Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Supreme Court suspends controversial visa deal
Colombo, August 02 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today issued an Interim Order suspending the Cabinet decision granting the approval in relation to online and expat visa operations in Sri Lanka.
This order will be effective till the final determination of the petitions.
The Court further ordered the authorities to maintain the status quo ante as it existed before the implementation of the Cabinet decision.
The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Achala Wengappuli made this order pursuant to several Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for issuing visas to tourists visiting Sri Lanka, was taken up for support.
The petitioners cited Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka, the Cabinet of Ministers and several others as respondents.
The members of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) of the Parliament
M.A. Sumanthiran PC, Rauff Hakeem and Patali Champika Ranawaka made their oral submissions while appearing in person. Upul Jayasuriya PC with Sithara Sampath Wijewardane appeared for Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe. Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC with Rukshan Senadheera appeared for Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and Chandra Jayaratne. Senior Counsel Suren Gnanaraj appeared for the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators and several other petitioners. Senior Counsel Senani Dayaratne appeared for Transparency International Sri Lanka.
Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe with Vishwa De Livera Tennakoon appeared for Attorney-at-law S.M. Dissanayaka.
Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena appeared for the Attorney General.
Comments - 52
Comments - Supreme Court suspends controversial visa deal
-
Jagath Leanage Friday, 02 August 2024 05:34 PM
At last . Long awaiting news . Great .
2 51
Jan Friday, 02 August 2024 05:44 PM
Best news I have heard in a long time. My highest respect to the judiciary. With proper governance and controls we have hope for a better future.
3 54
Mohan Friday, 02 August 2024 05:47 PM
This is one of the best news for visiting Sri Lanka tourist and the bad news for money making politician!
2 49
Be Fair Friday, 02 August 2024 05:47 PM
No $$$$ for the MInister
1 53
Buddhist Friday, 02 August 2024 06:05 PM
The Supreme Court is now acting in an orderly manner. Thank you, Chief Justice.
1 51
Jaffna Tamil Friday, 02 August 2024 06:17 PM
Congratulations to the Judges of the Supreme Court. What would Indians do now ? They have to pack up their bags and leave Sri Lanka. We can’t tolerate Indians running our Visa services to our tourists. Would India ever permit a foreign company to run its Visa services ? Absolutely not.
9 61
Sri Lankan Lion Saturday, 03 August 2024 12:38 AM
@Jaffna Tamil... Remember you are still living on the handouts given by the Tamil Nadu beggars. Think before you write stupid comments.
27 3
The Last Refuge Friday, 02 August 2024 06:22 PM
Supreme court flexing its muscles. Good for the people.
1 49
Adwani Saturday, 03 August 2024 07:58 AM
@The Last Refuge - It is not the Supreme Court flexing its muscles, the real muscles flexing parties are several PCs, MPs appointed in COPF and other petitioners. Supreme Court surrendered its hands without flexing muscles.
1 4
Steve Friday, 02 August 2024 07:04 PM
This is bigger than the Bond scam. And who is behind it? Your guess is as good as mine.
1 49
Jagath Leanage Saturday, 03 August 2024 05:46 AM
Non other than that minister . He is also a DEAL man.
0 11
Need To Follow Rule Of Law Friday, 02 August 2024 07:13 PM
Extremely excited on this judgement. However, why should one need the courts to get involved in these kinds of cabinet decisions. It clearly shows this and previous regimes don’t follow proper protocols and implement decisions at their own whims. Citizens need to understand these fellas are taking everyone for a ride and not following proper protocols in procurement procedures. Need to put a stop and vote in genuine politician who follow the Rule of Law. Australian and UK’s voters got their government’s revamped recently and improvements are being seen in most areas and more are to come soon.
1 44
smith Saturday, 03 August 2024 09:35 AM
Genuine politician- you will have to outsource that too to a foreign country There ain't such people in paradise
1 7
Mithuni Friday, 02 August 2024 07:30 PM
Another great decision to protect the sovereignty that belongs to the people and our birth rights to manage our own affairs. Our hats off to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
1 43
Hassansa Friday, 02 August 2024 07:30 PM
God Bless Sri Lanka - A very good stay Order - Tiran Alles and the thieves Will hv to pay back wat they took From the VFS deal
1 41
Rip Winkle Friday, 02 August 2024 07:46 PM
YES! YES!! YESSSSSSS!!! This is badass marvelous news!
0 33
Samyrajah Selvarajah. Friday, 02 August 2024 07:50 PM
What a wonderful court decision? Wonderful. Now we have to go to the bottom of the truth and find out about the commission which has been involved in this corrupted deal. God, our Jesus Christ, please help this corrupted nation to recover from insolvency.
0 39
cineha Friday, 02 August 2024 09:15 PM
Even for a layman, on the face of it, this visa deal appears very much controversial. Having similar foot prints as the Bond scam.
0 41
joshua Friday, 02 August 2024 09:32 PM
Yep, rotting from the head
0 31
R. Fernando AAL Friday, 02 August 2024 10:06 PM
Only an INTERIM INJUNCTION. usually courts issue this type of orders until a case is heard, because there is no time given for the defendants to answer their side. Nothing to get excited. People should know the basic words of LAW.
4 16
BanduXX Friday, 02 August 2024 10:50 PM
The order is effective till the the FINAL determination of the petitions. That is good enough. It is not until a case is HEARD but the final determination thereof.
0 23
sanath perera Friday, 02 August 2024 10:16 PM
Why are you guys do not understand this development? Is literacy in Sri Lanka so low? All that happen is that the Courts have allowed leave to proceed and issued a temporary order suspending the current Visa system. It is a small victory. The actual judgement will be given later, probably in few months.
3 16
THIS CASE WILL BE CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE PEOPLE Friday, 02 August 2024 10:52 PM
EXCELLENT NEWS, LET THE CASE RUN AND SEE IF ANY POLITICIAN USES INFLUENCE AND SOME SCUMBAG OVERTURNS THE SUPREME COURT ORDER, LIKE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST
0 17
Yohan Friday, 02 August 2024 11:01 PM
Excellent decision against corrupt RW and corrupt Tiran. Not even tender was opened and for sure he will be behind bars under a future government. This is the main reason why Ranil should be defeated. When ever he gets power he becomes arrogant and allow large scale corruption. During yahapalanaya he robbed the cb with mahedran and his PM candidate Ravi.
2 25
cengiz Friday, 02 August 2024 11:18 PM
What is the solution for tourists who want to visit Sri Lanka and cannot get a visum online? Or can they get a visum on arrival until there is a new system?
0 1
BanduXX Saturday, 03 August 2024 11:27 AM
Just revert to the old system of Mobitel
0 4
Tissa Fernando Friday, 02 August 2024 11:19 PM
This indicates that Ranil is not interfering with the judiciary. What would happen under AKD government in case similar petitions are filed? Will judges be brave enough to rule independently without fear of being subject to physical harm by their secret army.
6 3
Rama Friday, 02 August 2024 11:35 PM
Maybe following a corrupt Presidents previous suggestion Minister of Immigration can meet with CJ to sort this out
0 3
SP Friday, 02 August 2024 11:39 PM
This is great news, mostly because VFS is a corrupt organization that has a history of mishandling people’s extremely personal data. A quick google will show anyone this. Also, since they’ve come in the visa process has been a mess. VFS global is a shit hole is a in every country they operate. India is slowly buying up and taking over not only the physical property of Sri Lanka but the intellectual property and data. The sooner people wake up to this the better. It’s insane that this sort of move was made with no democratic process. Watch who you vote for next.
0 10
VJ Friday, 02 August 2024 11:53 PM
The minister says, no cost to the government. Loss of revenue is cost to the government. Loss of tourism is further loss to the government. So who is collecting the visa fees paid by the tourist? Hats off to our judiciary. Like always please do not serve half the justice, punish the officials involved in this scam.
0 8
Naman Saturday, 03 August 2024 01:15 AM
Glad that supreme court is doing its job;Crooks can not have it their WAY!
0 4
Pusa Saturday, 03 August 2024 01:51 AM
The SC is now running the country ? At this rate, why do we need a gov ?
6 1
Hadam Saturday, 03 August 2024 03:36 AM
Me my wife and two children who visit Sri Lanka every year from UK for summer holidays. This time we opted to Thailand due to extortionate visa fee. For all four of it would have been $400. We rather spend that on food and hotels in Bangkok then paying into some corrupt minister pocket.
0 9
FredSnR Saturday, 03 August 2024 03:57 AM
The Judiciary has thankfully woken up after being put to sleep.Reminds me of a James Bond movie.Just in time it seems ,we were about to lose our sovereignty as a nation with control of ports airports seemingly disappearing into foreign hands how could we protect our borders and then the visa deal.
0 4
Zak Saturday, 03 August 2024 04:38 AM
Our respect to the judiciary ! Keep up the good work to turnaround this country
0 3
sunil vijaya Saturday, 03 August 2024 05:10 AM
mr. bean, the clown getting hit by SC again. IGP too got knocked off. the moment this joker loses power the SC will send him to jail on the slightest misdemeanour. The big mouth who disparage intellectuals now getting back left, right and center and that will reflct on the vote too. NOt just SC peeople too will rejecct this megalomaniac, like his predecessor JRJ.
0 3
sunil vijaya Saturday, 03 August 2024 05:12 AM
sorry had some typos mr. bean, the clown getting hit by SC again. IGP too got knocked off. the moment this joker loses power the SC will send him to jail on the slightest misdemeanour. The big mouth who disparage intellectuals now getting back left, right and center and that will reflect on the vote too. Not just SC people too will reject this megalomaniac, like his predecessor JRJ.
0 3
Dee Saturday, 03 August 2024 06:08 AM
Wow! Supreme Court should run this country! Everything will be OK then! If some SOE is running at a loss, the court should say- privatize within a year, if people go on strike demanding something- give all demands! Nice! I’m not defaming the Supreme Court, only saying that things will be better for the citizens if they run the country!
3 2
Dushantha Luther Saturday, 03 August 2024 06:29 AM
All works of most enlightened ones.
0 1
Ignatius Rasiah Saturday, 03 August 2024 07:13 AM
Where in the world does a country allow a foreign country to run their VISA system. Only in Crooked SRI LANKA. Sanity prevails. Thank you judges.
0 8
vdot Saturday, 03 August 2024 07:16 AM
..One citizen made a whole lot think about what should be right .One person standing in the line at the Air port drew attention to an action otherwise the innocent public would have meekly accepted . ..and so it seems one person can ignite a change ..Thankful to the citizens who rose up to the situation .Thankful to the judiciary ..for giving time for the nation to be educated as to whats happening up there ..
0 9
Sambo Saturday, 03 August 2024 07:33 AM
Well done Sir's. We now feel the law is working in this land. Please uphold it for the sake of the poor public.
0 5
CitizenP Saturday, 03 August 2024 07:34 AM
We must appreciate the judiciary for solving corrupted deals by crooked politicians.
0 6
Nihal S Saturday, 03 August 2024 10:03 AM
Very good. Cabinet of Ministers are trying to make commission in this deal.
0 4
Cecil Hedwige Saturday, 03 August 2024 10:45 AM
Now my 2 children will come home for Christmas.
0 4
DLL Gunasekera Monday, 05 August 2024 05:04 PM
Mine as well.
0 0
Ahmed Saturday, 03 August 2024 10:45 AM
This is a big victory for Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is s country heavily depending on tourism and some other sectors. It will be a big problem if foreign companies take a cut out of every visa processed in Sri Lanka.this makes visa expensive for tourists. Good that Sri Lanka managed to stop this in early stage. Sri Lanka can run its own visa processing state like before. Sri Lanka is full of talented IT graduates.
0 3
Wagner Saturday, 03 August 2024 03:44 PM
Anyone what will happen to my 20 pct Commission
0 0
Ari Saturday, 03 August 2024 05:34 PM
Hope the exorbitant visa fees we paid to travel to Sri Lanka is refunded.
0 0
Kerpok Lekor Saturday, 03 August 2024 05:59 PM
Will I get a refund or rebate for my family's recent expensive visas?
0 0
BANDULA NANAYAKA Sunday, 04 August 2024 02:27 PM
with a supreme court like this sri-lanka is in a winning path. make sri-lanka great again
0 1
RUKSHAN Saturday, 10 August 2024 12:12 AM
a case must be filed against the minister ,he must be making billions illegaly. name already in the panama papers
0 0
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Recommended
You May Also Like
