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.