Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella raised concerns in Parliament today over the newly introduced visa issuance system at the Katunayake Airport, claiming that the Parliament was not informed of the decision on the charges of global visa processing service, VFS Global.

Addressing the Parliament, MP Kiriella said the Gazette published on the new visa issuance scheme only approves an increase in visa fees and not that of VFS Global. 

Stating that the Parliament Hansard also only consists of the discussion on the increase in visa fees, MP Kiriella questioned how the VFS fee had been implemented following a discussion in the Cabinet. 

MP Kiriella pointed out that the VFS fee is a separate segment, and as the Parliament has the Financial Power, the matter cannot be decided by the Cabinet. 

He further accused the authorities of having completely bypassed the Parliamentary system. 

Responding to the queries, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles acknowledged that the proposal regarding VFS charges was not presented to Parliament. 

“The proposal regarding VFS was presented to the Cabinet. A committee appointed to study the matter had issued recommendations after which the proposal was resubmitted to the Cabinet and thereafter, approved. I never said that the VFS proposal on charges was presented to Parliament. We only spoke of the increase in Visa fee and the proposal on VFS in general,” Minister Alles explained. 

Minister Alles said that the committee had provided necessary recommendations after which the proposal, including VFS charges, was resubmitted to Cabinet and approved, due to which it was not necessary to be presented to Parliament. (Newswire)

“He says the matter (VFS) was not presented to Parliament. Then he questions the opposition for not debating the matter when it was presented in Parliament. These are double-tongued stories, he misled Parliament,” Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshan Kiriella referring to Minister… pic.twitter.com/8gP60uiEcm

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) May 7, 2024

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Minister Harin Fernando has accused Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella of violating his Parliamentary privileges via his recent statement concerning the ongoing case filed by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) against two party members who had crossed over to the government. 

A heated exchange of words took place between Minister Harin Fernando and MP Lakshman Kiriella in Parliament today over the matter. 

Addressing the Parliament, Minister Fernando raised concerns over MP Kiriella’s statement about the judicial proceedings concerning the case filed against the two party members who had crossed over to the government.

In his statement, MP Kiriella claimed that out of the three-judge bench hearing the case, two have written their verdicts, while one judge is yet to write down his verdict, urging the judges to announce their decisions without delay. 

Raising the matter in Parliament, Minister Harin Fernando inquired how MP Kiriella was aware that two of the justices had written down their verdicts, while one judge’s decision was pending.

Questioning if the MP and the judges were in contact over the proceedings of an ongoing case, Minister Fernando pointed out that it was a violation of his Parliamentary privileges. 

He further called on the Parliament to appoint a select- committee to investigate how MP Kiriella had obtained such information and if the information was being shared between the two parties in violation of his Parliamentary privileges.

Responding to the minister, MP Kiriella revealed that he had only urged the judiciary to fast-track the announcement of the verdict related to the case.

He further said that speaking of a delay in a court case was not a breach of Parliamentary Privilege and that MPs and the general public could voice their opinions to question the delay in court verdicts. (Newswire)

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The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has alleged that there are attempts to postpone the Presidential Election.

Addressing the Parliament today, SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the President’s Government Policy statement in Parliament did not mention the Presidential Election. 

He further said there are plans to propose the abolishment of the executive presidency, which will result in a delay in holding the Presidential Election.

“When they propose the abolishment of the executive presidency the government will say they need to create a new Constitution. Then they will say that at least a year is required to create a new Constitution,” the MP said. 

MP Kiriella further said that there are attempts to further postpone the Presidential Elections by a year through these means.

Video : https://rb.gy/a54ko6 (NewsWire)

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