7 May 2024 04:09 am Views - 710
By Yohan Perera
Highlighting that the current Sri Lankan visa issuing process is worse than the bond scam, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday called for a proper probe into it and disclosure of all facts.
“It is envisaged that the visa fiasco is worse than the bond scam of 2015 where millions of public funds have been robbed. Disclosure of real facts is important after a proper probe as the nation needs to know what had really taken place,” Mr. Premadasa told a gathering at Biyagama.
“As we understand, a foreign company has been given the task of handling the process of issuing Sri Lankan visas to foreigners. There are actually three companies involved in it. A foreigner has to pay $ 18.50 extra as a result. There is an outflow of funds as a result of its new move. It is questionable whether a financial feasibility study was conducted. The nation should also be aware of the cost-benefit of it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Premadasa in his latest message on X alleged that processing of visas through VFS will cost the nation Rs 13.5 billion annually. “The only logical explanation of it is absolute corruption,” he also said.