Auditor General in November 2024, offering to provide full support and any information which may be required for its special audit related to the online visa issuance system. 

VFS Global has issued a statement in response to recent media reports on the “Special Audit Report on the Online Visa Issuance Methodology of the Department of Immigration and Emigration”.

“GBS Technology Services & IVS Global FZCO (IVS-GBS), V F Worldwide Holdings Ltd (VFS Global), and the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka entered into an outsourcing Agreement dated 21st December 2023 for the provision of eVisa and other related services. As per the terms of this Agreement, VFS Global had a limited role as a technical partner with IVS-GBS as the prime contractor,” the company said. 

VFS Global further said that globally, VFS is deeply committed to transparency and integrity with all its client governments and has accordingly complied fully with the instructions of the competent authorities of Sri Lanka in good faith. 

“As soon as we came to know that an Audit was to be conducted, VFS Global addressed a communication to the Office of the Auditor General on 7th November 2024, offering to provide full support and any information which may be required. Although no response was received from the Office of the Auditor General on this communication, VFS remains committed to offering its full support to the Office of the Auditor General or any other relevant authority of the Sri Lankan government, as and when it is asked for,” the company added. (Newswire)

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MP Harsha de Silva in Parliament today said that the special audit report on Sri Lanka’s controversial e-visa contract by the Department of Immigration and Emigration has been received by MPs.

The report includes nine recommendations, which de Silva, as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, urged to 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. 

It also stresses that any outsourcing of services must follow proper tender procedures, include cost-effectiveness studies, and ensure transparency in revenue collection. 

Furthermore, the report calls for investigations into officials involved in approving the controversial contract without necessary financial oversight and for calculating and recovering any losses incurred by the government.

Audit recommendations in the report by Acting Auditor General G.H.D. Dharmapala

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. (Ref.no:
4. 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 framework of tax, laws and other regulations in Sri Lanka, and the transparent of fees and revenue collected by and on behalf of the government.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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 it and, it is appropriate to seek the assistance of specialized institutions or department for that purpose. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader, MP Rauff Hakeem, has called for the forensic report by the Auditor General on the controversial VFS e-visa deal to be submitted to Parliament. 

Addressing the Parliament, MP Hakeem said that the report by the Committee on Public Finance had mentioned that the Auditor General must submit a forensic audit on the loss that was to be incurred by the government due to this e-visa deal. 

MP Hakeem pointed out that the delay by the said officials to implement the Supreme Court order and the 16-year contract with a dubious company would have caused the government to lose almost US$ 3.4 billion in revenue. 

“The contract had been given to a dubious company registered in Dubai, using a company such as VFS Global as a front. The main matter is up for argument on 20th November, and we are yet to receive the forensic audit report by the Auditor General,” he said. 

He made the remarks in connection with the Supreme Court’s order yesterday to sentence former Controller General of Immigration & Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya to two years of imprisonment on contempt of court charges for failing to execute a court order tied to the controversial VFS e-visa deal.

The verdict was issued after taking up for consideration the petitions that had been filed by former ministers Rauff Hakeem and Patali Champika Ranawaka, along with former MP Sumanthiran.

Harsha Ilukpitiya has been in remand custody since September last year after the Supreme Court ordered him to be remanded for failing to implement the Court’s order regarding the controversial visa issuance system by the global visa processing service, VFS Global.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance also found that VFS Global had been selected without calling for official bids, resulting in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance.

In August last year, the Supreme Court issued an Interim Order temporarily halting the Cabinet’s decision to outsource its visa application process to GBS Technology Services & IVS Global- FZCO, a VFS VF Worldwide Holdings LTD-led consortium.

The court ordered the reinstatement of the previous quick Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) process, which the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, failed to comply with, resulting in his arrest. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has sentenced former Controller General of Immigration & Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya to two years of imprisonment on contempt of court charges for failing to execute a court order tied to the controversial VFS e-visa deal.

In July this year, Harsha Illukpitiya unconditionally apologized to the Supreme Court, admitting to disregarding the court’s directive concerning the e-visa contract that drew widespread criticism over alleged corruption and irregularities.

Harsha Ilukpitiya has been in remand custody since September last year after the Supreme Court ordered him to be remanded for failing to implement the Court’s order regarding the controversial visa issuance system by the global visa processing service, VFS Global.

The visa issuance system by VFS Global and its charges came under the spotlight after a local passenger had raised concerns over the process, with the video of the incident widely circulated on social media.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance also found that VFS Global had been selected without calling for official bids, resulting in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance.

In August last year, the Supreme Court issued an Interim Order temporarily halting the Cabinet’s decision to outsource its visa application process to GBS Technology Services & IVS Global- FZCO, a VFS VF Worldwide Holdings LTD-led consortium.

The court ordered the reinstatement of the previous quick Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) process, which the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, failed to comply with, resulting in his arrest. (Newswire)

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