Govt. to conduct probe into e-visa fraud: Vijitha Herath

• Says a forensic audit would be conducted

The government is to launch a probe into the controversial “e-visa” fraud, in outsourcing visa processing to a foreign company.

The government restored the online visa application platform, leaving out the foreign consortium following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

MPs Rauff Hakeem, M.A. Sumanthiran and Patali Champika Ranawaka petitioned the Supreme Court against the visa deal by the President. They alleged the contract was not awarded transparently and the consortium was to earn up to $2.75 billion over a 16-year period.

The immigration authorities have now reinstated the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) process for issuing on-arrival visas according to the criterion that existed before April 17, leaving out the private consortium IVS-GBS and VFS Global that handled it.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath who is also in charge of the Department of Immigration and Emigration confirmed that a forensic audit would be conducted.