Tiran Alles challenges Harsha on VFS deal

• Alles says he holds responsibility if someone comes out with authentic facts and figures

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday challenged MP Harsha de Silva, who recommended a forensic audit of the visa process outsourcing deal between the Sri Lankan government and VFS Global, to prove the loss caused to the government from the deal.  

Minister Alles said that the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by Harsha de Silva, recommended the cancellation or amendment of the deal. However, he claimed the report was compiled without the consent of the majority of COPF members, contrary to what the report suggests.  

The minister emphasised that the Sri Lankan government has not spent any money on the VFS project or incurred any loss. 

He said that VFS commenced services on April 16 without issue until an incident at the airport on May 1. The project was approved by both Parliament and the Cabinet, he said.  

Alles accused certain individuals of fabricating stories and figures about the VFS deal for political and personal gain. He challenged anyone claiming that a massive fraud had occurred, causing significant loss to the government, to present factual evidence.  

The minister refuted claims that tourist arrivals had decreased since VFS took over, stating that he would take responsibility if provided with authentic facts and figures.   

He said that 16,000 to 20,000 tourists had been attracted on average since the introduction of the new visa category, which had not previously existed in Sri Lanka. From April 17 to July 15, over 50,000 tourists arrived under the new visa categories, generating over USD 4.5 million in revenue for the government.  

Minister Alles reiterated that the government had not spent any money on VFS or incurred any losses, and had instead saved about Rs 2 million previously paid to Mobitel.