In a move that could be straight out of a courtroom drama, the Supreme Court has hit the pause button on the Cabinet’s decision to roll out a new online and expatriate visa system in Sri Lanka. This suspension will last until the ongoing petitions are resolved, with the Court ordering a rollback to the pre-decision status quo. It’s like someone hit the rewind button on a really bad movie.
This twist comes just after the President sternly reminded everyone that the Judiciary should stay in its lane and not meddle with executive matters. But it seems the Supreme Court didn’t get the memo. The visa deal, brought to the Cabinet by Minister Tiran Alles, has now been placed in the deep freezer by a bench of three Justices—Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Achala Wengappuli.
Dip in Tourism
According to data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, tourists have been giving Sri Lanka a wide berth ever since the new eVisa system went live. Between January 1 and April 15, 2024, tourist arrivals surged by 85%. But from April 16 to June 30, 2024, the growth plummeted to a mere 25%. Committee on Public Finance (COPF) member Rauff Hakeem couldn’t resist pointing this out, adding fuel to the fire.
Here are some spicy tidbits about this controversial visa deal:
- Security Risks: Outsourcing the visa system poses a national security threat and risks exposing sensitive data. Basically, it’s like giving your house keys to a stranger and hoping they don’t throw a party.
- High Fees: The new system comes with exorbitant visa fees, scaring off potential tourists faster than a bad Yelp review.
- Industry Outrage: The tourism sector is up in arms, and honestly, who can blame them?
- Silent Tourism Minister: The silence from the tourism minister is deafening, suggesting that the entire Cabinet might just be in on the whole fiasco.
- Minimal Service: The companies involved—IVS, GBS, and VFS—offer nothing more than a website to collect applicant data. No physical presence, no staff, no service. It’s like paying for a five-star hotel and getting a tent.
The petitioners, including Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka, and the Cabinet of Ministers, have a lot to answer for. The proceedings saw heavy hitters like M.A. Sumanthiran PC, Rauff Hakeem, and Patali Champika Ranawaka from the COPF making their case. Other notable appearances included Upul Jayasuriya PC for Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe, Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC for Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and Chandra Jayaratne, and Senior Counsel Suren Gnanaraj for the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators.
Transparency International Sri Lanka was represented by Senior Counsel Senani Dayaratne, while Attorney-at-law S.M. Dissanayaka had Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe and Vishwa De Livera Tennakoon in his corner. Last but not least, Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena represented the Attorney General.
Stay tuned for the next episode of “Visa Wars: The Judiciary Strikes Back.”
